Column: UNC students’ plays show 'joy for the craft’

I’ve been to a fair number of plays.

But until this weekend’s “Long Story Shorts” festival, I had never seen a play that so heavily relies on — even praises — its writing.
As a member of the ninth Writing for the Screen and Stage interdisciplinary minor class, I was recruited to help out with this weekend’s festival of plays written by the graduating class.

Each night, I shepherded audience members through the stage door into the black box that is Swain Hall Studio 6.

The six-piece movable set spelled out “WSS” on the stage, immediately bringing the crowd — every seat and step was taken all four shows — into the writer-oriented experience.

The plays themselves were all exemplary — the tedious editing and redrafting processes evident in the seamless conversation and chemistry.

Not to say the acting was lacking. Each play was professionally cast with age-appropriate actors at the top of their craft. But without the writing, the dedication to character and conversation, there would be nothing.

I experienced all six 10-minute one acts four times, and never tired of any of the rich stories.

Some I heard rather than saw, standing in the wings to give the actors room to enter and exit the floor. The fact that each play was just as enjoyable hiding behind a curtain is further proof that the scripts held the power.

At curtain call after each performance, the cast would take their bows before welcoming the writer of their piece onto the stage. The applause and cheers always swelled when a writer walked out.

As someone with intense onset stage fright and general lack of performance ability, I have only imagined taking bows to a crowd after a bravo-worthy performance.

I had actual chills each time a writer took his or her bows, thinking about how incredible it was that they were being recognized and lauded for work few ever take into account at a performance.

The Writing for the Screen and Stage program — one of few public university undergraduate script-writing programs in the country — was one of my deciding factors in coming to UNC.

The program was launched in 2003 after the University received a $500,000 grant from Michael Piller, an alum and cocreator of two “Star Trek” series, to start a screenwriting minor.

David Sontag, a now-retired UNC professor who had previously worked and written for various Hollywood studios and networks, launched the program, and the first Writing for the Screen and Stage class graduated in 2005.

Rising juniors apply early in the spring semester and 12 to 16 are accepted based on a faculty recommendation and short play, screenplay or story sample.

I knew being accepted would give me an incredible opportunity to hone the craft I hope to someday call my career, allowing me to emerge from Chapel Hill with a few polished scripts to sell around Hollywood.

With the induction of the “Long Story Shorts” festival, the program has become for me so much more.

Sure, my resume would look better if my play were chosen to be produced next year.

But more rewarding than a line on an employment document is the respect and involvement these writers are given in the production process of work they’ve dreamed up and slaved over.

That alone would calm — okay, maybe numb — my nerves enough to take my own bows.

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