To help lift people’s spirits, Lynn University alumnus Gregg McBride ’83 aims to create films that leave a lasting impression. From a young age, McBride was interested in writing novels; however, after several attempts, he naturally began to discover the art of writing screenplays and developed a passion for it. Nevertheless, before he could achieve his dream of formulating ideas, characters, and exciting stories for the big screen, he embarked on a journey that shaped him into the successful screenwriter and producer he is today.
Before Hollywood
After spending some of his earlier years living overseas due to his father’s job in the Air Force, McBride returned to the U.S. to study at Lynn. He was shy and nervous about living in a new environment independently, but as he attended classes, he quickly realized how attentive and encouraging his professors were. “They don’t allow you to get lost in the shuffle,” said McBride. “When educators can do that, it’s a gift.” McBride also participated in Lynn theatre productions, where he discovered new ways to express himself while gaining lifelong lessons and the ability to stay driven beyond the classroom setting.
“At Lynn, there is an attitude of no limits,” said McBride. “The atmosphere makes you believe that what you dream, you can achieve. If you have a goal, they will find a way to get you there.”
Even though McBride was inspired to see his passion for screenwriting through, he was forced to start his career much differently. His parents did not support his interest in show business, so McBride entered the advertising world after college instead. McBride moved to New York, where he did copywriting work for Macy’s and created ads that appeared in famous fashion magazines and important publications such as The New York Times. In the meantime, he continued to develop his screenwriting prowess on the side.
Behind the scenes
Eventually, McBride bet on himself and moved to Los Angeles, California. The gamble paid off when he sold his first movie script, Epicenter. Though it never turned out exactly as he imagined, he was grateful for the opportunity as it was only the first of many accomplishments. Following Epicenter, he worked for MTV, Comedy Central, Disney, and other entertainment networks. One of his biggest movies, A Heavenly Christmas, a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, premiered with the highest ratings and still holds that record today.
One of the best pieces of advice he ever received was from writer Joe Eszterhas, who told him, “A writer writes.” Like any other art form, McBride believes that writing takes considerable practice and consistency to succeed. “Filmmaking is a business where people always ask what you are working on,” said McBride. “I keep myself accountable by asking, ‘How can I take my creative energy and do something with it?’”
Considering his accomplishments in the film industry, McBride continues to develop new stories to tell and often works on multiple projects simultaneously. McBride had two films of different genres premiere within the past year. He worked on the Lifetime movie Would You Kill for Me? The Mary Bailey Story, and also produced a lighthearted romantic comedy for BET, The Christmas Ringer. Now, he has yet another film in production, Mommy Meanest for Lifetime, that is set to premiere this summer.
McBride advises Lynn students to keep working towards their dreams and never take no for an answer. “I used to think that everything would be easy once I sold my first script, but there is always a new challenge,” said McBride. He emphasizes that filmmaking is not always glamorous but is a business where one encounter can change everything. McBride believes that the same is true for other industries and encourages students, regardless of their field of study, to continue to find and do the things that inspire them.
What inspires McBride the most is his ability to make an impact through his work and provide entertainment that helps people relax and escape the challenges of their reality. McBride is also invested in creating material that resonates with people to help them process their emotions. For A Heavenly Christmas, he based a character on his mother-in-law, who was battling cancer at the time, and was moved by people reaching out to share how the character helped them process the loss of their loved one. “I love when there are threads of humanity in everything,” said McBride. “It’s a rewarding experience to create work that touches people’s lives.”
Beyond the big screen
McBride continues to touch lives outside of his screenwriting career by sharing his personal weight loss transformation. Not having the easiest childhood, McBride became significantly overweight as a young adult, weighing over 450 pounds, and found it difficult to love and accept himself. Through determination and self-discovery, McBride shed the excess weight and became physically and mentally healthier. “It was not about body weight,” said McBride. “But losing the weight of negative thinking.” To help others develop self-love and become the best version of themselves, McBride shares his lessons from his transformation by writing for Psychology Today and with his book Weightless: My Life as a Fat Man and How I Escaped.
In addition to helping people, McBride often participates in animal rescue and fosters kittens. Spending time with animals and nature brings a sense of wholeness to his life and encourages others to find their cause:
“Wherever you get your joy, focus on that.”
