• Znine
• Campus Calendar
• My Mav
• UTA Radio
• UTA Home
• Student Email
• Libraries
• Wikipedia

• Local Forecast
• Movie Listings
• Traffic Info
• TV Listings

October 20, 2006

Lecture

Foote speaks to students

Writer tells students to find their voice

Story by: Joan Khalaf

The Shorthorn staff

The Shorthorn: Monica Lopez

Playwright and screenwriter Horton Foote uses his past experiences to respond to a student’s question at the roundtable discussion Thursday in the Chemistry and Physics Building. Students from the theater arts, English and film departments were chosen to attend and participate in the event.

Horton Foote’s gentle voice imparted words of wisdom and advice to aspiring young theater arts, film and English students in the third-floor conference room of the Chemistry and Physics Building.

English professor Laurin Porter, theater arts professor Andrew Gaupp and Andy Anderson, art and art history professor, selected 12 students Thursday to attend a roundtable discussion with Foote. Other university students, faculty and high school students attended as well.

Foote’s visit is part of the Conversations OneBook program.

The Oscar-winning screenwriter wrote screenplays for such works as To Kill a Mockingbird and The Trip to Bountiful.

He said writing is more powerful when in a simplistic style. His works follow that rule, and he told students that scripts shouldn’t be complicated and that finding passion in all they do is important.

“Writers have eyes and ears. You must learn to be observant,” he said.

Foote said finding one’s own voice involves a personal search, and writers must overcome their writing insecurities. He emphasized that writers need confidence to stand firm by their work.

“I think a lot of times you’re afraid you can’t trust someone else to portray your work the way you wrote it,” he said. “If the actors don’t seem to understand the script, then let them come to you.”

Porter said she was excited that Foote was finally here after 10 months of research and planning.

“It’s rather unique to have an event where several departments are involved at once,” she said. “We’re rather pleased to see the campus responding warmly to his visit.”

High school student Kristen Darner traveled two and a half hours with a literary criticism team from Wichita Falls to listen to Foote.

“It was so interesting to hear him talk about different writing techniques, and we enjoyed his comments,” she said.

English senior Shande Hughes said Foote’s style is subtle but powerful.

“You find yourself overcome with emotion over the simplest things,” she said. “Just one line could do that to you.”

Foote lectures about his life to a packed room

Story by: Justin Spike

The Shorthorn staff

The Shorthorn: Mariza Morin

Screenwriter Horton Foote speaks Thursday in Nedderman Hall. Foote is famous for the screenplay of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Playwright and screenwriter Horton Foote recounted his experiences in the film and theater world Thursday in Nedderman Hall.

Foote’s address, “Six Trips to Bountiful and Notes on the Journey Taken Along the Way,” filled the room beyond capacity. He began by detailing his departure from his hometown, Wharton, Texas, to New York City where he began looking for work as an actor, and chronologically narrated the history of his life and his work until the present. Since his first play, Wharton Dance, Foote has written more than 60 plays.

Foote answered questions from the audience after his speech. When asked if he is still writing, he replied that he has just completed a script for Denzel Washington and will continue to write.

“I’m going back to Wharton, and that always gets me going,” he said.

Foote’s daughter Hallie, who acts in some of her father’s plays and is currently producing a Robert Altman film, joined him on stage as he spoke. She said their experience on campus has been great.

“I’m very impressed with this campus’ good reception and warm feelings,” she said. “I think the students are terrific — very intelligent questions. It’s been a great experience.”

The duo concluded the address by singing some of the hymn “Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling,” which was featured in Foote’s film The Trip to Bountiful.

English professor Laurin Porter, Horton Foote committee chair and author of a book on Foote, said she is very happy with the response his appearance generated.

“He just has a remarkable presence, and people just really respond to him so warmly,” she said. “I really feel like the whole university community and the Metroplex community has responded, and that’s just so typical of Horton. I think he is kind of a magnet that draws people to him and his gentle, quiet way.”

Kate Thurlow, a Southern Methodist University student that attended the event, said she came from Dallas to see Foote because she believes he is a brilliant screenwriter but was surprised that he read his speech rather than speaking casually.

“I was surprised that he was reading, but it makes sense to me, because he’s a writer,” she said. “If he felt he could convey his ideas better by writing them and then speaking them, that makes sense to me.”

Foote’s appearance is the final Foote event that ties in with this year’s Conversations Program’s theme of power. His work reflects the power of drama.

Mechanical engineering sophomore Sergio Arciniega received extra credit for a literature class for attending, but has also been reading Foote’s plays in class.

“He’s been writing for a long time, and it’s interesting to see how he keeps on trucking,” he said. “He does one play after another.”

At 90 years old, Foote continues to write vigorously and does not intend to slow down.

“I am an obsessive writer,” he said. “I can’t stop until I finish it. I wish sometimes I was more orderly, but it’s not an unhappy time for me. I love to write.”