Cornell Alums Cynthia He ’20 and Matthew Campanella ’17 have received distinctions at this year’s Austin Film Festival. He, a Computer Science major with a minor in French studies, and Campanella, an Applied Economics & Management Major with a minor in Theater, were both former screenwriting students of PMA Professor Austin Bunn.
He won in the Drama Teleplay Spec category for her script, “Yellowjackets: Thicker than Water,” which she wrote in her first semester spec class in her MFA TV Writing program at Stony Brook. Campanella’s comedy feature script, “Pray Hard, Play Harder” was a finalist for two awards: The Josephson Award and the YMH Studios Award.
“Winning the Drama Teleplay Spec category in the Austin Film Festival has been such an honor,” said He. “I've met the other finalists in my category and knowing how talented and accomplished they are, I'm even more surprised that I won. For me, this award is not just a reflection of my screenwriting skills, but also a reflection of my time spent in Austin Bunn's screenwriting classes (Screen and Story, Screenwriting in LA, and Advanced Screenwriting) and Stony Brook University's MFA TV Writing program—I would've never written a spec script if it weren't for the fact that it was a first semester assignment! Hopefully, this award opens new doors and opportunities that take me from writing specs about shows to actually being a part of the writer’s room.”
“For me, writing is about building a world out of nothing,” said Campanella. “With this script, I wanted to capture the nostalgia of those punchy early 2000s comedies: fun, unapologetic, and full of heart. It also explores the nuance of friendship and faith. Being recognized by the Austin Film Festival reminds me why I fell in love with storytelling in the first place.”
“The Austin Film Festival is the preeminent screenwriter’s festival,” said Professor Bunn. “I’m thrilled that Cynthia and Matt’s work was acknowledged and celebrated there. I can now say I knew them when…”
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