Meet Jenna Milly | Screenwriter

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

Hi Jenna, how do you think about risk?
It’s funny because this movie business seems to be all about risk. Financial risk… emotional risk… artistic risk. So, I think it’s so ironic to me that I don’t think of myself as a huge risk taker. I am the last person who would ever want to go bungee jumping because of fear of heights… and dying… and smacking your face against a rock canyon… but I seem to have no problem throwing my script out into the ring to have it creatively gnawed to bits by the town. I’m not sure if that answers the question for you, but I think to do this job in Hollywood, there are often times when you just have to throw caution into the wind and go for it. And there is a thrill that comes from writing something and sending it out there to just see what might happen. Please don’t take me to the Grand Canyon though!!!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a WGA screenwriter and part of the fabulous lady writing team with my writing partner Ann Marie Allison. We basically built our brand of funny lady comedy from the ground up. I could not have gotten here without her! It was not easy, but there were lots of laughs along the way. My favorite part about being part of a writing team is to read her pages when they come to me. It’s so inspiring to build upon something funny and creative and then toss it back and forth like a hilarious game of tennis.

I started my writing career in news working for CNN and the Los Angeles Times, so it was tough to transition into Hollywood and storytelling after beginning a career down another path. But I HIGHLY recommend anyone wanting to switch careers, to just go for it. This is your life and you will definitely use your 1st career skills to your advantage. I was certainly conditioned on how to turn in words fast and I think it has helped me make the transition.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love Silverlake where I currently live, but I also like to pop over to Los Feliz and Santa Monica and also my beloved UCLA where I went to grad school to get my MFA in screenwriting. In Los Feliz, Little Dom’s is my all time favorite restaurant in town. I’d eat there 3-5 times a week if I could!! I also love Blair’s in Silverlake and Proof Bakery in Atwater (they have the best chocolate chip cookie ever), and the coffee at Constellation Cafe in Silverlake too, is amaze. Other favorite sport are Back on the Beach restaurant at the Annenberg and also Toast Cafe near Beverly Center. Not to mention Magnolia Bakery and their slices of cake. Apparently I am obsessed with food!! Also Alcove’s Big Bar if you like a cocktail – they have mixologists and change their menu every season. So good!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have to credit my husband Florent who has supported me through this entire endeavor, even when I’m hanging upside down in my writing/thinking chair not knowing where to take the story next. He always manages to help me with a few words of encouragement! Gotta have someone with you who can see this crazy Hollywood world right side up.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennamilly/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennamilly?lang=en

Image Credits
Raquel Krelle, Matt Winkelmeyer, Stacy Bode