“Names are important, I like my name”

How to get a really cool name like Rift

 1. You need a cool artist mother

 2. You need a French father

 3. Said father is traveling salesman

 4. Said “cool artist mother” travels with father

 5. “Lovely French father” wants to name you Junior after him

 6. Mother dislikes name

 7. Junior Aldrich

 8. Mother and Father argue over name

 9. Mother is awesome and creative

10. Mother names you Rift due to said argument

 

10 simple steps to a really cool name as articulated by the one, the only Mr. Rift Fournier.

So who is the man behind the name?

Rift (no middle initial) Fournier is Artist in resident here at Lindenwood University as of 2007 teaching classes in his area of expertise, script writing for television.

Rift is a man of many stories, as we learned on Friday in surveys of professional media, so it is no wonder he was so successful in the television industry for over 40 years.

Rift has written for many shows, most notable Kojak and NYPD Blue, however he arrived in Hollywood in the 70’s, where he was reduced to writing jokes for 5-bucks-a-pop for a “not very funny comedian,” while selling aluminum siding over the phone. 

Rift left California to write comedy in New York City, “I love funny,” he said.

In the BIG APPLE Rift got a job with Westinghouse productions, where he wanted to do documentaries. He eventually received the job after driving the guy nuts for 10 days, sending forget-me-not flowers and calling in constantly after his interview. He remembers the days before HR directors did the interviewing.

Rift divides his career into his Children’s television phase, and his drama/cop writing phase.

His Children’s show “GO.” “GO” was the first reality show. On one particular episode Rift followed some of New York’s finest for quite some time, showing the day-to-day life of the men and women in Blue. Rift ended this at the funeral of a fallen officer. Rift always pushes the envelope it seems, and he does it well.

In his time at NYPD Blue Rift remembers pushing the figurative envelope in a specific episode dealing with the Roe V. Wade ruling of the Supreme Court. In which he created the struggle between a mother wanting an abortion, and a father wanting a say in the life of his unborn child. Very controversial even today, but not too soon prior to the 1973 case you could not even mention a toilet on television.

Rift goes on to discuss his views on the current direction of television, from the living room to the computer screen. “Because of the internet the whole world of media has changed.” Rift believes this is just natural evolution, “It’s always about content” Rift reminds all aspiring writers.

With Hulu and Youtube it is becoming easier and easier to produce and distribute your movies, documentaries and shorts. Networks are able to distribute their shows online and even produce online only shows and movies. Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along blogs.

The Internet however has not made writing any easier. Rift reminds, “The hardest thing about writing is writing.” It always goes back to the content.

On Creativity: “There are only 7 ideas in the world, and the best creatives know how to steal.”

Rift believes his Midwestern upbringing has given him a 360-degree view of humanity, “humanity surrounds us in the Midewest” Rift believes. And he is correct; some of the best artists and novelists come from Middle America. 

“You’ve gotta’ let the muse know where to find you” says a good friend of Rift Fournier. The muse certainly knows where to find Rift.