Alumna McKenzie Moser Earns Screenwriting Contest Fellowship, Credits Webster Education

Story by Micah Barnes, sophomore journalism major

The fourth time was a charm for Webster University graduate and University of Southern California graduate student McKenzie Moser. After applying three times, in March of this year Moser was a recipient of the Missouri Stories Fellowship, a screenwriting contest sponsored by the Missouri Film Commission. 

In being one of three winners, Moser participated in virtual labs and workshops in developing her feature script, “My Best Friend’s Ashes.” Moser had the opportunity to sit down and work (virtually) with industry professionals and mentors to perfect her script. The script came into fruition after the personal loss of two best friends.

“I just poured all my emotion into that script throughout the semester,” Moser said. “It just kind of poured out, you know, but it’s also a work of fiction at the same time.”

The script follows a young woman who is grieving with the loss of her best friend when she becomes acquainted with the spirit of the passed companion. After meeting, the two are granted one last summer together. The only catch is to be with her friend in spirit, the ashes of the deceased friend must be present as well. Of course, urns end up being dropped and the ashes end up being contained in a vacuum cleaner. 

After earning the opportunity to craft her work and pursue a higher education at the University of Southern California, Moser cites her achievements back to Webster University and the professors who helped her along the way. 

“Webster was wonderful,” Moser said. “I was a scriptwriting major and I would say I wouldn't be at USC, they would’ve never let me in, if it weren’t for Webster, my professors and the students. Specifically, Peter Hanrahan, Joe Schuster, Rachel Weinhaus and Kim Wylie.”

Professors remember and cherish working with Moser as well. Peter Hanrahan, Webster University scriptwriting instructor, recognized and now uplifts the talent of Moser.

“McKenzie’s a staggeringly talented writer and one whose original voice emerged nearly fully formed. She’s also a prolific writer – having written numerous feature-length (90-120 page) screenplays during her time at Webster, often drawing on her own life for inspiration but sometimes taking field trips, too, experimenting with storytelling structure and tone. Her short script “Cone Head,” for example (written for Scriptwriting’s “Writing the Short” course), follows an existential pet dog finding love across the fence. It’s a miniature tour de force. It’s no surprise to me, then, that she’s finding great success not just in the prestigious graduate screenwriting program at USC, one of the best out there, but also on the home front, as one of three winners of the Missouri Stories Fellowship with her hilarious, heartbreaking script My Best Friend’s Ashes.”  

Looking back on her career at Webster University, Moser urges current Webster students to take time to be criticized in order to produce something great.

“Listen to your teachers,” Moser said. “Learn from them, take notes. They know what they’re talking about. You have to be okay with people saying no. You have to be okay with people not liking your work and hating it. You have to be okay with being bad, and working until you’re less bad, and one day you may be good.”