There are moments from my childhood that I remember and most I do not. I remember getting punched in the gut by a girl when I was 10 or 11, still not sure why. I remember watching Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom with my father and loving it, only to be blown away by the knowledge that there was another movie they made a few years back. My toddler-aged sister accidentally having boiling hot pasta sauce spill all over her and the ambulance having to take her to the hospital, while I was left with the neighbors.
As I grew older, basketball became my sport throughout High School. Movies and television remained a constant in my life. I stayed up late on Fridays to watch Quantum Leap, set my VCR to tape shows throughout the week hoping the 8-hour VHS tape I bought would be enough. I did not have many girlfriends in school, not for lack of wanting but because of being anxiety-riddled about the consequences of asking a girl out and her rejecting me. There are times I wish I could go back and slap some sense into my younger self.
It was senior year of high school, when my girlfriend at the time (I overcame the anxiety!) had an assignment for her creative writing class. She had to write a story. Simple, but she didn't want to do it. I offered. It was a mystery, 17 pages handwritten on looseleaf, and she got an "A" for it. I haven't looked back since. All those movies and television shows only fed my storytelling desire. I finally realized there was an outlet for me.
That same year, I started a job at the local movie theater as an usher. After graduating from the local university with a degree in Communications, I started writing and directing short films. Over time, I became a manager and moved to different buildings before settling down at the local Megaplex in the area. With the exception of one year when I moved to New York City to attend the New York Film Academy, I have lived the double life of movie theater manager by day, filmmaker by night.
Since the late 90s, I've created numerous short films, two web series and one feature. I've written countless scripts, both feature length and short, and self-published a book. I was able to parlay the web series success into a Writer's Guild of America, East membership. (I love screener season) I still write. Not enough though. I read as much as I can, but again, not enough.
I dabbled in acting a bit, but soon discovered I had little interest in it, but it was pretty good decision on my part since I met my wife in acting class. Countless times, like many creatives, I've wanted to quit and pack it in. She won't let me. She knows I'd be miserable. We've managed to create three wonderfully, boisterous children. We have three dogs, two rabbits and there's already a push for a pig, which I'm fighting dearly to prevent. I'll probably fail.
The struggle continues to this day, but I have a sense of coming full-circle to that High School senior who first discovered the joy of writing. The written word is where this all started and hopefully continues.
