In the kaleidoscopic world of film, where stories act as mirrors reflecting life’s myriad emotions, Vee Saieh has carved a niche, ensuring that her tales leave an indelible mark on the hearts of her audience.
The film and entertainment industry today stands at the crossroads of tradition and innovation. Once primarily defined by glitzy premieres and star-studded red carpets, it has metamorphosed into a realm where indie narratives and poignant storytelling often take center stage. This evolution has welcomed a diverse pool of talent, with storytellers pushing boundaries to explore the depths of human emotion, societal shifts, and intricate character arcs. As streaming platforms burgeon and global cinema becomes more interconnected, there’s never been a more exciting, yet challenging, time to be a scriptwriter.
Against this backdrop, Vee Saieh emerges as a beacon of creativity and determination. Originally cutting her teeth on short films, her journey is emblematic of tenacity and a genuine passion for the craft. Over the years, she has honed her skills, transforming personal narratives and global themes into scripts that resonate deeply with viewers. With an uncanny ability to traverse various genres, from supernatural realms to intense personal odysseys, Vee’s versatility speaks volumes about her prowess as a writer. It’s no surprise then that her screenplays consistently earn high rankings, with her projects reflecting not just her solo endeavors but also her talent for collaborative ventures.
Among the gems in her repertoire, ASIA A shines brightest. This compelling story revolves around a college basketball star whose life takes a sudden turn, grappling with a spinal cord injury. But it’s not just the uniqueness of the plot that sets it apart; it’s the authenticity with which Vee writes, largely due to her close collaboration with the director who possesses first-hand experience of living with such an injury. The narrative beautifully captures the protagonist’s journey from denial to acceptance, embodying the universal theme of loss and resilience.
The industry too took note. ASIA A garnered accolades and recognition from esteemed institutions, receiving Sloan grants from both the Tribeca Film Institute—a bastion of cinematic art—and Film Independent’s Fast Track Program ($50,000 and $20,000, respectively). These awards catapulted Vee further into the limelight. Her accolades didn’t stop there with the project also being invited to participate in the exclusive SFFilm Invest program. Vee’s other projects have also placed in prestigious contests such as the PAGE Awards and Final Draft’s Big Break contest, affirming the undeniable fact that Vee Saieh is, indeed, a master of her craft.
It was our privilege to sit down with Vee Saieh, delving deeper into the narrative of ASIA A and her journey in the film industry. In our candid chat, she shed light on the nuances of her writing process, her inspirations, and the myriad experiences that shape her stories. The intricacies of turning personal tragedies into gripping tales, the balance of authenticity and drama, and the continuous evolution of her craft form the crux of our enlightening conversation.
In a landscape dominated by fleeting trends and ephemeral stardom, Vee Saieh’s commitment to authentic storytelling and her string of successes stand as a testament to her lasting impact on the cinematic world.
It’s great to have you here, Vee. The story behind ASIA A has captivated audiences and judges alike. Can you walk us through the inception of the story and what inspired you to write it?
Happy to be here! So, ASIA A is about a rising college basketball star who suffers a spinal cord injury and struggles between hoping for recovery and accepting his new life as a paraplegic. The story itself is emotionally inspired by the life of the director, who lives with a spinal cord injury. We met at USC and worked together on the ASIA A short, which was his graduate thesis. Seeing the incredibly positive reception the short received, we decided to embark on the feature, developing the story together, before I set off to write the script.
What really drew me to the story was the complexity of the character—a cocky college athlete who loses the very physicality that defined him—and how he manages to push forward in his life.
Being recognized by prestigious institutions like the Tribeca Film Institute is no small feat. How did these accolades shape your journey as a screenwriter and your approach to subsequent projects?
The experiences I’ve had while working on ASIA A have been nothing short of amazing. Through the Tribeca Film Festival, I first had a partial reading of the script followed by a full reading later that year.
The chance to hear my work performed at different stages of development was invaluable in learning to trust my actors. Also, my story mentor was none other than the incredibly talented (and Oscar nominated!) Robin Swicord. Her feedback on ASIA A was simply mind-blowing and a master class in screenwriting. All of these lessons I’ve taken to heart, and they continue to influence my writing every day.
You’ve managed to strike a chord with various award bodies consistently. What’s your secret to crafting distinct narratives that resonate so well across diverse panels?
People watch film and TV to connect—to feel something—and they do that by living vicariously through the characters. Regardless of the genre or format you’re working in, always make sure your characters are as nuanced as they are relatable with a simple and clear emotional arc.
For instance, in ASIA A, the protagonist’s life is turned upside-down when he suffers a spinal cord injury. He then becomes so focused on what he lost (being able-bodied) that he doesn’t realize he still has the rest of his life ahead of him. And while most of the audience might not be able to relate to his spinal cord injury, they can certainly relate to the grief of mourning the life you thought you were going to have. Stories and characters are specific, but emotions are universal.
With ASIA A receiving multiple awards, what do you believe sets it apart from other screenplays in its genre? Can you delve into the world-building or character development processes you underwent for this project?
This project was developed from inception with the director, who lives with a spinal cord injury. And while we also did our fair amount of research, it will never be a substitute for lived experience.
As the writer, I found that, at times, it was my job to be a buffer between the director and the story when it felt like he got too close to it. But that is precisely what sets this project apart from similar screenplays—the finely tuned balance between authenticity and dramatic storytelling, which is only possible when you have disability representation in the creative process.
Your success with ASIA A and other scripts has firmly established your footprint in the industry. How have these wins influenced your interactions and negotiations within the film community?
The industry is a marathon, not a race. That is to say there is no set finish line, and every goal you achieve becomes a stepping stone for the next. Each of my wins and accomplishments has helped elevate my profile and open up newer and better opportunities that have then lead to even better ones.
For instance, the early success with ASIA A has led to dozens of meetings pitching a Latine horror-comedy feature, which is also based on a short I wrote on. And the success of those shorts ultimately helped me become a Fellow of Project Involve (an artist development program run by Film Independent), which has a highly competitive application process. I am both eager and excited for what the future holds!
Your accolades from PAGE Awards and Final Draft’s Big Break contest are testament to your storytelling prowess. Can you share some insights or anecdotes from your experience in these competitions?
Thank you! The most valuable insight I can share is about the right mindset to have when entering contests. At their core, screenwriting contests are about taking a highly subjective art form and attempting to quantify it in order to determine a winner. In other words, entering a contest is akin to buying a lottery ticket—granted, a lottery whose odds you can skew in your favor with strong writing, but a lottery nonetheless.
So, a script placing in a contest probably means it’s good, but a script getting eliminated doesn’t necessarily mean it’s poorly written. Understanding the subjective nature of contests—and the industry at large—will go a long way toward helping you keep a healthy mindset and take rejection in stride.
How has the recognition for ASIA A influenced your approach to screenwriting? Are there specific techniques or lessons you’ve learned that you’ve incorporated into your subsequent works?
Absolutely. The ASIA A feature was adapted from the ASIA A short I cowrote with the director. At the time, I used to think that I simply needed to expand on the short while keeping most of the story elements intact. What I realized was that, with a larger canvas, many of those elements would have to change in order to tell the most compelling version of the story possible, even those as fundamental as the protagonist’s arc.
This was a lesson I carried forward when, later on, I set to expand our short NOCHE DEL INFIERNO into a feature, saving me heartaches and headaches in the process.
In the often unpredictable world of film and screenwriting, having consistent wins is impressive. How do you navigate the industry’s dynamics, and what advice would you give to budding screenwriters aiming for similar recognition?
The main thing to remember is that a career in entertainment is really an accumulation of achievements and even that “big break” was made possible by everything that came before (and there will probably be other big breaks as well). A career doesn’t happen instantly, and while people often talk about an “overnight success,, what they fail to mention is that the night lasted ten years.
Keep your head down, pay your dues, accumulate wins. As the successes build up beneath you, they will raise you up and help you reach heights you never thought possible. Onward and upward!
