Liesl Lafferty
Why did you choose your program at UBC and what did you enjoy most about it?
After graduating from the University of Guelph in the 1990s, I moved to Vancouver and my first job was directing a play at UBC’s Brave New Play Rites Festival. I fell in love with the campus and the people. For many years, I attended plays at the Frederic Wood Theatre and the Dorothy Somerset Studio and followed the careers of graduate filmmakers. When I decided to apply for an MFA, I picked the path that scared me the most, at an institution that I have always held in high esteem.
What were some of your most meaningful experiences at UBC?
The people in both of my departments are wonderful, but my favourite events were the ones that took me into spaces filled with folks from across the campus, such as the workshops with GPS, ISW and Conflict Theatre @UBC.
What choices did you make at UBC that contributed to your career success / journey?
Everything I did helped me. There were plenty of writing and teaching opportunities, and at CiTR I created a podcast. I still use all of the skills I learned.
Being a teaching assistant (TA) was fantastic for me. I describe it as ‘a bit of free education,’ combined with hard, rewarding work and a great deal of fun. Within my TA positions and department opportunities, I was also able to deliver several guest lectures, which challenged my skills and highlighted my personal strengths.
What was your first job after graduation and what other jobs did you have before your current position?
I am a freelance script writer, dramaturg and story editor. I facilitate writing groups professionally and consult a diverse community on script writing of all kinds.
Is your current career path as you originally intended? What challenges did you face in launching your career?
Since graduating, I’ve been a freelance artist, my biggest challenge is to continue to ‘pound the pavement’ to sustain a living wage, or better. The upside is, most of my time is spent creating art.
What do you like about your current job and what do you find challenging? How does it relate to your degree?
I am an artist. In my degree, there was plenty of practical experience. Now, it is as though I have had professionals vet my material and I am letting it loose on the world.
From your experience, what has been the value of having an Arts degree?
The greatest value of my degree was exposure to like-minded people. I was taught, partnered and mentored by professionals and high-quality educators. On my curriculum vitae, and other places, it shows that I achieved an MFA at UBC and it matters to other professionals and employers.
What advice would you give to students and alumni interested in breaking into your industry?
Finish your scripts, outlines and pitches. This was advice passed down to me, and it was the right thing to do. Many people would bring bits and pieces into workshops without completing any one thing, but I strived to have one set of eyes see me through a whole draft of every project. This advice has prepared me to seize many post-grad opportunities with ease and confidence.
What advice would you give to your first-year self?
In my first year, I focused too much on good grades. Granted, by having top marks in my class UBC rewarded me with scholarships, but there are so many activities, events and learning opportunities on campus, I was happier in my second year with a more balanced approach. Other good advice… listen first, volunteer in class, arrive early and stay late. GO TO OFFICE HOURS!
Liesl Lafferty
Why did you choose your program at UBC and what did you enjoy most about it?
After graduating from the University of Guelph in the 1990s, I moved to Vancouver and my first job was directing a play at UBC’s Brave New Play Rites Festival. I fell in love with the campus and the people. For many years, I attended plays at the Frederic Wood Theatre and the Dorothy Somerset Studio and followed the careers of graduate filmmakers. When I decided to apply for an MFA, I picked the path that scared me the most, at an institution that I have always held in high esteem.
What were some of your most meaningful experiences at UBC?
The people in both of my departments are wonderful, but my favourite events were the ones that took me into spaces filled with folks from across the campus, such as the workshops with GPS, ISW and Conflict Theatre @UBC.
What choices did you make at UBC that contributed to your career success / journey?
Everything I did helped me. There were plenty of writing and teaching opportunities, and at CiTR I created a podcast. I still use all of the skills I learned.
Being a teaching assistant (TA) was fantastic for me. I describe it as ‘a bit of free education,’ combined with hard, rewarding work and a great deal of fun. Within my TA positions and department opportunities, I was also able to deliver several guest lectures, which challenged my skills and highlighted my personal strengths.
What was your first job after graduation and what other jobs did you have before your current position?
I am a freelance script writer, dramaturg and story editor. I facilitate writing groups professionally and consult a diverse community on script writing of all kinds.
Is your current career path as you originally intended? What challenges did you face in launching your career?
Since graduating, I’ve been a freelance artist, my biggest challenge is to continue to ‘pound the pavement’ to sustain a living wage, or better. The upside is, most of my time is spent creating art.
What do you like about your current job and what do you find challenging? How does it relate to your degree?
I am an artist. In my degree, there was plenty of practical experience. Now, it is as though I have had professionals vet my material and I am letting it loose on the world.
From your experience, what has been the value of having an Arts degree?
The greatest value of my degree was exposure to like-minded people. I was taught, partnered and mentored by professionals and high-quality educators. On my curriculum vitae, and other places, it shows that I achieved an MFA at UBC and it matters to other professionals and employers.
What advice would you give to students and alumni interested in breaking into your industry?
Finish your scripts, outlines and pitches. This was advice passed down to me, and it was the right thing to do. Many people would bring bits and pieces into workshops without completing any one thing, but I strived to have one set of eyes see me through a whole draft of every project. This advice has prepared me to seize many post-grad opportunities with ease and confidence.
What advice would you give to your first-year self?
In my first year, I focused too much on good grades. Granted, by having top marks in my class UBC rewarded me with scholarships, but there are so many activities, events and learning opportunities on campus, I was happier in my second year with a more balanced approach. Other good advice… listen first, volunteer in class, arrive early and stay late. GO TO OFFICE HOURS!
