Rift

Rift Fournier
Lindenwood has the pleasure of having an amazing professor, and story teller right here on it’s main campus. A man by the name of Rift Fournier a professor in the Communications department is charming, insightful, and full of personality. Rift told our class he got his name as a result of a fight between his parents. Just like his name Rift is unique in many ways.
He talked to our class about the importance of reading in life and in the media profession. Rift also mentioned to our class that because of technological advances he would not be surprised if the book industry eventually is completely electronic.


Rift talked to us about having original ideas when writing and he made the comment “The best creative people know how to steal.” He made it clear he was not talking about plagiarism but realizing that you gather ideas from what you read and what you are exposed to. He also mentioned how he believes life in the Mid West is very beneficial because you are surrounded by the world and different life styles.
Rift shared with our class his past and what lead him to where he is now. He told us about when he first went to college he was majoring in pre-medicine and by the end of the first year reconsidered. He also told us about how he tried law school and was of the top students in his class and then during his junior year decided it was not for him.
Aside from interesting education changes Rift also told us about working as a deputy and working in the city morgue. Both jobs I am sure inspired some stories in his writing.


When Rift went to New York and wrote comedy he learned that if you want the job, you need to be creative. In his own words “Impress the hell outta somebody.” When we talked about television and the changes that have occurred that are in the process of changing Rift noted the obvious changes in content of television but he also mentioned the idea of no longer having local television. We are such a internet age that television is bound to change. When offering advice about writing for television Rift said, “Make stuff audiences like and you will do well.”
“The biggest secret to being successful is being open” said Rift. I could not agree with this statement more and I think it is a big part of what we are learning as college students. Be open.