Living a dream: Lincoln graduate attends awards shows

Megan McLachlan is living a writer’s dream, interviewing stars and going to the Golden Globes and the Oscars.

McLachlan refers to her job with Awards Daily, a public relations firm, as her side hustle, but it is an exciting part of her life. At the recent Academy Awards, she wanted her picture taken on the Red Carpet. She saw a man, who looked like James Woods, and asked if he would take her picture.

I said, “You take my picture and I’ll take one of you and your date.”

They exchanged phones and took the pictures.

Then McLachlan realized it really was James Woods, the actor who has received three Emmys and a Golden Globe and been nominated for two Academy Awards.

The encounter is typical of the world McLachlan has been working in since 2014.

McLachlan said there is a Red Carpet for the stars of the moment and one for everyone else.

She also attended the Golden Globes Awards and she said she wore the same dress because no one was taking pictures of her so no one would know.

“I have so many wonderful opportunities. I interviewed Richard Dreyfus, John Travolta and many others,” McLachlan said. “The best part of my job is talking to people, interviewing producers, designers and many others who are involved in putting on a production. I’ve learned that they are just people.”

Her work with Awards Daily includes covering film festivals including Napa Valley, Savannah and Toronto and looking forward to someday being at the Sundance Film Festival.

For 10 years McLachlan has been a copywriter for Eat n’ Park Hospitality Group.

”It involves a number of different responsibilities. I love it,” she said.

After graduating from Ellwood City's Lincoln High School in 2002, she earned degrees in English and creative writing and several minors from Allegheny College in 2006. McLachlan, who describes herself as an overachiever, got the nickname Spitfire in college and it has stayed with her.

“I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m writing and writing and getting better and I’m working on a book,” McLachlan said.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Lincoln graduate using writing skills to get Hollywood experience