“Knowing,” the controversial, action-packed film released Friday was written by an alumna of the University’s creative writing program.  University graduate Juliet Snowden made it big in Hollywood with her screenplay for this box office hit starring Nicholas Cage. The movie is controversial in its pursuit of deciphering religion and the theories of determinism versus randomness of the universe. Audiences had tremendous reactions to the film. Since its release, blogs have appeared that are devoted to the debate of this movie.  “I write from my heart and soul. Some people are going to get that; some people aren’t.” Snowden said. “And I’m OK with that. It’s what being an artist is all about.” It took Snowden a great amount of time, patience and sacrifice to get where she is today. Snowden explained the career trajectory of an artist is not as straightforward as other career options.  “Other people know their path,” Snowden said. “But an artist’s path is unpredictable and scary. You have to make sacrifices and you have to keep honing your craft.”Snowden accredits some of her creative influences to the University. “I loved LSU.” Snowden said. “The programs, students and teachers were really nurturing to my creativity.”  She explained she always felt at ease and inventive while at the University and said she was inspired by her professors.  Snowden graduated from the University with a degree in creative writing and English. After graduation, like many freshly graduated 22-year-olds, she still had no idea what she wanted to do as a career.  She decided leaving Louisiana was her best option and moved to Philadelphia and worked for an editing company.  “Sometimes it’s good to leave home and see the world.” Snowden said. “You can get more experience that way.”She explained post-graduation is a scary time for artists and writers. Snowden also said many writers avoid the challenge of working on their own writing and resort to editing.  “I wasn’t happy editing,” Snowden said. “A friend of mine asked me if I could do anything, what would it be, and I said film. And then there it was.” Snowden then began taking film classes and loved it. She attended University of Southern California and received a master’s degree in screenwriting.  Snowden now teams up with her husband, Styles White, to write screenplays and to work on rewrites for other scripts.  The couple’s first screenplay was a wedding horror story set in Snowden’s hometown of Natchitoches. After working on the script for two years, they were unable to sell it. However, the piece did help them receive a manager, an agent and meetings in Hollywood. She explained the majority of first scripts are not bought and there is typically a 10-year period of attempting to make it before an artist may succeed.   During this waiting period, Snowden and her husband worked full-time jobs to make ends meet and worked on their scripts at night. Snowden worked as a volunteer recruiter for a non-profit organization that renovated libraries and taught inner city children to read. White worked in the special effects department for Stan Winston Studios.  She explained that maintaining a social life under those circumstances was difficult, but the sacrifice was worth the accomplishment that came with the extra effort.Snowden’s big break came with her rewrite of “Boogeyman” in 2005, which aired in New Zealand and made $20 million.  She also worked on “The Need” which was released in 2006.  A remake of the 1982 film “Poltergeist” is Snowden’s next big venture. The movie will come out in 2011.—-Contact Lindsay Nunez at [email protected]