Rice Omary | Screenwriter | Author

Now, Rice, you’ve been a part of Epiphany Space for a long time. How did you first get involved there?

I was referred to the community by former and fellow Artist-in-Residence Havilah Giannetta. That was six years ago!

You’re a talented screenwriter. How did you first become interested in film, and what was the process like?

Thank you. I became interested in films and filmmaking when I was 9 years old. I would plan video shoots with family members and use a clunky video camera to film scenes I’d written out for myself. At the time, I was a budding actor. I was very active in community theater (that lasted 8 years of my youth) but I always gravitated toward film. I wrote a letter to every single talent agency in LA when I was 11 asking them to consider me. I was naive and young. 

When I got to college, I enrolled in the film program by Kismet. My intention was to be more pragmatic but life had other plans for me. After I graduated, I went on to work for PBS.  Lately, I’ve expanded into producing and I’m really falling in love with the process of creative and executive producing narrative features. 

What are some of your favorite projects you’ve written over the years, and why?

I think my favorites have been Crespa, Road 1958, and The Disappearing Man. Crespa because it was the first project where other people got really excited about it. Road 1958 because, to date, it’s my baby. The Disappearing Man, because I am a sucker for the topic and genre. 

Who inspires you, creatively? Who would you say have been some of your biggest influences with regard to your art?

When I was coming up in school there were three filmmakers (the cinetic troika, I called them) making exciting, insanely dark, psychologically astute dramas. These filmmakers were David Fincher, Christopher Nolan, and Darren Aronofsky. I’m still nowhere near working with any of the, but that’s the hope. 

You love to travel, as well. What are some of your favorite places you’ve traveled to, and what tops on your list of places you’d like to visit?

My wishlist is basically Antarctica. I loved my time in Greece and Japan so hard.

What have you got in the works? Anything exciting coming up?

I’m a work in progress. I take baby steps every day and hope that they’re redeemed somehow, outcome-wise. But I’m learning that detaching from the outcome is what brings about peace. All that to say, I’m both petrified and excited about the future and I’m hoping that things “happen” with at least one of my written pieces. 

And finally, what advice would you give to others considering pursuing a career in writing and/or film?

Everyone says “Have thick skin.” But I like to say, “Have healthy coping mechanisms.” It’s a rollercoaster of a ride. Sometimes you get an A-lister attached and you think, “We’re off to the races.” A week later they fall off the project and you’re back to square one. There is no planning of outcomes in this business. Intentionally design the life you want to live and chin up! No one thing can or will meet all of your needs and, as creatives, that’s exciting to think about -- diversification. For example, I’m starting to write novels now. It’s a scarier medium to me but, in the end, it all comes down to creating what you want to see in the world.

Connect with Rice Omary
Instagram: @ricelolilop