Facebook is a marvellous communication tool. You can catch up with friends, reunite with long-lost school pals, start groups that ally you with like-minded souls, set up pages for self or business promotion…the list is endless. However, would it have ever have occurred to anyone, let alone a fifteen year-old schoolboy marred by disability, to use the world’s most famous social networking platform to accumulate creative material for a screenwriting project?
Jonathan Champion is a determined young man. Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at aged six months, Jon’s parents were told that he may never speak, walk or do for himself. Now, aged fifteen years, Jon not only does all that the doctors foretold he may not, but he also attends a mainstream school, play’s football, has won awards for physical education in school and, most significantly, writes.
Jon has an ear for sharp scripting. An insatiable fan of hit TV shows such as Grey’s Anatomy and The Big Bang Theory, Jon is continuously impressed and inspired by superior writing. Young Master Champion has a plethora of words in his own vocabulary, and a million compelling stories to tell which sit neatly stored in his abundant imagination. One such story has come to the forefront – and Jon is now the creator of a revolutionary new television show.
Chyler High, being written as we speak, has a group on Facebook which invites members of the public to contribute ideas, jokes, anecdotes and suggestions which Jon will then use as a source of inspiration in his writing. Members of the group are kept regularly updated as to the latest stage of development in the scriptwriting process, as well as exclusive sneak previews of finished dialogue. Contributors are asked to understand that they will not receive a named credit on the show should their post be used in any way – that is not the point. Ultimately, Jon already has his story – what he is looking for from his Facebook group members are snappy one-liners and amusing, real-life stories to flesh out the piece.
This method could revolutionise the traditional relationship between the fan and the material in question, and is a truly inspirational approach to the creation of a piece of entertainment. It produces a fan base who are invited to take part in the creative process. Eventual fans of the show will experience feelings of a personal connection to it, and this sense of involvement will cause audiences to have a real kinship with the show.
Upon reading the script for Episode One of Chyler High, it is reminiscent of nineties teenage sensation, Dawson’s Creek, only with relevance in today’s world and without the implausible discourse. These are American teens in high school, yes. However, unlike Dawson and the gang, whilst the characters of Chyler quip amongst themselves with rapier-sharp wit and canny awareness, they are real, relatable characters with spirit and heart. Storylines for both the students and the teachers run adjacent to each other, and, with the focus on relationships, it highlights that both teens and adults experience love with all its trials and tribulations in very similar ways. Jon understands that no matter how old we are, we are always learning about ourselves through the people we love and growing as individuals. The script exhibits evidence of profound intelligence and insight from one so young, and is proof-positive that Champion is a bright young talent to watch for on the horizon.
Emma Champion caught up with Jon to talk life, love and screenwriting…
What was your main source of inspiration for the creation of Chyler High?
Main sources of inspiration for me would be the brilliant minds of ShondaRhimes and Chuck Lorre. Shonda is responsible for what I believe is the greatest, most underrated achievement in television, Grey’s Anatomy. The characters are beautifully crafted and the show itself is divinely written. Chuck Lorre is partly responsible for the funniest television show The Big Bang Theory, so much research and dedication is incorporated into this show and it makes me say “Yeah, I want to be responsible for an achievement that’s as ground breaking as that.”
Do you base your characters on people you have known or met in real life?
The characters are people I wished to have met in real life, some of the people I am forced to share a classroom with everyday make me feel as if it’s just as good if not better to create people rather than settle for the ones who take life as a joke.
Why did you decide to utilise Facebook as a tool in the creative process, and how has it assisted you in your writing?
I believe that some people think that Facebook is a pathway to trouble and abuse so I thought I should change people’s opinions by create something revolutionary, original and productive. It has assisted me because as fate would have it, people have openly expressed their feelings towards the site using words that I feel are unsuitable for this interview and this gives me the urge to go and create something that will inevitably prove them wrong.
What has your own experience of High School been like?
My school experiences have been somewhat enlightening, I’ve met people who are worth meeting and people who are not and it’s the contrast that baffles me more than anything else.
What is it that fascinates you about relationships?
The things that are not expected; an individual can show instant change when they become involved in a relationship and reveal who they really are.
How do you feel your disability has been a positive influence on who you are?
It has made me realise that so many people in today’s society take their living situations for granted and I ultimately want to show people that everyone can accomplish something amazing despite the obstacles they face in their lives.
Once Season One is written and complete, what will be your plan of action for bringing Chyler High to our screens?
Well, after Sixth Form I want to travel to the wondrous city of Los Angeles and try to meet the right people and show them what I am capable of but no matter what happens, I will have a decent portfolio of work under my belt.
What advice would you give to anyone out there aspiring to follow in your footsteps?
Be true to yourself as a writer and artist; create something that you believe in not something that you feel will please everyone else in the world. Also, giving up is the worst crime you can commit as a writer because you may have a poorly constructed screenplay with a diabolical plot but when you surrender, you declare yourself as the average Joe whereas if you’ve written a bad script, at least you’re getting closer to the person you want to be.
Look for Chyler High on Facebook, and follow on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/Chyler_High
This is an amazing success!!!
I will have to tune in and check out the latest at Chyler High!!!
This was a seriously quite superior submit. In theory I’d prefer to create like this also – getting time and actual effort to make a fantastic piece of writing… but what can I say… I procrastinate alot and by no means seem to obtain some thing done.