We recently connected with Tommy Wright and have shared our conversation below.
Tommy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories 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?
Learning the craft is still an ongoing process. I took creative writing in college and discovered that it gave me so much joy. My first full script I wrote at 24. It was an original musical theater play. I had absolutely no clue what I was doing and enjoyed every moment of it. It wasn’t really until my time with Sundance that I figured out all the things I didn’t know, I didn’t know about writing. The weeklong intensive hammered home — structure, story, character, motivation, and creativity. I was shocked to find out that there are actual rules…that are…important. I still recall one of our mentors, Mara Brock Akil, stripping down our pilot and chastising us for breaking about every writing rule you can imagine. (Not on purpose of course). She gave us what I consider the best advice that I’ve ever received as a writer. “Learn the rules so that you know HOW and WHEN to break them.” Ever since then, I’ve been on a mission to learn every rule I can, so that I can eventually break them.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I was born in San Diego California was raised in Sacramento and moved to Los Angeles 12 years ago. I started acting in college, and like so many others, came to LA with a vision and a dream. That acting vision, however, turned to writing once I realized how much I despised auditioning. What led me to creating my own production company was understanding that the entertainment industry, specifically in Los Angeles, is confusing and extremely difficult to navigate. As a person of color, cultivating relationships with “the right people” often feels impossible in the Hollywood market. It took me a solid 8 years just to figure out the business side. Having now worked on network television, and being on multi-million-dollar movie sets, I have started piecing together meaningful relationships, and building a solid network of professional contacts. My goal is to share what took me decades to obtain with other creatives. My main objective from day one has always been to be of service to my community using story as a vehicle.
Town Towns one State was created with the intentions of becoming a full-service motion picture production company. Our goals, however, do not stop with simply creating motion pictures. We offer mentorship, and workshop courses to members of our community in the areas of creative writing, directing, acting, and producing — as well as career consultation, and project development. We aim to provide individuals who have limited access to — knowledge, skills, tools, and connections in the entertainment industry an opportunity to learn in a safe, clean, affordable facility to better their chances of success.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is impacting the emotions of an audience. Being able to put a smile on someone’s face when they may be having a bad day. Or giving hope and inspiration to those who may be going through a difficult time in their lives. Storytelling is the greatest mental escape. Being able to have a positive impact on people’s lives, even if it’s in the smallest of ways, is extremely rewarding.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
The best thing that society can do to support the arts is to continue being curious. Continue to connect. Continue to tap into all the senses that make us human beings. All the emotions that make life worth living. Encourage experiences, positive and negative. Continue living life to the fullest. These things breathe stories into our industry. That’s all the support we need.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @realtommywright
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-wright-8640a726/