Meet James Welday | Screenwriter / Freelance Script Consultant

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

Hi James, why did you pursue a creative career?
First off, I want to thank you for this opportunity!
I’ve been a creative for as long as I could remember. While I love to read and enjoy a wide variety of music, film was always my mainstay. When a great film enraptures me with its storytelling, music and visuals, when all the elements are gelling into a satisfying, cohesive whole, I feel elevated! This is where the core memories of my creativity were born – in the movie theater.

As I grew older, and friends chose more practical paths, I couldn’t ignore the siren’s song — I had to create. Being a screenwriter (or more recently, a TV writer and script consultant) has allowed me to imagine new memories on an empty canvas.

The path has never been without it’s obstacles, but the journey has been worth every step.

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.
I feel my art has always informed who I was. I was raised on a wide breadth of films, from Studio-Era classics by the likes of Hitchcock, Billy Wilder and Orson Welles, right to the present mainstream entertainment. These masters of the medium, along with Kubrick, Spielberg and more recently, Christopher Nolan were my professors. Once I caught the movie bug, I never wanted to do anything else.

Screenwriting ultimately became my chosen path, as I had a keen ability to understand what made a story unique and what universal themes could reach the biggest audience. I think of Spielberg as my spiritual mentor, and through his work, he’s taught me that.

The subsequent years between adolescence and my Consultation work have been utilized as building blocks to where I am today. I attended Film School, worked in the industry for 8 years, but all the while, I never lost my hunger to tell stories.

Because I have such a wide range of interests, my writing portfolio grew. I’ve written specs for genres like film noir, thrillers, gothic supernatural horror, biopics, sci-fi, even animation.

All those would have sat in a drawer if not for my experience in late 2022, stumbling out of a screening of Spielberg’s autobiographical drama “The Fabelmans”. There’s a scene near the end where a distraught Sammy confides in his father that he’s scared his dream won’t become a reality — it shook me to my core. I had long wrestled with insecurity about my work, but this moment gave me the blind confidence I needed. I knew if I didn’t try now, it would never happen.

I began to network, connect and build relationships with other like-minded creatives, and realized my years of writing and expertise had prepared me for a career as a Freelance Script Consultant. I began to build pitch decks, one-sheets, script polishes and eventually, commissioned writing jobs. I was sought out for my talents for the first time in my life, and I felt invigorated!

Tireless hard work was instilled in me from birth, and I bring that mindset and enthusiasm to my work. While I’ve heard plenty of “no’s”, (who hasn’t), they only strengthened my resolve to continue and search for that “yes”.

And the “yes” has been more frequent as of late.

My brand is my undying and honest love for the art of storytelling, in all its complicated machinations. My clientele come from all walks of life, and each of their stories are unique, exciting and quite beautiful. I welcome all genres and formats with a sense of excitement. I work with a vigorous resolve to bring their visions to life with my expertise and always make my deadlines.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My leisure time eating and sharing new experiences are usually balanced between Hollywood and the Orange County area. They are a perfect ying yang to my personality. One is crowded, flowing with traffic, and a headache to park in. The other is relaxed, quaint and almost tranquil.

If the visiting friend was to accompany me to Hollywood, I would avoid some of the more flashy tourist traps like Graumans Chinese (or Hollywood & Highland, for that matter). I’ve enjoyed those spots, but the congestion these days is something else. I would take him to The Grove, experience the delicacies of the Farmer’s Market, as we experience unique foods and coffees. I would take in at a film at either The New Beverly or The Egyptian on Hollywood Boulevard, while searching out the remnants of Old Hollywood. While the Studio Tours of Universal, Warner Bros. and Paramount may contradict my anti-tourist trap mentality, you can’t beat the feeling of walking in the same spots where legends once stood.

Orange, especially Old Town, is the flipside of that coin. The square is the equivalent of small town America, with antique stores, restaurants, and coffee houses that entice the senses. As with Hollywood, of course, I would insist on taking my friend to a movie at Santa Ana’s The Frida theatre. Their programming is unique, one of a kind and always inclusive for a diverse audience. I’ve spent many an hour in those seats, basking in the warm glow of innumerable classics with my family.

My hope by the end of the visit is that my friend has experienced something special, and even gained a little knowledge about this medium in the process.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to dedicate this to my family, especially my wife and stepdaughter, who have been immensely supportive in my creative ventures. To do this alone, without their motivation, is unthinkable. From the beginning, my parents and siblings were encouraging and supporting my endeavors. If a dream begins in the home, then I consider myself truly blessed.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-welday