David A. Hollis
Clarion
Summary
Adept screenwriter and emerging educator with a passion for the craft of screenwriting and character-driven storytelling. My work is deeply rooted in my own working-class upbringing and explores the lives of desperate, downtrodden characters set against the desolate backdrop of rural America. As a professional writer, I bring experience in research, development, and revision, coupled with a collaborative, workshop-oriented approach to screenwriting. I live for the moment when other writers "catch the big fish" (as David Lynch would say) and ideas take flight, and I'm committed to fostering an engaging learning environment that encourages students to develop their unique voices while building strong foundations in screenwriting, storytelling, and a critical analysis of cinema.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Manager
Golden Ticket Cinemas
Clarion, PA
01.2026 - Current
- Directed daily operations for high-volume movie theater, ensuring effective staff leadership, film scheduling, and operational planning.
- Trained, mentored, and supervised employees while fostering a collaborative and professional work environment.
- Managed multiple priorities in fast-paced settings, ensuring consistent adherence to organizational policies and quality standards.
- DDeveloped strong skills in leadership, public communication, team development, and organizational management.
- Demonstrated the ability to motivate diverse teams, solve complex operational challenges, and deliver exceptional customer experiences through effective interpersonal communication and strategic decision-making.
Senior Staff Writer
The Clarion News
Clarion, PA
01.2023 - 01.2026
- Produced feature articles, news, editorials, offbeat stories on local history, music and film criticism, and long-form written content while consistently meeting demanding publication deadlines.
- Developed in-depth articles on local events and issues, enhancing community engagement.
- Collaborated with editor to refine content for clarity and accuracy, ensuring high editorial standards.
- Mentored junior writers, providing guidance on writing techniques and editorial best practices.
- Consistent interaction with community members, conducted research and translated information into engaging narratives.
- Strengthened skillset in storytelling, narrative structure, audience engagement, interviewing, critical analysis, and professional writing.
Substitute Teacher
Educational Staffing Solutions
Clarion, PA
10.2022 - 11.2025
- Delivered instruction across K-12 grade levels and subject areas while adapting quickly to diverse classroom environments and established curricula.
- Fostered positive learning experiences by maintaining classroom management, facilitating student engagement, and communicating complex concepts with clarity and flexibility.
- Demonstrated strong instructional communication, adaptability, mentorship, public speaking, lesson implementation, student interaction, and creating inclusive, student-focused learning experiences.
- Collaborated with educators to ensure curriculum alignment and instructional consistency.
- Provided individualized support to students, enhancing engagement and understanding of materials.
Education
Master of Fine Arts - Screenwriting
The David Lynch Graduate School of Cinematic Arts
Fairfield, IA06.2026
Bachelor of Science - Communications, Concentration in Film
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
Clarion, PASkills
- Leadership, Mentorship, Instruction
- Curriculum, Classroom Management
- Communication, Collaboration, Student Engagement
- Screenwriting, Professional Writing
- Narrative structure, Character-driven narrative
- Independent Film Production, Directing
Guest Teaching And Lecture
- Clarion University of Pennsylvania: "Making an Indie Film" - 2004, 2012, 2019
Covered the basics of independent filmmaking from writing the script, developing a budget, recruiting and casting, utilizing locations and resources, etc.
- Kent State University, Ohio: "From Short to Success" - 2012
Shared my story of when my short-to-feature spec, American Spite, landed me representation, covered general screenwriting format and answered related questions.
Additional Notable Experience
- Script Reader - The Watershed Journal, Winter Edition, 2024
- Script Reader - Film Pittsburgh Shorts & Screenplay Competition, 2025
Tools
- Final Draft, Scriptation, Fade In, Highland Pro, Scrivener
- DaVinci Resolve
- Canvas, Lucid Whiteboard
- Microsoft Office, Canva
Timeline
Assistant Manager
Golden Ticket Cinemas
01.2026 - Current
Senior Staff Writer
The Clarion News
01.2023 - 01.2026
Substitute Teacher
Educational Staffing Solutions
10.2022 - 11.2025
Master of Fine Arts - Screenwriting
The David Lynch Graduate School of Cinematic Arts
Bachelor of Science - Communications, Concentration in Film
Clarion University of Pennsylvania