Meet Lily Drew | Screenwriter

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

Hi Lily, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
I think when it comes to your dream… you can’t ever give up. Because that feeling will always be there. And I’m the type of person that can’t bail out of something if I really have it in my head. Call me stubborn, but I will refuse to take no for an answer. I’m a screenwriter and in my industry, getting even close to selling a movie or a TV show requires endless free work, proving oneself, grit, and one hell of a fire under your butt. So yeah, have I thought about giving up or questioned whether it’s been worth it? Hell yeah. A lot of days, when I’m free writing or editing a script after 15 rounds of notes. For sure, I think whether it’s worth it or not when I’m managing that, while occasionally a side hustle to support me between project. But the fact of the matter, is that I will never give it up, because that little voice in my head won’t ever let me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a screenwriter and I have a writing partner, Kendall James, who I have been career married to since 2015. We work our butts off and have been writing for practice or for hire since we started film school at Loyola Marymount University. We’ve done everything from writing for social media influencers to developing a TV show with Nicolas Cage, to now have two movies in development at various production companies. It’s been hard, at times. Like moving back home to our parents, hard. Crying in the car listening to les mis the musical, hard. But all of it has been worth it. The amount of amazing people we’ve met along the way. We’ve been lucky. Well, luck mixed with a massive amount of tenacity. But we do it because we love it. And because there’s really nothing else we can see ourselves doing. But at the end of the day I think the ultimate goal is that our characters can provide comfort for someone, inspire, or change someones perspective.

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?
Well, we’re in Los Angeles. And I’d probably pick you up at the airport first. I’d take you up the coast past the Venice beach sign and past Santa Monica, and we’d land in Malibu at golden hour. We’d start by grabbing a drink at little Malibu Beach House right on the water. Something casamigos probably. Then if we’re feeling bougie, I’d take you to Nobu. Basic, yeah, but so good and so perfect when the sun goes down. Then we’d hop back in the car later and we’d go to West Hollywood, where I live. And pop in to see something Tarantino at the New Beverly Cinema. Definitely with some snacks we picked up at Milk Bar. The next morning, Joans on 3rd for sure. My second home here in LA. We’d order the biggest breakfast ever btw.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m so lucky because I have the best support network, like ever. I have an amazing husband, Benji Miller, who is a music producer and who understands how important it is for me to accomplish my career goals. And then, my parents, Michele and Andy Detwiler, and my brother Tristan Detwiler, who have supported me since the beginning. Going to every theatre production of mine growing up, the countless times I’ve come home exhausted and needing a break from the city and the hustle, and the fact that they’ve never doubted me, ever. Also they all have big personalities and make life exceptionally interesting; so I always have material to write about.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilydrew/?hl=en

Image Credits
Frankie Inglese