With a lifetime dedicated to honing their craft, Maya Peirce has proven themself to be a committed storyteller and teacher. Having been raised by a small-town newspaper editor and photojournalist, they adopted a natural work ethic and respect toward writing with the audience in mind. Growing up, Maya constantly searched for opportunities to tell stories and was lucky enough to be part of a community that fostered that ambition.
Maya first discovered screenwriting in 2015 at an intensive 2-week course in Superior, Nebraska (Lew Hunter's Superior Screenwriting Colony). Here, Maya fell into their own, surrounded by talented writers and professionals that became an indispensable resource - and an even better family. This launched a sense of purpose, passion, and curiosity for the mechanics of story structure and how they can be used to shape and affect individuals through narrative.
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Since then, Maya has deliberately focused their filmmaking career through the lens of a screenwriter. Fascination with the transition from script and screen led to trying on several brands of hats - director, 1st assistant director, sound mixer - the best to fit being the enthralling, yet demanding role of script supervisor. Translating action and dialogue into shots and takes became another language that shined new light on the screenwriting process.
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Maya strives to mix higher education and independent study to explore writing in all forms: prose, poetry, playwriting, etc. An obsession to study the depth and craft of words snowballed in college, inspiring a brand new endeavor: teaching. In their 2nd year at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Maya created a Feature-Length Screenwriting Workshop through the campus's film RSO. The informal class was strongly rooted in the lessons and practices learned during their time at Colony. For 3 years, the weekly gatherings promoted and nurtured the ideas and aspirations of freshmen and seniors alike.
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Founder of 2 other writing communities (No Excuses & ScriptSprints), Maya has dedicated their time and effort to provide themselves as a receptive and reliable mentor and resource. Maya has conducted several introductory lectures and one-on-one sessions on industry practices for both screenwriting and continuity. In Maya's time at the Johnny Carson School of Theatre & Film, they were regularly recognized as a mentor through the Buntain Comine Heart Award (2018) & Compass Award (2019, 2020). With every experience, Maya strives to bring what they learn back to their community and do whatever they can to inspire confidence and growth in fellow artists, collaborators, and friends.
There are a million and one writers out there, a million more stories.
Each deserves to be listened to - more importantly, heard.
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Maya attributes where they are today to the support of their family, close friends, and mentors. They keep to the belief that guidance and compassion are the keys to fostering creativity and unique storytelling.
They recently finished a feature-length screenplay, Chickadee Calling, as their thesis film. Along with a handful of other projects, they are currently devising an experimental piece, Verbatim - a mix of prose, playwriting, and sound design.