Meet Anna Klassen | Screenwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anna Klassen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anna, what role has risk played in your life or career?
As a screenwriter, there’s a fine line between taking educated risks and playing it safe.

When I first gained traction as a screenwriter I was working a full-time job as a journalist. I was writing scripts on nights and weekends, and two of my scripts were making the rounds of agent desks and producer offices. I was taking a ton of meetings with industry folk, and I was at a point in my budding career where I either had to no longer take the meetings or quit my full time job and go all in on screenwriting.

Writing films was the dream, but there was no guarantee of a paycheck, only the hope of one. Giving up my full-time, salaried job would be a huge leap of faith — I would have no money coming in, but I would be able to make the necessary connections to hopefully, one day, get paid to write a movie.

Ultimately, I quit my job. It took 12 months before I was hired to write a film. A full year of no income, of taking out loans and being extremely frugal, of sinking into depression, before I wrote my first big feature for a major studio. And a year is an incredibly short timeline for many writers. It can take years and years before you’re able to fully “break in,” or make money writing TV or film.

Looking back, I’m shocked at how bold I was. I’m incredibly grateful I took the risk, but at the same time, I probably would have held onto my source of income for a bit longer, knowing what I know now.

Risk taking is necessary as a writer — you have to have a certain level of delusion to think you’re going to be one of the lucky ones who can actually sustain a career writing full-time. It’s one of the hardest industries to succeed in, yet some of us do. I would urge anyone anyone attempting to break in to make sure you have a steady source of income for as long as possible. Selling one movie doesn’t mean you’ve “made it,” it just means you then have to sell another one, and another. Taking some of the pressure off of your salability as a writer will help your mental health — and your craft.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Overcoming challenges as a screenwriter is a constant battle, and my resilience is tested time and time again. “No” is a word I’m used to, and fear of failure, as well as imposter syndrome, have been a constant presence in my journey.

It’s hard to escape the nagging feeling of self-doubt, but I’ve had years to hone my response to the negative self-talk. One thing that can be helpful is focusing on the work itself, rather than any sort of external validation. By putting in time and effort to develop further skills as a writer, I’ve gained more confidence in my abilities which helps me feel more secure about my place within the industry.

Another thing that helps is seeking support from other writers. Talking to peers who are also in the screenwriting slog helps to feel less alone and provides much needed perspective.

Despite these challenges, I’ve never lost sight of my passion for screenwriting. It’s a love for the craft that fuels my resilience, and it is what has driven me to continue pursuing this difficult career.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Los Angeles, and I’m a ride or die East Side gal. Los Feliz/Silverlake/Highland Park are my favorite parts of the city, and there are so many great spots to explore.

Little Dom’s in Los Feliz is a favorite for happy hour or brunch — they have the best blueberry ricotta pancakes, and I eat them almost every weekend. All Time is another great spot right down the street, and I love the breakfast burritos at Stamp.

In Silverlake, I love walking the secret stairs. Los Angeles has hidden staircases all over the city, but Silverlake has some of the best ones, and you can string them together for a strenuous urban hike. For food, Pine + Crane has delicious Taiwanese that’s hard to beat.

In Highland Park, I love the historic Highland Park Bowl, drinks at Checker Hall, and traditional huaraches at El Huarache Azteca.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d love to dedicate my Shoutout to my long term manager-turned-agent, Bash Naran. I’ve been a client of Bash’s for my entire career. He was my first rep, and I was his first client. Though I’ve grown as a writer and he’s grown as a manager, and now as an agent, we’ve always had each other’s backs. Bash has always been my biggest cheerleader, and I feel so lucky that he took a chance on me and my writing all those years ago. I can’t wait to see how our partnership will grow over the years to come.

Instagram: @annajklassen

Twitter: @annajklassen

Image Credits
Danny Brown, Anthony Maccio, Marcus Henderson