Tom Schulman, "Dead Poets Society" screenwriter, visits UGA Department of Religion

Greeted by a round of applause from a class full of students, "Dead Poets Society" screenwriter and Academy Award winner Tom Schulman visited UGA on April 10. Schulman was interviewed by religion professor and department head Derrick Lemons about his process writing the film and his experiences in the movie industry as a part of Lemons’ Anthropology of American Religion course.

Students watched the film to prepare for Schulman’s visit, which made the discussion with its writer all the more compelling. Lemons prompted Schulman to describe his journey of making the film. He explained that getting studios to pick up the script was a long process, filled with rejection and mishaps, but through it all Schulman persevered. 

After the talk, several of the students reflected on the experience.

“My biggest takeaway is that there isn’t a single 'correct' path in life, and you shouldn’t let what others might consider failure discourage you from forging your own,” said senior Religion major Timothy Thomas. 

College students struggling to pursue their passions can take inspiration from Schulman’s story. When asked why the film still resonates with audiences today, Schulman said that the theme of standing up for what you believe in crosses generations. Emma Allen, Senior Anthropology, was interested in how Schulman’s perception of the characters changed by the actors. He talked about how Robin Williams’ improvisation brought the character John Keating alive. 

“When 'Dead Poet’s Society' came out, I was the same age as the boys in the film,” said Rachel Balducci, a doctoral student in religion. “Now my own children are that age, and I have to say it works from both perspectives (as one of the dreaming students and as a parent with hopes and dreams for my kids). It is a movie that has held up over time and teaches good lessons on the importance of sucking the marrow out of life and of living life to the fullest. It was also really interesting to hear from Tom about the process of getting the movie made — his story was equally inspiring as an encouragement to work hard and to be patient with the process.”

In addition to discussing "Dead Poets Society," Schulman shared his experiences in the film industry and gave advice for aspiring students. He explained the pressure for screenwriters to consistently produce big hit movies. Even though various factors outside of screenwriters' control determine what movie becomes a hit, this pressure still affects job opportunities. He advised students who want to get into the film industry to take advantage of modern technology. Creating unique projects is much easier with smartphones and social media. Putting these ideas out there is a great way to get the attention of studios.

“A big takeaway from the interview with Tom Schulman was about his perseverance,” said Benito Emrich-Branche, a junior, anthropology major. “Mr. Schulman wrote his script, and it took years to be approved. Not everything in life must follow a set plan. Often things don’t work out immediately, you need to be patient and put in the work.”

After the formal interview, Schulman was eager to meet with students to discuss the "Dead Poets Society," the film industry, and much more. Students were excited to further discuss the themes of a film they watched in class and hear more advice on screenwriting. 

“I really enjoyed hearing all that went into 'Dead Poet's Society' and how passionate Mr. Schulman was about getting his movie made the way he envisioned,” said Carrie Keown, a junior Agribusiness major. “It really showed me how much perseverance goes into creating a passion project, such as this amazing movie.”

Lemons appreciated the students' enthusiasm about the experience. “It was an honor to introduce students from my Anthropology and American Religion course to Tom Schulman after we watched 'Dead Poets Society'in class. The film reveals many of the underlying worldview assumptions held by Americans,” he said. “Decades later, Tom’s story continues to resonate deeply with students as they reflect on their calling in life. They also walked away with a powerful lesson in the perseverance required to bring such a meaningful film to life.”

Image: From left, Tom Schulman, Professor Derrick Lemons and students take a selfie. Photo by Gareth Rose.