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Mentorship April 10, 2020
An inside look at the prolific comedy writer Jessica Poter.
Animated and lively, spunky and original, Modern Family writer Jessica Poter has definitely made a name for herself throughout Hollywood. Yet, in order to understand her transition to big city living, one must first understand the stories that have shaped her. From performing in small-town Illinois to her theater days in Yale University’s comedy department, entertainment has always run through her blood.
Northbrook, Illinois is not necessarily known for its swarm of entertaining attractions. But for Poter, it provided the perfect environment to hone her creative pursuits. Starting in ballet, she found the comedic elegance of her dance routines more fascinating than the actual dance.
From there on she began exaggerating her dance moves, twisting and turning in an awkward rhythm for comedic effect. While the audience chuckled and smiled, her instructor looked on in dismay. It was clear she was creative, but maybe a less serious pursuit was required for her. Perhaps, one filled with jokes instead of beautiful, but rigid, dances.
Poter would go on to explore the different realms of comedy at Yale University. Whether it be comedy festivals or sketches, improv or her theater classes, Poter was always looking for the next joke hiding behind every corner.
In the process, she became a brilliant writer. But, she would still have to prove herself amongst the big fish of Hollywood. This was a chance she was willing to take to showcase her abilities and satisfy the witty little girl she once was.
Now, in Los Angeles, Jessica has left an imprint wherever she goes. From acting to TV writing, sketch writing to blogging, Poter has become a multi-faceted creative. She’s been a part of amazingly successful shows like Hot in Cleveland, the recently wrapped Modern Family, and now Black-ish, all wildly popular.
As an established comedic writer, she now is trying to inspire the generation to come. She wants to help youthful thinkers who need help navigating the tricky landscape of the entertainment business.
Throughout our interaction at ENTITY Magazine, Poter addressed some important topics while providing some much-needed answers regarding scriptwriting. Some of which included the 3-Act structure, beat writing, and the journey of a script. All useful tools when it comes to understanding the complexity of Hollywood writing.
She even gave us the opportunity to feel what it is like inside a writer’s room. We sat down with a whiteboard and came up with our own episode of Modern Family. We broke down the three acts and learned the flow of the setup, the punchline, and even the “blow” behind the jokes. In other words, what is the real conflict in this story, and how will it be resolved?
Moreover, she commented on the different routes into a screenwriting profession. This includes the typical development route, which is selling yourself and your scripts to agencies.
She also talked about the assistant route: climbing the hierarchical Hollywood ladder until someone respects your writing style. Throughout, I could feel her passion for her work and I enjoyed being able to see her creative process when it comes to scriptwriting.
The little girl looking for laughs through her peculiar dance moves still gets those same smiles today, but it’s her writing that is doing the dancing.
