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I answered @ArielRelaford's question yesterday about when a screenwriter has "made it" and ended up with my most-liked posts ever and a bunch of new followers. So hello everyone. A bit about me:
I've been a working screenwriter for nearly 20 years. I've sold scripts. Written studio assignments. Got two movies made. Worked on the TV show White Collar for a season. Had years where I made more money than ever before. And years where I didn't make a buck.
I've had scripts that everyone in town was reading. Been "hot" for a period of time. And I've had lean times where nothing sold and no one was calling. The ups and downs in this career can be maddening. But managing them is a huge part of it.
In recent years, I've been happiest making stuff with friends. @Neptunesalad & I co-created an award-winning series that is super fun if you like your humor nice and dark. You can watch it at http://20secondstolive.com
We also co-wrote (and Ben directed) VIDEO PALACE, the first narrative podcast from @Shudder. This is still one of the most satisfying gigs of my career. We recently wrote an audio drama for Audible. Still waiting to hear if we get to make that one.
I've been through scary times with no reps where my career was gone. Now I have a new manager I like, two scripts with producers attached, a third deal coming together hopefully soon.
I've written dozens of theatre shows, mostly at @SacredFoolsLA, and my play GIFTED (based on the unsold script that got me my start in this industry) closed its premiere run one week before every theatre in L.A. had to shut down last March because of COVID.
I've started writing fiction again, which is bringing me a lot of joy. I've had stories featured in @escapepodcast, Dark Moon Digest, and the @simonschuster horror anthology Video Palace: In Search of the Eyeless Man.
I try to write honestly about not only the craft of writing, but having a career in Hollywood. The dizzying highs, the crushing lows, the in-between spaces where most writers spend their time trying to get good stuff made in an industry that never gets easier.
I'm grateful for all my good fortune. I'm always game to talk shop and be of help I can by answering questions or offering encouragement. The "how do you get started/get an agent" questions are hard to answer since everything has changed so much since I was starting out.
I think most of what's out there about screenwriting is either focused on getting started or what it's like to be an A-lister. There's not much written about the middle of a career, navigating those ups and downs.
I like to think I help fill that gap with honesty and good humor. And gratitude. I'm grateful for the career I've had, and the friends I've worked with. It's been a crazy time of late but I always try to be optimistic.
I love writing for a living and I hope I get to do it for a long time. We'll see. Wherever you are in your journey, I wish you all the best and I look forward to chatting with ya from time to time.
