What I Learned

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As a still-fresh screenwriter, this project was a crash course in everything from storytelling structure to creative collaboration. Writing my first feature-length screenplay—especially one set in a galaxy as iconic as Star Wars—taught me the value of simplicity and clarity in storytelling. Screenwriting, I’ve come to learn, is often the art of saying more with less.

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One of the biggest lessons came through working with concept artists from all over the world. Collaborating across time zones, cultures, and languages forced me to become sharper and more intentional in how I communicated.

It pushed me to be more precise in my writing—not just for the script itself,

but in how I described a scene, a character, or a feeling to someone else tasked with bringing it to life.

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I also began to think more visually. Knowing that these ideas would eventually be interpreted by other artists helped me better “see” my scenes cinematically. I became more aware of how my characters moved through their environments—and how those environments could shift in tone and emotion. Every piece of concept art, every storyboard panel,

helped me hone that sense of visual storytelling.

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Looking back, this was more than a writing exercise—it was a hands-on journey in directing, producing, and creative leadership. I wore every hat: writer, creative director, project lead, even producer. And while I often wished I had a whole team of Disney’s best and brightest by my side,

we did what we could with limited resources and a whole lot of passion.

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In the end, I got to make something fun—a Star Wars movie for me.

It’s the kind of project 10-year-old Donny would’ve dreamed about making. And while I’ve grown a lot since then (and yes, part of me still wants to keep revising this story forever), I’m proud of what we created.