Screenwriter NIA VARDALOS: Tricks of the Trade

Nia Vardalos took her one-woman play about the pitfalls of interracial marriage and turned it into her noteworthy debut screenplay for My Big Fat Greek Wedding. The film was a tremendous hit, becoming the highest-grossing independent feature and made Vardalos an overnight success, earning her nominations for Best Original Screenplay WGA and Academy Awards®. The Canada native also wrote and starred in the 2004 comedy Connie and Carla and is currently penning an adaptation to the Laura Zigman novel Piece of Work. In this candid and whimsical interview, she talks about how her experiences in the Second City comedy troupe helped her as an actress and a screenwriter, and how the unofficial “tell-the-Greek” word-of-mouth program had a hand in catapulting her movie to such great heights.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• dialogue
• movie
• script
• big
• greek
• screenwriter
• fat

[jmacgirl1]

I'm 32 years old and the mother of 2 young children. I haven't got the time nor the money to attend film school or go to Hollywood. But I've read every book I could get my hands on about screenwriting and I've written three so far.

Nia gives me great hope!

[Bahia82]

WOW invisiable minority, thats insulting and unfortunate, liberal hollywood is so racist and bias

[guitarniac]

"No it's great, it's wonderful"

- So insincere ROFL

[kinzeUK]

I so fancy that woman. I even sat through the godawful dreck of "My Life In Ruins" and even worse, "I Hate Valentines Day" purely because I think she is a genuinely talented and vivacious actress. And where is her neighbourhood, anyone know? :)

Incidentally, I can't tolerate this interviewer anymore why he insists on constantly cutting off people is beyond me, proper gets on my tits so it does

[osmosys808]

@Bahia82 L.A. has a very hostile subtext... I would feel safer in East Oakland than in L.A. The G's in Oakland may mug you, but in L.A. they will stab you in the heart and steal your wallet.

[Rob1963]

Thanks for the videos. This is a fantastic resource. I am a long time writer who just finished his first screenplay and all the information in the videos you have provided are really educating me. Again, Thanks! 

[BigJoey500]

Dude totally got digits after the interview.

[TheWorksful]

use my process...great advice!

[peter5t5t5t]

Nia i think you are a big loser that just got suckered into 2 nice paychecks, and you don't care that your / my beautiful country is being portayed as if it's 50 years behind and that everyone in greece is an idiot. why don't you show the real side of Greece with the amazing food, beautiful people /nightlife/beaches. I REALLY HOPE NIA VARDALOS READS THIS . ANTE KAI GAMISOU RE VROMIARA. your as ugly as you were in big fat greek wedding as that ugly waitress.

[TheTopBloke]

@DrMBA28 Just a stupid stupid agent.

[christpunchers]

@fluffymcflufferson7 ...I hope you're not Canadian if you can't tell the difference between "then" and "than".