November 2023

November 2023
Michael Notarile

(BA, Audio, Video & Film, ’07)

Q & A:

1. What was your favorite class, who was your favorite professor, or what is your fondest memory of Hofstra?
   My favorite class was either pottery (because it was really weird) or film analysis on Martin Scorsese’s filmography (because Marty is my hero). My favorite professor was Professor Aashish Kumar because he empowers his students to be creative and take chances, and he offers practical in-field experience that replicates the real world. My fondest memory of Hofstra was any experience I had with my eccentric roommate – who became the foundation for a character in everything I’ve ever written.
2. In one word, how would you describe Hofstra?
   Transformative.
3. What was your first job after graduating from Hofstra, and what was the most valuable thing you learned there?
   My first job was an unpaid internship, while at Hofstra, for Tribeca Productions, where I learned the value of screenwriting. Previously, I was more focused on directing. Here, I also learned the value of networking, which, hate it or love it, is crucial in the entertainment industry.
4. What is your field of specialty, and how did you come to work in the industry?
   I am a film and television writer. A very long story short, it took years of persistence, networking, and writing, which allowed me to move up the ranks from assistant to staff writer, etc. This was not an overnight success story, as most are not, and I share this to illuminate the value of patience and perseverance in the face of rejection.
5. What is a typical day like for a writer in Hollywood?
   Think of it like an adult playground where there are lots of couches instead of monkey bars, but still the same amount of arguing and laughter. Sometimes, we even write, too!
6. What is the least favorite part of your job?
   The first draft is always the most intimidating. A history professor once said this to me: “Writing is rewriting.” He was spot on. The first draft feels like a big hurdle, which, after you jump it, the real work begins.
7. How do you balance work and life?
   I am learning that every day. One thing I think my generation got wrong is the idea that you have to work harder than the next person. Yes, of course, it’s important to grind away. But, you don’t want to grind yourself into dust. I think the new generation is better able to understand and implement boundaries. You don’t have to work harder than the next person. You have to work smarter and more efficiently than the next person. Then, you have earned that time away because rest and recovery are just as important to the creative process as work. For me, that means movie nights with my family or creating specific schedules of time periods where I am working and periods where I am not.
8. Who was the person who most influenced you, and how?
   On a personal level, my grandfather’s resilience has always added fuel to my tank. On a professional level, Martin Scorsese’s ability to capture “the less thans” and make them feel just as important as the average person has transformed my voice as a writer. Raging Bull helped me better understand my father. On a personal-professional level, all of my colleagues that I have worked with over the last two decades have inspired me in some sort of way. There is something to be learned from everyone – even if it's a habit or trait that you DON’T want to emulate … and understanding why.
9. What advice would you give Hofstra students?
   Don’t buy into the overnight success story of Hollywood. Stay patient, but persistent. Keep engaging in your craft at every chance possible. Reach out and network. A cold email, at worst, gets ignored. At best, it elevates your career, like it did for me. And always remember it’s never personal. Even rejection. Maintain your voice always, while remaining flexible to outside thoughts that best elevate you.