Rachael Barnhart: Scriptwriting for College

By Kellie Sharp and Rebecca Roe

Background

Rachael Barnhart was born in Great Britain, but grew up in Dearborn, Michigan. She attended the Michigan State majoring in Anthropology and later received a bachelor’s degree in the same field. Since continuing school meant needing more money, she found a job at a local TV station, WPAG where she did everything from voice-overs to copy for live television. Her work at WPAG brought her a number of opportunities to write for television. Eventually, she began to write for Public Service Announcements and documentaries.

Her History with Aquinas

Because she was tired of freelancing and wanted to settle down to start a family, she decided to pursue teaching. Professor Barnhart decided to take on a west Michigan college, which was just a fledgling school at the time, in order to help mold it during its beginning years.
Barnhart founded the film and video program the college. At first they had only limited supplies, sharing one camera with the whole department. She also teaches several classes including a script writing class for which she wrote her own text book.
Professor Barnhart also started the continuing tradition of the college's summer film project. This program allows film students to get their hands on experience. It also allows budding script writers to see their work come to life.

After five years at the college, Rachael became frustrated with teaching and with the direction of the film program. When she threatened to leave, the dean convinced her to stay for two more years and gain tenure. This was so she would have a job for life if ever she wished to return. She did, and has been with the college for twenty years.

Scriptwriting

The scriptwriting class taught at the college uses a textbook written by Rachael Barnhart. In years past, students simply go to the book store to pick up the three-hole-punched packet that contains their textbook for the class. The book is not officially published, but she is currently in the process of trying to have it picked up by a publisher to be distributed throughout the country. Along with this textbook Barb has written over three hundred programs, articles, PSA’s, and documentaries, all published in one way or another. Though, with all of these works, her most satisfactory writing was an article written for the college's faculty journal, which she was not sure if they will even publish. The work was personal, about working for civil rights in Mississippi. It covers her experiences in a segregated town called Greenville, an experience she rarely has an opportunity to talk about.

Professor Barnhart' Views on Professional Writing

Professor Barnhart feels that her professional life has been completely integrated into her personal life, that there is no distinction. Her challenge is to find new projects to work on, ways to stretch her expertise a little more. Since she has been writing for so long, some things become so easy that she has to find new ways to challenge herself. She feels that all writers should be looking for these opportunities. She recommends that new writers get their portfolio together and bring it to any job interview, even if it isn’t for a writing position. You never know when someone might need a writer, and they might not know that they do as well. It gives you the opportunity to show just how good you are at what you do, since companies needs good writers. “It will ring a little bell and make the difference,” she says. And always be trying to find the chance to write for free, to build your portfolio. Write for non-profit organizations, or at least offer to, those sorts of things look great on a resume.

Rachael Barnhart is very happy with her life as a teacher. This seems to be a great position to be in for a writer who loves to share their craft. In comparison to the hard, stressful life of freelance, she says of teaching “for me, there are only pros.” Her career is rewarding, and always leading her in new directions