PROFILES IN MENTORING

Aaron Jettleson

Occupation: Actor
Years with YSF: 2
Most Recent School: Castle Heights
Favorite Movie: Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Favorite Book (or book recommendation): To Kill a Mockingbird, The Zombie Survival Guide (incredibly deceptive and involving storytelling)
Name of your favorite teacher growing up: My 5th grade teacher Ms.Fischer. She had alien antenna sprouting from her head.
Why do you mentor? Working with young writers once a week frees up my imagination and silences my self criticism.
What was the last script you mentored? What was it about? "The Evil Bus Driver" The school bus driver steals kids lunches and meets up with the 4th grade teacher in a bathroom stall where they split the booty. The kids recruit the principal who beats the culprits into submission with the sound of his boring voice.
Is there a moment that stands out to you in your experience as a mentor? My friend Alex had this little girl who was shy and quiet beyond belief. Alex painstakingly got her to tell a story and it wound up being about a dog who swallows a magic pill that allowed the dog to speak to its owners. At the Big Show the family of the young writer was bursting with pride and her smile seemed to go on forever.
What would you tell others about YSF? If you are in the business of creating; writing, acting, producing, whatever. Very often you can lose what was pleasurable about it in the first place. This program is a weekly reminder of what is fun about subjecting yourself to such nuttiness.
How does YSF affect you, and how do you think it affects other mentors? I've never been Mr. Causes. The Bottom Line is... it makes me feel good. It's the best hour of my week.
What advice/trick of the trade would you offer other mentors? When playing 'Kitty wants a Corner' make eye contact with someone as if you are going to change places. When they run over to your spot don't move a muscle. They will invariably lose their spot to the Kitty and then will have to become the Kitty themselves. At this point you should ferociously bark laughter and point at their misfortune for trusting you.

PROFILES IN MENTORING

Aaron Jettleson

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