Alex Spieth has been an actor first and foremost for roughly 10 years now. Considering the beginning of high school to be when she seriously started wanting to act). Alex Spieth went to Carnegie Mellon University and got a BFA in Acting. After graduation, she moved to NYC. Halfway through the middle of my first year of being out of school. Alex was going on lots of OkCupid dates. Her self esteem was dripping out her ears, and she began to write a blog about both experiences. After Alex Spieth first year out, she was dropped by her acting agency. She felt hit with a ton of feelings such as
1). Whoa! I just derked it!
2). I feel like everyone knows!
3). Maybe I shouldn’t be an actor
4). I must actually suck….
In an act of desperation and obsession, I began writing what is now the Prologue of [Blank] My Life. Haphazardly and awkwardly, my friends and I made nine episodes. In the summer of 2015, I began writing the first proper season. Which aired in the spring of 2016. Episodes from the first season have been screened at Miami’s Super Geek Festival. IndieWorks and the upcoming Chain Film Festival in NYC. We have been featured on Wifey.tv and Snobby Robot.
Written, Created, and Developed by Alexandra Spieth
indieactivity: How would you describe your writing?
Alex Spieth (AS): Quirky, Surreal, Fast-Paced, Stream of Conscious
You can watch all the episodes to [Blank] right here and our Facebook is here.
How did you get into writing?
Alex Spieth (AS): I got into writing because it felt like an outlet. One that didn’t require a team (the way acting does). When you act, you need another person to connect to. You can do monologues in your basement all day long. But, I think it’s not really acting, it’s not really fun. It’s not really satisfying until you get another person there. Writing can be singular, and it’s one of the reasons I gravitated towards it.
However, my conscious decision to begin REALLY writing was after I got dropped, cause like I was unrepresented, what the hell did I have left to lose? I was like: “Must do something to make myself feel better about myself!!!!!!” I would encourage everyone who feels down to make their own work.
Episode 106: “Beg for It”
Did you study writing
Alex Spieth (AS): I have taken 1 sketch class at UCB (highly recommend! Great Teacher! Great program!), but that is the only formal training I’ve ever done, other than a poetry class here and there in college and high school.
What is the difference between a screenplay and a play
Alex Spieth (AS): “The difference is whatever you select on Celtx and hope that the formatting will guide you home.”–Alex Spieth, 2016
How do you turn an idea into a play
Alex Spieth (AS): I have only written one play (which I have not yet produced outside of a staged reading). Honestly, I have dealt mostly in shorter form, and I feel like the concept of “plot” is one I find tricky and elusive. I think I’m fairly good at imitating moments, but I always struggle with being like “Where do we go from here?” I have a lot of respect for writers who have both honed their long game and short structures.
You can watch all the episodes to [Blank] right here and our Facebook is here.
What do you do to get an idea into a play
Alex Spieth (AS): Honestly, the way I write is letting my fingers type until I find an idea that emerges naturally. When I think have a great idea, I’ve found I have a hard time making the dialogue relatable and honest and the characters more than cardboard cutouts. However, if I just start with a whiff of something (an image, a feeling, a line) rather than a full-fledged idea, I personally find it easier to make a script that I like.
Briefly describe a few wrong impressions writers indulge in
Alex Spieth (AS): 1). “You can not practice and still be a genius”: I would never consider myself a genius and most days I don’t necessarily consider myself a writer. I’m like, “Oh there’s no way I’m a writer the same way Hemingway or Kushner is a writer!” And those guys are TITANS, most of the time I feel like I’m not a real writer like people who write plays for people other than themselves. However, I do practice a LOT. I write (lots and lots and lots of) bad stuff which is eventually chucked for the few good things. I’ve written whole movies that I found to be crap nearly 3 minutes after writing them. I think you will stumble and stumble and stumble and the best thing you can do is try to learn stumble more artfully, so people sometimes don’t notice even if you aren’t totally pleased.
2). “You have to have studied”: I have not. And for what I want to do, that’s fine. However, if you want to be a great, great writer, you should study. It’s about knowing where you want to go. I am an incredibly trained actor (and I loved my education), and for the places I want to go, I think I needed to be trained in that aspect.
Do you often take courses in writing to increase your craft
Alex Spieth (AS): No. But, if I had more $$$$ maybe I would? Let me know if you are looking for a protege who is a beautiful-funny-neurotic-female!!!!!!! I can be your girl!!!!!!
What books do you read
Alex Spieth (AS): Just finished The Furies by Natalie Haynes, which I very much enjoyed. Sadly, I haven’t read as much as I wanted to, because between work, acting, writing, and like trying to keep my body vaguely attractive I have less hours in the day than I want. In my free time, I usually see plays. Recently, I saw Hadestown at NYTW written by Anais Mitchell, and it’s wonderful. I hope very much the productions sees a future life.
2016 Top Five Web Series Contender:
— Blockchain Media Summit (@liubchainsummit) September 3, 2016
Title: [Blank] My Life
Created by: Alexandra Spieth pic.twitter.com/hPnUm06Dx0
What do you do to keep in shape as a writer
Alex Spieth (AS): I write nearly every day, and during the summer I get up and write a script every morning. When the web series begins to have to take shape as far as producing and putting it together, I have to let the writing hat go to for a bit to make sure the series ACTUALLY happens. But, for the past 4 out of 6 months, I’ve written at least 10 pages a day.
When you are offered a play to write what is your routine
Alex Spieth (AS): I have never had such an HONOR. But, I imagine my routine will be like
1). Call Mom and Dad!
2). Call My Bffs and Guy I’m Dating!
3). Die!
4). Come Back to Life!
5). Stress about how to write this thing…
However, I think having parameters will always help you. That’s what comforts me late at night is knowing that I’m good at finishing assignments, and the hope someone would ask me for something specific would be a relief versus bush-whacking through the wilderness trying to find out if this is the right way to reality or not.
How do you develop a character in a script to be honest and believable
Alex Spieth (AS): I try to be myself in every character. When I write for myself/others/whatever/x/y/TBD/vague/specific characters, I try to write things that I, Alex Spieth, would say, and then cast actors who are interesting choices. They’ll make the characters their own by being who they are.
📷 thereelwomen: @blankmylife: Why did you decide to get into this industry? I’ve wanted to be an actor… https://t.co/8E8QGiTb5G
— Alexandra Spieth (@AlexSpeech) June 13, 2016
