By: Ryan Wolfe
April 24, 2025
Faith Wilson, a fellow screenwriting student at Metro State University, and I have shared a few courses over the past few semesters. Recently, I had the opportunity to interview him about his personal journey through the screenwriting program at Metro State. Our conversation began with his initial interest in film and how it ultimately led him to choose screenwriting as his major.
During his childhood, Wilson often channeled his unique imagination into writing. As an only child who spent much of his time playing alone, he would craft stories using toys and even inanimate objects—a creative habit many of us can recall from our own early years. One pivotal insight he shared was his aversion to any writing that wasn’t rooted in creativity. This deep-seated passion for imaginative storytelling became a driving force that steered him toward a future in screenwriting.
As time went on, Wilson’s passion for creative writing took a backseat as other interests and sports began to dominate his life. After graduating from high school, he enrolled at St. Cloud State University to complete his general education courses, but quickly realized it wasn’t the right fit for him. Taking a couple of years off, Wilson explored different creative writing outlets, such as short stories and novels, but found the process overwhelming. Eventually, he discovered the foundational tools and resources available in screenwriting, a format he felt was the “perfect fit” to unleash his creative mind.
Prior to his days at Metro State, Wilson found an Intro to Screenwriting class available at North Hennepin Community College (NHCC). There, he learned the fundamentals of screenwriting. However, he soon realized that there were no further classes or programs at NHCC, so Wilson discovered the four-year program for screenwriting at Metro State. Intrigued by the program, the academic standing of the school, and the overall environment; he decided to apply and enroll at Metro State for the screenwriting program.
Upon arriving at Metro State, Wilson connected with Associate Professor Jeremy Bandow, the head of the screenwriting department. He recognized Bandow as an outstanding professor with the potential to elevate his skills to “the next level.” Wilson admires Bandow’s extensive background and experience, as well as his commitment to sharing his expertise with students. Known for his “hands-on” approach, Professor Bandow ensures students dive into their scripts early in the process. His teaching style emphasizes direct discussion and open communication, creating an engaging and interactive learning environment.
With the skills he’s been honing in the screenwriting program, Wilson has crafted numerous scripts, many of which have progressed through second and third drafts. He hopes that the techniques and knowledge gained from his classes will pave the way for opportunities in the film and television industry. While he remains optimistic about finding a gig or writing opportunity, Professor Bandow often shares the tough realities of breaking into the industry, drawing from his own experiences.
Wilson explained that Bandow emphasizes the challenges of navigating the tightly knit filmmaking world, where close connections are essential and securing a spot with a major studio can be incredibly difficult. Although this perspective may seem a bit pessimistic, it provides invaluable insight into what to expect and how to handle rejection in such a competitive field. Having taken some of the same courses alongside Faith, I’ve also gained an understanding of the numerous hurdles screenwriters face—budgets, query letters, pitch decks, and countless other challenges—all in pursuit of having our scripts recognized.
As Wilson progresses through the screenwriting program at Metro State, he continues to refine his resumé, preparing for the challenges of the film and television industry. With graduation just around the corner, he’s optimistic that the skills he’s gained will serve him well as he steps into the grand world of filmmaking. Bringing a script to life on screen is no small feat, and earning audience admiration is an even greater challenge. I wish the best of luck to Faith as he pursues his dreams in the film industry. Wilson’s feature screenplay, Past Transgressions is currently on Metro State’s Lakes List.