TEACHING
Susan is an adjunct professor at Purchase College, SUNY. Previous teaching positions include visiting assistant professor at Pratt Institute, Tufts University, Harvard University Extension School, and School of Visual Arts. Susan presents international seminars, including a summer session at the Prague Film School in the Czech Republic.
GUEST SPEAKER
Susan presents film industry seminars for organizations and universities, including New York University, Boston University, Temple University, the New School, Lesley University Screenwriting MFA Program, Emerson and Hunter colleges, the Writers Guild of America, the Directors Guild of America, Writer’s Digest Conference, Screenwriting Expo, Screenwriters World Conference (NYC and L.A.), Scr(i)pt Magazine’s Pitch Xchange, Independent Feature Project, Independent Feature Film Market, New York Women in Film & Television, Women Make Movies, Women in Film/Video New England, Atlantic Film & Video Producers Conference in Canada, New England Screenwriters Conference.
PUBLICATIONS
Author of SAVVY CHARACTERS SELL SCREENPLAYS! and THE SAVVY SCREENWRITER. Susan’s work was featured in NOW WRITE! Screenwriting: Exercises by Today’s Best Screenwriters, Teachers and Consultants (Tarcher/Penguin) and MovieMaker Magazine’s Complete Guide to Making Movies.
Susan is a Senior Contributing Editor for Script Magazine, specializing in writer and filmmaker interviews, and international film festivals. Other publications include Writer’s Digest, the Writers Guild, IndieWire/SydneysBuzz, The Script Lab, Screenwriters Utopia, and MovieMaker Magazine.
Susan Kouguell Press Publications
SCREENWRITING/FILM GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPS
2022 recipient of the SUNY Purchase Faculty Support Award; Whitney Independent Study Program (ISP) fellow; MacDowell Fellow; Pen Grant; The Edward Albee Foundation Screenwriting Fellow; Jerome Foundation Production Grant; New York Foundation for the Arts Film Fellowship; Art Matters Inc. Screenwriting Fellowship; Cummington Community for the Arts Screenwriting Fellow; Creative Artists Public Service (CAPS) film production grant; Brooklyn Arts & Cultural Association 5 film production grants; and Artist’s Space Exhibition Funding Grant.
FEATURE FILM CREDITS
Over a dozen feature-film screenwriting assignments, including The Suicide Club (Anjelica Films), voice-over narrations for Miramax Films Murder One (Henry Thomas) and Dakota (Lou Diamond Phillips).
Film production: Louis Malle’s feature documentary And the Pursuit of Happiness – Production Coordinator/Research/Crew/Voiceover Narration Consultant. Rum & Coke – Associate Producer/Script Consultant; feature film written and directed by Maria Escobedo and Where The Rivers Flow North – Associate Producer/Script Consultant; feature film directed by Jay Craven, starring Rip Torn, Tantoo Cardinal, and Michael J. Fox.
JUDGE FOR SCREENWRITING COMPETITIONS AND FILM FESTIVALS
The Writers Lab (NYWIFT/WGA East – Meryl Streep); NYC Midnight Short Screenplay Challenge; Women in Film/New England Screenwriting Competition; Emerson College Screenwriting Awards; NH Film Festival; Maine Screenwriting Competition; Independent Feature Project Beigel Screenwriting Awards; School of Visual Arts Dusty Awards; A.C.E. Awards (National Academy of Cable Programming); Brooklyn Arts & Cultural Association Filmsearch, American Film Festival; Thomas Edison Black Maria Festival.
STUDIO EXPERIENCE
Story analyst and story editor: Miramax, Viacom, Paramount Pictures, and Dustin Hoffman’s Punch Productions.
Acquisitions consultant Republic Pictures, and sought directing talent and acquisitions for Warner Brothers.
ADDITIONAL FILM EXPERIENCE
Independent Feature Film Market: In conjunction with the Independent Feature Project, Susan developed the Script Section, offering consultations to hundreds of script directory registrants for five years.
Independent Feature Film Market Buyer Liaison: Worked with filmmakers and international film buyers/distributors/producers, looking to buy/sell feature films/videos for all markets.
SUSAN’S AWARD-WINNING SHORT FILMS
In 2017, Susan returned to making experimental films, working solo as the writer, director, producer and editor and receiving international screenings and awards.
Films from a few decades ago: Susan’s six award-winning short films in collaboration with Ernie Marrero are in the Museum of Modern Art permanent collection and archives, and were included in the Whitney Museum Biennial. Screenings in over 50 international festivals and museums include the Centre Pompidou Beaubourg Museum and the Hirshhorn Museum.
MUSIC and POETRY
Choral and Poetry Texts. A classically trained violist, Susan combines her passion for music and poetry in her choral texts for composers Ryan Homsey (BELIEVE ME) premiered with the New Haven Oratorio Choir; Alvin Singleton, PRAISEMAKER (Singing Rooms CD); and Jonathan Elliott (BRAVER THAN THE OTHER – premiered the Poetry Project at Saint Marks, NYC.)
PraiseMaker, a commissioned choral work for Alvin Singleton, premiered at the Cincinnati MayFest under the direction of James Conlon 1998; performances include the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Robert Spano 2002. The World Is Here With Me with composer Alvin Singleton premiered at Spelman College.
Violist: New York symphonies; Concert Tours to South America and Far East.
Susan wrote the poetic text for artist Annebarbe Kau’s sound piece Kopfstand, exhibited in Bonn, Germany.
Most recently, Susan’s poems and haiku photo collage pieces appeared in Tiny Spoon Literary Magazine, 49th Parallel Magazine and Variety Pack Literary Magazine.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
New York Women in Film and Television, Women in Film/Video New England, ASCAP. (Librettist)
EDUCATION
Whitney Museum of American Art Independent Study Program Fellow (Studio Program: Film/Writing); Purchase College, SUNY, B.A.; Jung Institute – Zurich, Switzerland (Music therapy, Psychology).
