We were lucky to catch up with Michelle Bergamo recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Michelle thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
I’ve always loved to write. I grew up performing original shows with my sisters and friends. My one friend and I used to perform plays for our 5th grade class. In that same class, I won a “Future Playwright” award at the end of the year. I will never forget that. I got involved in theater in high school and that sparked a lifelong love. In college (Rutgers) I studied Journalism, which was a great way to gain writing experience, but I think I always knew that hard news was not for me. I yearned for a more creative path. After college I accepted a full-time position in theater marketing, which was somewhat creative or “creative adjacent” as I’ve heard people say…but I wasn’t completely fulfilled. I learned about playwriting by simply watching performances and reading scripts during my time in the industry. I began taking non-credit classes, online workshops, reading scripts, studying films and TV shows and making outlines. I bought screenwriting software and wrote a bunch of spec scripts. Eventually, I made the decision to leave my theater job to pursue writing. I wish I had done this sooner, however, this was the right time for me and my husband to take the risk financially. A lot of obstacles got in my way over the years, many being in my own head. But it’s also a really tough industry to break into.
I had to grow thicker skin, which I will admit, I wasn’t born having. The norm is rejection, “no,” “submit again next year.” Know your strengths. For me, I have a knack for dialogue…but it takes me a lot more effort to write action and character descriptions. I just want to go right into the talking. That’s my theater background coming through.
I will also add that, in my experience, personality and genuine kindness make a difference. People have to want to work with you again.
Michelle, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m the writer of “Jersey Birdies,” a feature film (RufCut Pictures) currently in post-production with an anticipated summer 2025 release. I’m also a greeting card writer and proofreader for Designer Greetings, Inc.
My newest feature script “Lake Girls” (Coverfly top 8%) is a female-led thriller (with some comedy, of course) that takes place in two timelines (2018 & 1988). I have written three stage plays. All of which have had staged readings and one, “Turned On,” was produced as part of the NY Fringe Fest in 2018.
In addition to my solo works, I’ve collaborated with a partner, Michele Giannusa (“Ripple” Hallmark+), on several award-winning family-friendly holiday feature scripts.
My stories are know for: authenticity, Jersey vibes, feminist ideals, women protagonists, witty dialogue, having the ability to tickle the funny bone while also pulling the heartstrings… I’m open about my lifelong struggles with anxiety and this theme regularly makes its way into my work.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
2020 almost took me out. I suffer from health anxiety, so a global pandemic is something I didn’t think I could handle. I was sick to my stomach every day, a complete mess…I was so overwhelmed that I got a medical exception to work from home a few weeks before my company even had the policy. On March 31, my mom passed away from cancer. She’d been in remission for a while but it came back with a vengeance and she died within days of diagnosis. Of course, we couldn’t be with her until her very last moments. In April, my dad received his own cancer diagnosis and began a long and complication-filled year of surgeries, chemo, radiation – pandemic still raging. Having lost my mom, he needed help and I stepped up. The difficulties of grieving my mom in isolation (no funeral or hugs from friends and family) while temporarily living in her house, being a caretaker, in and out of hospitals during COVID’s early days, and almost losing my dad, too…was definitely the worst time of my life. But one good thing came out of it, a script called “Jersey Birdies.”
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
There’s nothing as magical as connecting to other people through these stories I create. Hearing a laugh, seeing a tear or a smile…knowing that is some small way, I’m touching people.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jersey_birdies_movie/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jerseybirdiesmovie
