Open Query Letter

As an educator, I've witnessed many life-changing moments for both children and adults. As a writer, I’ve contemplated their struggles off campus. These stories share the real struggles of being a teacher, administrator, professor, and parent. You'll also learn a little about what I imagine was the experience of past generations, and what I think lies ahead for future generations.

I've lifted the curtain just a little on the world of education and the families of educators. None of the characters are real people, and none of the events actually happened, although a few came very close, but they are all based on a combination of people and experience from my life. 

For example, the inspirational parable about a retiring teacher:

Keepers, 100 pages, was the Winner of the 1st Scene Performance at the WildSound Writing and Film Festival, a Finalist at the Santa Barbara Screenplay Awards Diverse Writers Outreach, and Honorable Mention at the Palm Springs Diversity Screenplay Contest.

A disillusioned teacher on the brink of retirement is thrust into a chaotic world of

generational clashes and familial upheavals. As he reconnects with his estranged family, the weight of his past choices and current responsibilities forces him to confront the complexities of forgiveness, accountability, and legacy.

Analysis overall score 8, marketplace score 8 (Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards Diverse Writers Outreach)

This story needs to be told to help people understand the importance of men confronting and processing their father wound so they can become a fully mature man. Jed learning that his father was a hero helps him to better support his grandchildren. Armando returning to his family relieves his sons from their separation trauma.

• Pitch deck
• One Sheet
• Read the screenplay
• Watch the first scene performance
• Read the interview 

 

Or, the love story of a recently widowed public school administrator:

Ed Code, 102 pages, was a Finalist at the Wiki: The World's Fastest Screenplay Competition

When high school administrator Edward Lehrer faces the tragic loss of his wife and daughter in a car accident, he must navigate the complex dynamics of a small-town high school while confronting his own grief and the moral challenges that arise from his choices, all set against the backdrop of escalating student conflicts and personal dilemmas. 

Analysis overall score: 7.7, marketplace score 7 (Wiki: The World's Fastest Screenplay Competition)

This story needs to be told to give permission to grieve and to reinforce the importance of feeling all of the emotions that grief presents. Ed is in great pain after the loss of his wife and daughter. Roxy is in great pain after the failure of her marriage. The two work together daily and lean on each other for support, even to the point of physical intimacy once their guard is down. This relationship creates scandalous outcomes they must face together resulting in a stronger sustained romantic partnership.

• Pitch Deck
• Read the screenplay
• Read the interview

And the tale inspired by my own experience during the 1992 Los Angeles uprising:

Get Along, 100 pages, was a Semi Finalist at the Wiki: The World's Fastest Screenplay Competition.

A diverse neighborhood struggles for survival during the 1992 Los Angeles riot, a period marked by intense violence and civil unrest. Nate, a recent graduate of USC, wants to help the community surrounding his family-owned business in South Central by creating a tutoring center for the local students. However, his efforts and best intentions are met with resistance from Tameron, who’s revolutionary spirit challenges Nate to better understand the deeper issues faced by those he endeavors to support. As tension’s rise, Nate’s grandfather frames his ambition by sharing stories of their ancestors' 1880s journey from Prussia to New Mexico. Together, they navigate one of the most significant days in LA history, witnessing firsthand the power of community resilience amidst chaos. A story of empathy overcoming adversity, weaving hope through time and communities.

Analysis overall score 7.5, marketplace score 8 (Wiki: The World's Fastest Screenplay Competition) 

This story needs to be told to better understand the tension between works of social entrepreneurship, and those they endeavor to serve. As Nate struggles to find his way in life, his desire to contribute and make a difference in the world is a noble goal. However, Nate makes assumptions and takes actions that offend Tameron, who lives in the community he selects. Bigotry stands in the way of progress and it takes the wisdom of their grandfathers to ease the tension between the two so they can find a common ground to move forward.

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Plus, the shocking episode of the forgetful professor:

Revision, 100 pages, was a Finalist of the Hollywood Screenplay Contest, and a Quarter-Finalist of the Palm Springs International Screenplay Awards & Pitchdeck-Sizzle Reel-Trailer Festival

After a horrific experience during childhood leaves him with PTSD, Arthur tries to lead a normal life but is continually confronted with the trauma that leads him to discover alternatives ways to suppress those feelings. A thriller, romance, and psychological drama set in the early 2010s in Santa Barbara, California. Every writer edits their work, what if you could edit your life? One English professor can do just that. 

Analysis overall score: 5.2, marketplace score 4 (Palm Springs International Screenplay Awards & Pitchdeck-Sizzle Reel-Trailer Festival)

This story needs to be told to help people understand that they are not responsible for all of the things in life that they cannot control. Individuals are only responsible for their own actions, and they must understand those actions within the context of their life experiences, which they cannot control. Jack isn’t responsible for his father’s murder of his sister, or his mother’s suicide, but he carries these event with him for the rest of his life, and they affect every decision he makes, including his decision to forget. And just because Jack forgets what he doesn’t want to remember, that doesn’t make it go away. His forgetting only obscures his sense of reality to the point where his version of the world is so full of lies that he can’t tell fact from fiction. Until Olivia breaks the cycle and saves him from his fantasy.

• Pitch deck
• Read the screenplay

I am seeking representation and I look forward to meeting with you.