Q&A with New York Film Academy (NYFA) Screenwriting Instructor Matt Harry

April 15, 2019

With his debut novel published last October and development underway for his animated pilot, New York Film Academy (NYFA) screenwriting instructor Matt Harry is making waves in the industry. A multi-hyphenate, Matt’s not only a writer—he’s an editor, director, and producer. Matt took some time to chat about his career, teaching, and the time he made a fool of himself in front of Tom Hanks.

NYFA: Where are you from originally? 

MH: I was born in West Virginia, but my parents moved around a lot. We ended up in Cleveland when I was in sixth grade.

NYFA: Growing up, what did you want to be? 

MH: I wrote a novel in seventh grade, so I wanted to be an author from a young age. Later I became interested in theatre, then filmmaking, but eventually I went back to writing. 

 

New York Film Academy (NYFA): What’s your professional background? 

Matt Harry (MH): After I graduated, I spent 12 years working as an editor on shows like The Bachelor while continuing to write. I’ve written screenplays for various production companies and my feature film Fugue, which I wrote and produced, was named Best Horror Film at the Mississippi International Film Festival. My short Super Kids, which I wrote and co-directed, has over 3.7 million views on YouTube and is being developed into a feature by Temple Hill and Fox 2000.

NYFA: What brought you to NYFA?

MH: A chance encounter with my former USC classmate Eric Conner at a coffee shop led to me to NYFA.

NYFA: What are you working on right now? 

MH: My novel Sorcery for Beginners was released last October, so I’ve been busy promoting that. I’m also developing a TV adaptation of Sorcery as well as an animated pilot I wrote called Monster Cops. I also have a couple new book projects I’m finishing!

NYFA: What was the most satisfying project you’ve created or worked on in your career so far? 

MH: My short film Super Kids was the first project I worked on where the finished product looked almost exactly like what I imagined it could be. 

 

NYFA: What is your favorite course to teach?  

MH: The thesis screenwriting workshops.

NYFA: What is one piece of advice that you would give incoming or current students?  

MH: Keep working. I’ve met very few artistic geniuses, but my own career is a testament to the fact that if you keep pushing, working and revising, you’ll improve.

NYFA: What is your favorite aspect of teaching?  

MH: Frequently I’ll be discussing a student’s project, and I’ll have a realization about not only their work, but mine as well. Thanks to the students, I’m constantly learning and improving.

NYFA: What is most challenging about teaching for you? 

MH: Finding enough time. I could talk about story development all day, but with less than three hours per class, we have to set timers to get to everyone!

NYFA: What is the most helpful advice you’ve received?  

MH: “Stick with it. Even if you don’t make it, eventually everyone you know will make it, and you make it by proxy.” I have absolutely found this to be true.

NYFA: Who has influenced you the most in life?

MH: My wife Juliane. Her work ethic, morality, and positive attitude inspire me to be a better person.

NYFA: What creators have influenced you the most? 

MH: Ray Bradbury, Kurt Vonnegut, George Orwell, David Lynch, Edgar Wright, Colin Meloy, Madeline L’Engle, Stanley Kubrick, Philip Pullman, and Wes Anderson.

NYFA: What do you do to take a break from work and teaching? 

MH: Video games, going to restaurants, and hanging out with my family. 

NYFA: What is an interesting fact about yourself your students and fellow faculty might not know about you?  

MH: I interviewed Tom Hanks for the Cleveland Plain Dealer when I was 15 years old. I had no idea what I was doing, but he was incredibly gracious. I remember shouting out some inane question about Madonna, but he treated me like every other adult journalist there.