Film alum Jeff Howard shares career insights with TU students
His movie credits include "Occulus," Before I Wake," Ouija: Origin of Evil" and "I Know What You Did Last Summer" coming in 2017.
By Sedonia Martin on October 27, 2016
“Go there!” referring to Los Angeles, California, was the advice Jeff Howard, ‘03, gave to Towson University electronic media and film (EMF) students on developing their film careers.
Howard, co-writer of “Ouija: Origin of Evil,” a Universal Pictures film, wrote the film with fellow TU alum Mike Flanagan, ‘02, who also directed. Speaking to several EMF classes on Thursday, Oct. 20, including Professor Marc May’s film media writing class, Howard was visiting campus prior to a free screening of the film exclusively to TU EMF students at the Cinemark Towson and XD.
“Ouija: Origin of Evil,” set in 1965 Los Angeles, California, tells a terrifying tale of a widowed mother and her two daughters who add a new stunt to bolster their séance scam business and unwittingly invite authentic evil into their home. When the youngest daughter is overtaken by the merciless spirit, this small family confronts unthinkable fears to save her and send her possessor back to the other side.
Howard shared his rise to a successful film writing career advising students to “write it, and write it over and over again until it’s good.” Howard told the students, “Be nice to people and be yourself when you meet people always treat people with respect.”
He has written for film and television and co-executive produced TV mini-series including “The Make of the Mob: New York” “American Genius,” “The World Wars,” and “Gold Fever.” His movie credits include “Oculus,” “Before I Wake,” “Ouija: Origin of Evil” and “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” coming in 2017.
Howard talked of his career development and how he’s learned that maintaining relationships is extremely important in the film industry. Howard’s best advice for students embarking on a film career was “keep pushing yourself.”
“Ouija: Origin of Evil,” by Universal Pictures opened in theaters nationwide Friday, October 21.