Destin Daniel Cretton and R.J. “Daniel“ Hanna | 2021 Nicholl Conversations

Writer/director Destin Daniel Cretton dissects writing, notes and directing with R.J. “Daniel“ Hanna who is a 2021 Nicholl Fellow for his script “Shelter Animal“ (logline below). “Shelter Animal“: A fiery, female prison trustee working at the county animal shelter finds purpose rehabilitating an abused pit bull, but her attempts to rally employees and the broader community for shelter reform puts her own freedom at risk. Here is a link to his referenced short film that his Nicholl script is based on: Maybe it was growing up in Arkansas as a Canadian, or the summers in rural Ireland with grandparents and extended family, but R.J. Daniel who goes by Daniel has always been drawn to out-of-place characters, unique environments, and the weird, beautiful rhythms of how people talk. As a writer/director, he explores these interests across a range of genres, while always keeping a focus on human issues and the complicated people living