Jeff Davis reveals true criminal minds

A lesson in succeeding in Hollywood from Conn. native

Shanna L. Rasmussen The Spectrum

Issue date: 11/17/05 Section: News
Jeff Davis, son of Dr. Elaine Davis, associate proffessor and director of the social work program, spoke to SHU students about the life of a Hollywood screenplay writer.
Media Credit: Contributed Photo/ Greg Golda
Jeff Davis, son of Dr. Elaine Davis, associate proffessor and director of the social work program, spoke to SHU students about the life of a Hollywood screenplay writer. "I thought to myself, ´Wow, if these scripts are this bad then I really have a shot because I can write a script just as bad as this,´" said Davis with a chuckle.

Jeff Davis, the creator of the new hit TV show "Criminal Minds", came to Sacred Heart on last Thursday to speak to students and the public about his exciting journey in Hollywood.

Davis, son of Dr. Elaine Davis, associate proffessor and director of the social work program, is only 30 years old. He wrote the script for the TV show "Criminal Minds" on CBS. The show falls into the genres of thriller, crime and drama.

Davis graduated from Vassar College with a degree in film and he then went on to receive a master's degree in screenwriting from the University of California.

After graduating he eventually sold a script to CBS which became "Criminal Minds".

"I'm going to start by reading you my favorite review of the show," said Davis, "It's titled 'Something is Criminal About Criminal Minds'."

Davis finds the negative press about the show comical.

"You can choose for yourself what is most revolting about 'Criminal Minds'," Davis recited from piece of notebook paper, "Once you plummet below a certain level, trash is trash."

The audience chuckled at the rather harsh review.

"I love that review," said Davis, "I read it every now and then to give myself a dose of humility."

"Criminal Minds" pulls in about 20 million viewers a week. Despite some negative reviews, the show has decent ratings.

Davis, originally from Connecticut, moved to Los Angeles after finishing his schooling.

"It's where you have to be if you want to make it in Hollywood," said Davis.

He spent most of his time working on his screenplays and trying to sell them.

He also had a day job as a script reader for a nearby studio where he discovered how bad some scripts in Hollywood truely were.
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