This Film Is For Writers: "Fits and Starts"

'Fits and Starts'

Fits and Starts was the 2017 directorial debut of Lauren Terruso who also wrote the screenplay. There's a line in the film, "Two writers, one marriage," which is a suitable scenario of the plot line. David (Wyatt Cenac) and Jennifer (Greta Lee) are both writers who met in college, fell in love, got married and now live in New York City where only one of them is achieving literary success. 

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Greta Lee in 'Fits and Starts'

I have always felt that writers are needy people, much more so than other creative types. They need not only validation, but constant material. Writers will do anything for novel fodder (a writer friend once told me). The film offers a view into what it is like to be a writer, married to a writer and everything that comes with it. A pretentious artists salon in Connecticut where you can't buy a bottle of wine after sundown to save your life to celebrated book readings at a cool downtown bookstore. What really shapes this film is the urging question that most writers face is how or should I play the game? The publishing world is a big, fat, game of looks, talent and business savvy. Fits and Starts is movie about two people who want fame at some level, while definitely craving recognition and love.  

*Originally published June 2018, updated October 10, 2021.


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