Meet M.R. Fitzgerald

We were lucky to catch up with M.R. Fitzgerald recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have M.R. with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

My strong work ethic was forged in my childhood on our farm in West Central Minnesota, where my parents worked tirelessly on my grandparents’ conventional chemical farmstead. My grandparents, who used religion to maintain control over the family, threw us off the farm when I was eight years old, and this event fractured the family irreparably. The unexpected event caused my parents to leave their previous way of life and start their own organic farming business. Although more demanding, this new venture provided healthy food, benefited the environment, and offered an escape from their previous toxic work environment and family life. My parents taught me that anyone can overcome what seems impossible with hard work and problem-solving. My upbringing also taught me that nothing is worth sacrificing your life and mental health. Everything is temporary.
My grandmother on my mother’s side also demonstrated a strong work ethic that heavily influenced me. She grew up in a sod house near the Badlands of the Great Plains, served in the Army Aircore in the European theater of operations, and, along the way, acted in a feature film during World War II while crossing the Atlantic Ocean on the Queen Mary, and raised a large family on a small West Central Minnesotan farm. She was passionate about her garden, chickens, scrapbooks, and reading. This showed me that hard work is essential for forging your path, and her thirst for knowledge and adventure significantly impacted me.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m a screenwriter and filmmaker from West Central Minnesota who uses horror, action-adventure, and art cinema elements to explore the lasting effects of trauma and the journey of healing. This journey fascinates me and allows me to experience catharsis through my work.
Growing up, my brother and I escaped into the worlds of action/comedy movies and ’90s music while my parents fought to free themselves from my grandparents’ oppressive control. I was eager to expand my horizons beyond the prairie lands of Minnesota and the confines of my strict religious upbringing through written works by authors like R.L. Stine, Willa Cather, Alice Hoffman, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and William Shakespeare. My appetite for knowledge grew with every book I read. I was drawn to the excitement of horror, fantasy, and nonfiction survival stories. Despite criticism from teachers and peers, I couldn’t resist these genres and craved more.
I’ve always been a storyteller, starting with characters and plots and eventually using art and film to express my ideas. Studying at the University of Minnesota Morris and obtaining an MFA from Ohio University expanded my filmmaking skills. I’ve worked in the Hollywood industry for companies like Hulu and Partizan while pursuing independent film projects in Minnesota.
My screenplays and films have received recognition in many film festivals and screenplay competitions, both national and international. For instance, my pilot script, “Ferals,” and the short drama “Joe” were Second Rounders at the Austin Film Festival. “The Boneyard” won Best Horror Short Screenplay at the Austin Revolution Film Festival and the Grand Prize at Barnstorm and placed or won at additional genre festivals. “People in A Box” won 7 Best Screenplay awards and placed at BlueCat, Golden Script Competition, and Atlanta Film Festival. “Kindness Coins” was placed at Hollyshorts and Screencraft and was a finalist considered for production by Hawk Films in London.
Currently, I am raising funds to produce my short screenplays. I’m also continuing to develop my longer projects, including future seasons of the “Ferals” series. While the future is always unknown, I intend to continue creating as long as I have the ideas and drive to do so.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The notion that “writing is like having homework for the rest of your life” is a cliche for a reason. Given the extensive research each project demands, a passion for learning is crucial in this field. Each project requires an in-depth investigation into the subject matter and the craft itself, as the filmmaking process constantly evolves, necessitating a continuous learning curve. This was evident in my short films, each of which presented unique challenges, from shooting on 16mm black and white film stock for “The Wicked Messenger” and “The Crosswalk Talk,” telling a complete narrative using only silhouettes in “VIII,” and choreographing fight scenes that appeared violent but were safe for the cast and crew to execute in “Reunion.” Every screenplay or film becomes a distinctive and exciting journey once you embrace a love of learning.

My second most important quality is empathy. As a child, my parents taught me to “treat people how I’d want to be treated.” However, my time in the industry taught me that other people do not keep that same code of conduct, so the other piece of advice that I constantly remind myself of is to “talk to myself like I’d speak to my best friend.” I’ve always been quick to defend a crewmate or cast member on set but haven’t always shown myself the same kindness. Maintaining empathy for others and myself is essential for preserving my passion for the film industry amidst its inherent challenges. I’ll add that empathizing and sharing characters’ feelings, even the antagonists, is crucial for creating a meaningful and engaging cinematic experience. Maintain empathy in all your interactions — with yourself, others, and the characters you create.

My third essential quality is tenacity, which some may see as stubbornness. Since I was young, I’ve felt a need to fix what is wrong. It’s an intuitive feeling I can’t ignore. I remember a childhood game of hide-and-seek at night on a neighbor’s farm where I refused to enter an unfamiliar area in the dark, even though the neighbor girls were pressuring me to. I told them I wouldn’t until we knew what was in there. One girl reluctantly agreed but complained that it would be my fault if we lost the game. We turned on a flashlight and saw that it was a deep abandoned well. If I had listened to the girls and “gone along to get along,” I would be dead. This persistence is still crucial in my career in the independent film industry. It allows me to stay focused on completing a film despite obstacles and negative feedback while preventing dangerous behavior on set. This quality ensures that current projects are seen through to completion and helps me stay enthusiastic about new ventures. Despite the rapid pace of life and external pressures, it’s crucial to heed your inner strength and let it steer you towards your goals.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

My ideal collaborators are passionate and dedicated to their craft. They are willing to combine their unique styles with mine to produce exceptional cinematic work. I value a genuine thirst for creative exploration and a willingness to evolve as both an artist and an individual. For example, while working on my short film “The Wolf,” the cast, crew, and I had in-depth conversations about cults and the survivor’s mindset. We discussed how, even after escaping, survivors sometimes can’t shake the trauma and regret. This collaborative exploration enriched the film and imparted valuable lessons that stayed with us long after filming ended and we parted ways. I aim to build future partnerships based on this collaborative model.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

M.R. Fitzgerald
Crown Media

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