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Caroline Thompson
Caroline Thompson
01:19

Caroline Thompson

"Edward Scissorhands" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas"

Ojai, CA USA

"All I can say is the power of the imagination is so great-and I'm not talking about creating this work or that work-I'm just saying in terms of getting you on the channel or the path that's really yours."

Career Roadmap

Caroline's work combines: Film, Writing, and Being Creative

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Day In The Life

Writer

I'm a screenwriter known for writing the screenplays for "Edward Scissorhands" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas."

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    English Language and Literature, General

    Amherst College

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life has been direct

  • 1.

    Knew she wanted to be a writer from a very young age.

  • 2.

    Was originally scared of movies; went to see "The Time Machine" when she was young and it terrified her.

  • 3.

    When she was 16, took a creative writing class; a "real writer" came in and singled out her story as "the real deal."

  • 4.

    In college, paid her rent by working at a movie theater; was exposed to Truffaut, Goddard, Fellini: classic filmmakers.

  • 5.

    After college, she bartended and worked on her first novel. Knew she wanted to write the novel but anxiety kept slowing her down.

  • 6.

    Took 18 months to write the first draft, finished at age 25, threw it away because it was so bad.

  • 7.

    Rewrote it in three months; had a friend pretend to be a literary agent, sold it to an editor she admired.

  • 8.

    After that one big triumph, it was hard to move on, but she'd accomplished her goal and knew she do whatever she wanted from there.