LaSalle Writes for Hollywood
Chant Writer
_______________________________
Dominguez Writes to Students
Cicilia Ruiz
Chant Writer
David Dominguez is an English instructor here at Reedley College. He teaches his students to craft words using tools like concrete images to draw a clear picture in the reader’s mind. In an interview with him, Dominguez argues that “images help make your stories clear. Clarity is important because it shows respect for the reader.”
You may have seen Ryan LaSalle around campus or taken one of his courses, but did you know LaSalle was a talented filmmaker? He is also a successful screenwriter who has won several screen writing contests. While he is an instructor who teaches the technicalities of literature and film at Reedley College, LaSalle also has the artistic mind of a brilliant story writer.
LaSalle is a central valley native who went to Fresno State where he earned both his Bachelors and his Masters in Composition Theory. He began teaching at Reedley College in 2005. He has taught English 1A (composition), Film 1 (intro to film studies), and English 15f (script writing). If you have ever taken LaSalle’s Film 1 intro to film studies course you would notice his passion for film making through his high level of enthusiasm for the subject, as well the depth of knowledge he possesses about the film industry. You are very likely to learn about future movies that would not be out for months and even years while taking his class.
When LaSalle was younger he used to shoot short films, but he decided to switch to script writing because he knew that would lead him into a better path towards the industry. “Film making has always been by hobby” says LaSalle “But I felt I had a better chance of making it if I switched to writing scripts.”
According to a review from ScriptShark.com, a professional screen writer analysis website, “Ryan LaSalle is a prolific writer, whose work has previously placed in Scriptapalooza and Creative Screenwriting Exo Contests…The logline for his material was sent to over 25 industry execs earlier today, and requests for the material are already rolling in.”
LaSalle is the mind behind a script titled “Fall of Dreams” (which is a re imagination of Hansel and Gretel) that has gotten a lot of success in big script writing contests. This script is the winner of the Screen Writing Expo, which had 2,600 other scripts submitted. The script was also a finalist in another screen writing contest called Scripto Palooza (top 30 out of 3500). “When I first started submitting scripts to competitions some of my scripts did not even get accepted into competitions” says LaSalle “It was through practice and improving that lead me to get where I am now.’ LaSalle also has another script titled “Ultra” that was a finalist in Scripto Palooza.
Mr. LaSalle hopes to find the right representation (agent) so that his screenplays can be noticed, thus leading him directly into the industry.
“I have been talking to a few individuals but I can’t give any information until things are made official” says Lasalle. Do not be surprised if you are at a movie theater watching a feature film one day and within the credits you see Ryan LaSalle named as the scriptwriter or perhaps the director.
“I have been talking to a few individuals but I can’t give any information until things are made official” says Lasalle. Do not be surprised if you are at a movie theater watching a feature film one day and within the credits you see Ryan LaSalle named as the scriptwriter or perhaps the director.
_______________________________
Dominguez Writes to Students
Cicilia Ruiz
Chant Writer
“Dominguez’ poignant narratives and carefully crafted images are charged with the intensity of honest investigation and experience” –Christopher Buckley
 |
| The Ghost of Cesar Chavez (Cover) |
His first book, Work Done Right, illustrates narrative poems about a man in his twenties named Abraham who worked at a sausage factory during the summer. Dominguez says, “If you want to be a writer, find a job doing hard labor because the work will lead to poetry,” and that’s exactly what he did. He writes about the long hours he spent hauling pork meat into a machine to make chorizo as the blood ran down his arms, and he writes about his red truck that took him all through the valley roads and highways.
Recently, he published The Ghost of César Chávez, where he dedicates the title of his book to the Hispanic leader who liberated and revolutionized the farm worker’s industry. His second book shows how he grew from a young man working at a factory, to a college professor buying a house for his wife.
Much like his first book, his poems are lined with stories about his family. He says, “You have to know where you come from if you want to write accessible poetry.” He reaches into his own family tree to write about relatives working in ranches and fields wanting something more, and he compares it to his own life as he sees his first home being built on an empty lot.
Dominguez recommends reading the poem titled “Reading,” which he dedicates to his students. In the poem, Dominguez describes how reading the book “Llanto por Ignacio Sanchez Mejia” by Federico Garcia Lorca changed his life and sent him to the desert to gaze at the stars. He was inspired by Lorca’s words to write, and hoped to one day be as good a writer as he.
Michael Castillo first took Dominguez’ English 125 class in 2008, and since then, has grown as a writer and has found his love for poetry. He enrolled in Dominguez’ English 1A class where “[Dominguez] continued to introduce new poetry and his lectures on poems were more advanced.” Castillo learned the literary devices that Dominguez taught, and was able to apply them to the lines of his poetry when he took Dominguez’ English 15A class. Castillo was thrilled to take his poetry class because “[He] would finally have the opportunity to show a published poet [his] poetry and in return receive creative feedback.” Castillo feels that it was in his poetry class where he grew as a poet because he learned how to craft a poem.
Castillo says, “Each time that I am in Mr. Dominguez’ classes, I feel that I grow as a poet, whether the lectures are based off of reading pros or poetry.”
Dominguez spent 10 years working on his book, so for all the young writers, he advises to “read as much good stuff as you can, learn the rules of writing, experience the world, learn your ancestry, develop thick skin, never take criticism personally, use criticism to become a better writer, and finally, you have to sit down and write.” Both of Dominguez’ books can be found in the college bookstore. Dominguez feels that reading is more important to young writers starting out, so grab a book, find a shady tree, and read.
Dominguez spent 10 years working on his book, so for all the young writers, he advises to “read as much good stuff as you can, learn the rules of writing, experience the world, learn your ancestry, develop thick skin, never take criticism personally, use criticism to become a better writer, and finally, you have to sit down and write.” Both of Dominguez’ books can be found in the college bookstore. Dominguez feels that reading is more important to young writers starting out, so grab a book, find a shady tree, and read.
