SCREENWRITER Connecting with Screenwriter Kenneth Lemm Faith and community, in life and career, keep this writer on solid ground By Tess Farmer A tlanta-based screenwriter Ken Lemm recently took top prizes at two notable film festivals for his feature-length family drama Candlelight Service. The son of an Air Force pilot, Lemm lived and traveled all over the world. Developing a love for reading and architecture, he established his own successful landscape design firm as his first career and professional pursuit. “Wherever we’d be, we’d only be there two
years, therefore I was always seen as the new kid, the outsider,” he says. “As a result, I’d escape to new worlds through reading.” That lifestyle had him longing for community and stability. He always held a passion for writing and would use it in business and marketing endeavors, but it wasn’t until 2008 that he had the ability to step away from the design firm and spend more time writing. “I have always been driven to understand why people do the things they do, so I’m drawn to writing about characters and their motivations,” notes Lemm. “Our faith, and our relationships with friends and family affect how we see the world and make us who we are.” He adds, “It was a pleasant surprise to discover how supportive the film and writing industries were, especially as I was starting out and applying for screenplay competitions and film festivals.” Lemm has been based in and around Atlanta since graduating from college. The burgeoning film and screenwriting community has become the community of support that’s allowing his career as a screenwriter to flourish. “While talent, originality and timing are obvious necessities to a successful writing career, so, too, are relationships,” he states. “This includes the interaction with peers of all experience levels via social media, writers’ groups, or film festivals.” Fellow writers have proven to be invaluable allies, Lemm has found, stating, “I’ve been impressed with the willingness of fellow writers to share experiences, notes, and even leads. In most cases, we are not in competition with other writers except in actual screenplay contests and film festivals. In real life, shared experiences, leads and opportunities, seem to strengthen all writers involved.” Lemm’s creative focus is predominantly in the faith- based, family-friendly genre.
Two of his most recent projects are Candlelight Service , a feature-length drama centered around the Daniels family as they navigate real-life ups and downs during the holidays, and he’s recently completed an hour-long drama series called One of Us . His first screenplay, Drum , an ac- tion/romance feature, was a winner in the Industry Insider contest co-spon- sored by The Writers’ Store and pro- ducer Simon Kinberg. Since then he has completed more than two dozen feature scripts, with six award-winning feature films ( A Horse for Summer, The
Kenneth Lemm
Photo by Denis Reggie
Sparrows: Nesting, Saved by Grace, Another Tango, Runnin’ from My Roots, and Fishes ‘n Loaves ), and two short films produced ( These Foolish Things and That Good Night ). Runnin’ from My Roots, starring Janelle Arthur and Deana Carter, along with its popular country music soundtrack, was so well received a sequel is soon in the works. “When it comes down to it, short of our individual faith, our relationships with our families affect how we see the world and make us who we are. I love that, for the most part, my films can be viewed and appreciated by all ages,” Lemm adds.
“ While talent, originality and timing are obvious necessities to a
successful writing career, so, too, are relationships. ”
www.kenlemmscreenwriter.com
30 | THE GEORGIA HOLLYWOOD REVIEW | FALL 2022
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