Today we’d like to introduce you to Jon Fedkiw.
Hi Jon, we’d love for you to introduce yourself.
As an aspiring producer/director, I lived in Tucson, AZ for several years during which I became a member of the playwriting group: Old Pueblo Playwrights (or O.P.P. as we called it). It was this workshop that introduced me to the world of table readings and the value they hold for writers. So, after moving to Lakeland from Tucson, I decided to produce and direct a short film (from a script I read at O.P.P.) in order to find like-minded individuals living in and around this area. After I completed the film, I wanted to keep the creative juices flowing, but needed more producible material. Hence Just Write! Lakeland was born. I took what I learned from O.P.P. and expanded the vision to include screenplays along with stage plays. We started meeting in 2017 and continue to do so every Monday night (unless a holiday or hurricane says otherwise). When we started we met in person but Covid shut that down and we switched to Zoom. This enabled us to cast a wider net and as a result, we’ve had writers and actors from around the world attend our weekly workshops.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think anytime you dive into the performing arts, there are nothing but hurdles. From small crowds, to no money, schedule changes and personality conflicts, I think we’ve seen it all (in some form or another). The production side of Just Write! was really beginning to take off. Interest from actors and audience members was running high, attendance at our live shows was up and trending nicely, BUT Covid had other plans and de-railed the momentum we built. We still have not recovered. On the flip side however, submissions and participation for the Monday night workshops has been consistent, and with Zoom, also sustainable.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Just Write! Lakeland was established to allow writers to hear their plays/screenplays read out loud and critiqued by their peers. The goal is twofold: one, give the writer constructive feedback they can use to improve their piece, and two, help us find a play/screenplay we can produce. Since we started, we’ve table-read over 304 plays/screenplays (all of different lengths) from writers around the world. We’ve also taken original pieces, nurtured them through the critique process, and produced them locally. The production arm of Just Write! has produced 7 live shows, 3 staged readings, and 1 film festival so far.
So, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you before we go? How can they support you?
Great question; please visit us at https://www.justwritelakeland.com/ for more info. All the information is there for writers to submit their work, review it, and have it scheduled for a table reading. We take all genres (of any length) and constantly look to connect with actors for future readings and possible roles in live productions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.justwritelakeland.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justwritelakeland/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justwritelakeland
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/justwritelake
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNuGEaFnvk8t8h9CvNzzr0A
Image Credits
Photos by Jon Fedkiw
