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Neumann University

Neumann Inspires

Brad Ingelsby

Home > Neumann Inspires Film Festival > Brad Ingelsby

Neumann University thanks Ann and Mark Baiada for their sponsorship, which provides critical support for the Neumann Inspires Film Festival.

 

Q&A with Mare of Easttown Emmy-Winner Brad Ingelsby

Brad-Ingelsby-during-the-Q-ABrad Ingelsby, the Emmy Award-winning writer and producer of HBO’s Mare of Easttown, was also once an adjunct professor at Neumann University. This spring, he’ll return to campus a special guest for the first-ever Neumann Inspires Film Festival, a free event that will be happening March 31 and April 1, 2023.

We caught up with Brad to ask him a few questions about his involvement with Neumann and the Aston community, and also his work in the entertainment industry. Here’s what he had to say:

I actually grew up in Berwyn which is in Chester County. But most of my relatives live in Delaware County. My parents grew up there (Springfield and Drexel Hill) and my wife was born and raised in Aston. I feel a deep connection to that place and, most importantly, I feel I can write about its people with honesty and authenticity.

I taught at Neumann right after getting my MFA in Screenwriting. I graduated but felt I still needed to work on my craft so I moved back to Pennsylvania and worked in finance and as a part-time professor. I remember the students being eager to learn and passionate about the campus and the school’s mission. It was a wonderful place to teach.

I sold a screenplay. A project I wrote got into the hands of an agent who was able to get it into the hands of producers and directors. Eventually that screenplay (later released as the film Out of the Furnace) was purchased. Using that money, I moved back to LA permanently and started my career as a full-time writer.

Write what you’re passionate about. I often talk to writers who are chasing a trend, or attempting to recreate a successful film or genre. What’s most important is writing what you’re passionate about. The passion will come through on the page.

At first it’s quite intimidating, but you quickly realize you’re there to do a job and they’re also there to do a job and you need to get over any fears and get to work.

We brought the project to HBO because of their storied history in TV. HBO is the best of the best, I believe, and we wanted to aim high with Mare. Luckily, HBO had worked with Kate before and were eager to get back into business with her.

It was wonderful. It’s not often that you get to film a show or movie where it’s actually set. Typically you’re attempting to make the location look like someplace else. I’m incredibly grateful to HBO for allowing us to shoot here in Pennsylvania. In addition, I got to be home with my family and my wife’s family. So that extra layer of being surrounded by family and friends made the experience even better.

It’s always nice to be recognized for your work. That’s not why I write, of course, but it’s a wonderful feeling to have the work get acknowledged in that way. More than anything, I was thrilled for Kate, Julianne, and Evan who worked so hard, committed so deeply to their roles, and deserved the accolades.

Storytelling gets me excited. I’m always thrilled to see a new generation of creators inspiring people through storytelling.

The Neumann Inspires Film Festival offers a huge thank you to Brad for sharing these insights and for being the keynote speaker at our inaugural fest! We look forward to having him back on campus.