Christan van Slyke is a multi-award winning writer on the verge of striking Hollywood gold!
Next up in our continuing series spotlighting members of the Independent Filmmakers Guild of America (IFGA) is acclaimed screenwriter Christan Van Slyke.
Christan is a multi-international award-winning, multi-optioned American screenwriter, proudly born, raised, and based in Texas, and she’s a mom, too! Since stepping into the industry in 2008, she’s worn many hats across a variety of production teams, bringing a deep, hands-on understanding of filmmaking to her writing. In 2010, she earned her Master Screenwriting Certification, and since then, her scripts have racked up over 700 awards on the festival circuit.
Her romantic comedy Curbside Service even earned a coveted feature at the prestigious Festival de Cannes. Before dedicating herself fully to screenwriting, Christan gained valuable on-set experience in several crew roles, working on major projects like The Details, starring Tobey Maguire, Laura Linney, Elizabeth Banks, and Ray Liotta.
Christan has served as the staff screenwriter for six production companies and has contributed her expertise as an Official Screenplay Jury Member for both the International Cinema Center and the Waco Faith & Family International Film Festival from 2019 to 2021.
Today, she has multiple projects in development and is represented by Terrece Lynn at The Wayne Agency, LLC in Los Angeles, and managed by Nuala Quinn-Barton at Mania Entertainment and The Film Co-Operative, where she’s their go-to writer. Christan is passionate about building her “film family” and is always open to exciting new professional collaborations.
INFLUX: What are you currently working on that you can share with us?
CHRISTAN: Currently, I have many projects in the works. As a writer, I am constantly trying to get my work out there via pitching for options, writing opportunities, etc. Some of my current available, award-winning scripts include: Less Traveled (dramedy), Lover Haters Club (coming of age, romcom), Midnight Blue (coming of age, fantasy), Violent Delights (dark comedy, crime), and many others.
Some scripts that are in development stages include: Nothing, Then Everything (Holiday, Drama, Romance), End It On This (Dark Comedy, Post-Apocalyptic), Non-Committal Type (RomCom), Fabulous Creatures (Psych Thriller), and many others. I have many concepts I am developing.
INFLUX: What are your hopes for your current project?
CHRISTAN: My goals moving forward are to continue my growth as a writer and getting more of my works across the production finish line! I want to share these stories and worlds I create with the rest of the world.
INFLUX: What have been your greatest challenges as an indie filmmaker?
CHRISTAN: One of my biggest challenges has been knowing who and who not to collaborate with…
In this industry, an entire project is based on the collaborative efforts of the entire team. If one person isn’t pulling their weight, then it could break the entire foundation, thusly, causing an entire project to fail. I naturally want to help everyone, sometimes I have challenges saying no, even when I know I should. There are many in the industry who unfortunately want to ride coattails of others success but also want to reap those rewards that weren’t earned by their hardworking teammates. There are many who take advantage of those willing to help, especially myself as a writer.
I get asked weekly to lend my work for free to be used in a production. We are all out here trying to make a living doing what we love. Writing is no different. Hours, weeks, months, years of blood, sweat and tears get put into the stories we create. Should never have to give it up for free in order to get something produced. At some point, payment is fair and due.
INFLUX: What has been your most significant accomplishment as a filmmaker?
CHRISTAN: I’d say one of the most notable accomplishments that comes to mind immediately is getting the notice that one of my works, Curbside Service, the upcoming, holiday, romcom was selected to be featured at the 2023 Festival de Cannes! This script has won two festivals in Cannes and has received over 40 other festival wins/accolades over the last couple of years.
I’d say this particular story and script is one of my great encouragements as a writer. When I think about the accomplishments I have achieved with this script, I am reminded that perhaps I am a great writer and am doing what I should be doing. It’s great encouragement to keep pushing forward.
INFLUX: Tell us about some of your past projects and where we can watch them if they’re available?
CHRISTAN: There are several that are completed and out in there for viewing. A couple in particular that are notable, would be D After C, my little engine that could, drama, romance short. This one was completed several year ago with All Dog Entertainment, starring Sandra Williams and Eric-Lee Olsen. This one in particular received dozens of festival awards and has since been streaming for the last several years across multiple platforms-including PocketFilms.
I was blessed to be able to help with the production of Expected Unexpected as a post- producer. That film is now streaming on AppleTV, Tubi, Amazon Prime and more.
INFLUX: What goals to you have for yourself moving forward?
CHRISTAN: My goal is to keep pushing forward. Keep writing. Keep attempting to get my work out there and across the production finish line. I have many available short and feature scripts, if anyone is in need. Please feel free to reach out! I am also quite accustomed to writing on assignment, if the need for a writer arises.
INFLUX: What advice would you give to your younger self just starting out?
CHRISTAN: Use caution and discernment when choosing who to collaborate with.
Want to learn more or follow the career of Christan? Take a look at her socials below!
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3578545/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/christan.vanslyke.1
IG: https://www.instagram.com/christanvanslyke/
LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christan-van-slyke/
