From: Dennis Conway                                       Date: November 7, 2019

John Bring, a screenwriter for the TV show, Supernatural, addressed the Film and Video Society Wednesday night, Nov. 6, in the Mass Media Building, and explained how a former VSU Mass Media major builds a career in Hollywood. Bring conversed via Skype, from his home in Burbank, California, and spoke about breaking into the broadcast television industry, taking questions from the audience. Bring has written or co-written two episodes of the CW program, Supernatural, entitled “Beyond the Mat” (2016), and “The Memory Remains” (2017). The fantasy horror television series debuted in 2005, and features two brothers as they hunt demons, ghosts, monsters, and other supernatural beings. Bring was also recently selected as one of 8 Writing Finalists for the Warner Brothers Television Workshop, out of 2500 entrants. Bring graduated from VSU in 2005, served as the FVS’s first leader, and won its first film festival. Bring, a Valdosta High School graduate, told students that he saved his money for a year before moving to Los Angeles, and survived by taking roles as an extra, serving as background in movies and TV shows. He claims that his big break came when he worked on an independent movie called Snakes on a Train (not to be confused with Snakes on a Plane) as the Second Assistant Director. After that, he worked on TV shows such as Without A Trace, about a Missing Persons Unit of the FBI in New York City, and comedies such as The New Adventures of Old Christine starring Seinfeld’s Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Bring started as a writer’s assistant at Supernatural in Season 9, and beginning with Season 12, was promoted to staff writer. He has been working steadily in production for about 13 years. He knew no one in Hollywood when he arrived, though he did journey there with friends from V.S.U. Bring hopes to work in other writing genres in the future, not just horror or supernatural stories. In fact, his Finalist script for the Warner Brothers Television Workshop “was a family drama.” The Workshop will showcase his script and experience to various Hollywood networks and producers. Bring’s advice to students who land entry-level jobs in production include: “Don’t say ‘No’ to any task, no matter how menial. Listen to advice. Accept any negatives, for self-examination. Be nice to everyone. Never stop learning. Don’t get discouraged.” When asked whether young writers should write “spec scripts” (“speculation scripts,” written for a particular show as a writing sample) or create original material, he said that Hollywood is definitely looking for original material and concepts. “Write what you love, and maybe it will excite other people,” he said. Bring said that it was important for young writers and directors to “circulate your material” in film festivals, especially those festivals limited to students. Students should “do the work,” and “get stuff out there. It’s fun to make films.” He said that “demo reels are important,” and that those looking for production work should first “go to Atlanta.” He also said that students interested in cinematography or art direction should create a “good 2 or 3 minute reel” reflecting their talent. When one student told Bring that they were working at a podcast, a script, a short film for school, and another short film outside school,” he said, “That’s what they like to see – people working on many projects.” When told by a student that they struggle to remain confident about their work, Bring said that “All writers do that. I go through that, too.” When asked who he trusts to review his new material before submission, he said that his wife will see it, and some close friends. Bring conversed for about 45 minutes with the FVS students, Faculty Advisor Dennis Conway, and FVS President Arriana Williams. The Film and Video Society meets on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 7 p.m. in the Mass Media Building. For more information, email Arriana Williams at arrwilliams@valdosta.edu.