With hard work, Wade finds success in films

Screenwriter Kevin Wade

Penning an award-winning screenplay isn’t easy. But if you’re good — and willing to work hard — your efforts will eventually be noticed, screenwriter Kevin Wade said during a recent visit to campus.

Wade, who attended Connecticut College in the 1970s before heading to Manhattan to try his luck initially as an actor, spent a day as a guest lecturer and then shared stories and tips during a question-and-answer session at the College Center at Crozier-Williams.

Wade was nominated for Golden Globe and Writer’s Guild awards for “Working Girl” in 1988. Other screen credits include “Maid in Manhattan” (2002), “Meet Joe Black” (1998), “Junior” (1994), “Mr. Baseball” (1992) and “True Colors” (1991). He is currently adapting Allison Pearson’s best-selling novel, “I Don’t Know How She Does It,” for Miramax.

During his visit to the College on Nov. 18, Wade taught two theater classes and a film class, had lunch with film students and met with President Norman Fainstein, trustees and faculty. During the public forum Wade was interviewed by David Jaffe ’77, director of the O’Neill National Theater Institute. Then the session was opened to the audience for questions.

Some highlights:

• Wade wrote “Working Girl” after seeing all the young secretaries getting off the Staten Island ferry in their office dresses and tennis shoes. Their coming to Manhattan, with the Statue of Liberty in sight, reminded him of the immigrants who came to the United States in search of the American Dream.
• He is intrigued by stories of empowered women. It still seems like a story when a woman succeeds in traditionally male roles.
• Screenwriting demands that a story have momentum. Things must constantly happen for the work to be successful. “Chinatown” is the best story-telling film ever made, Wade said.
• He encouraged students to consider all elements of the film art as they pursue their careers: writing, directing, acting, staging. This will strengthen their understanding of the scope of the industry, and they may discover success in a different way than they intended. As an example, Wade said he started as an actor but found his niche after writing plays on weekends.
• Students interested in entering the film industry should get secondary jobs while looking for work. But they should also pound the pavement from theater to theater and volunteer to usher, sweep, work the lights — anything to get into that theater and have a role.
• Other suggestions for aspiring students: Take theater classes; get to know others who have the same aspirations and are doing the same thing. Become friends with people pursuing the same dreams. Build a network and stay informed of opportunities.