Barnard alum writes a book about newly released ‘Red Riding Hood’

Plenty of students know of Catherine Hardwicke, the famed director of movies like “Twilight,” “Red Riding Hood,” and “Thirteen.” But fewer might know that Sarah Blakely-Cartwright, BC ’10, has had brief roles in each and wrote a recently released novel of the same name about the movie “Red Riding Hood,” which is in theaters now.

Hardwicke has been a longtime family friend of Blakely-Cartwright. They met at a party for “LA creative types," as Blakely-Cartwright called it. Blakely-Cartwright said in an email, “Catherine has such a young soul that we just gravitated towards each other.” Since then, the two have spent a lot of time together, traveling together through Europe and Morocco.

Around the time of “Thirteen,” the aspiring writer was “basically living” in Hardwicke’s Venice Beach bungalow. Blakely-Cartwright said, “She [Catherine Hardwicke] was the funniest person I knew, plus she had eight surfboards and an unlimited repository of art supplies.” While she and Nikki Reed were writing the script, Hardwicke approached Blakely-Cartwright about playing a part in the film.

“Thirteen” is a film that a lot of students who grew up in the 2000s talk about. When asked if she ever mentions her role in day-to-day conversation, Blakely-Cartwright said, “Usually, I just inhabit the character as a performance piece à la Franco. I pull out a halter top that says ‘Bootylicious’ in rhinestones and start introducing myself as Medina-with-the-ghetto-booty.”

To film “Twilight,” Blakely-Cartwright was flown to Portland over Barnard's spring break. “I have a line that you have to listen very carefully for,” she said of her small part. “I say in an urgent voice: ‘I’ve got 911!’ when she’s [Bella’s] almost hit by the truck, saved only by Edward’s vampiric strength. Talk about chivalry.”

Blakely-Cartwright’s film experiences have led to lasting relationships. “I talk with Shiloh [Fernandez] every day and Amanda [Seyfried] every few weeks,” she said. Fernandez and Seyfried costarred in "Red Riding Hood."

They also facilitated the writing of her novel. “They all had well thought out insights into their characters, which was very helpful to me. Writing the novel’s characters ended up being a real collaborative project,” Blakely-Cartwright said.

The newly minted novelist credits Barnard for developing her writing skills. “Not only in terms of what I was taught, but also in the incredible support I was given,” Blakely-Cartwright said. “Barnard is a place that pledges its support for its students in so many, very tangible ways.” She recommends that other students who are aspiring writers seek out professors Mary Gordon, Anne Prescott, and Maxine Swan—just in time for class registration.

Barnard’s support has served her most notably through alumnae connections. For example, Blakely-Cartwright co-wrote Amanda Seyfried’s voice-over in “Red Riding Hood” with Karen Croner, who adapted the novel "One True Thing," written by Anna Quindlen, BC '74.

Lastly, Blakely-Cartwright lauded “all of Barnard’s amazing resources, all of the amazing girls—women—there who are now my best friends and my sisters.”