Home Base: Chicago, IL
Bio: Fixed-Income Derivatives Trader, marathon runner, and hockey player with a passion for story-telling and writing.
Script Portfolio:
Spec Episode: Boardwalk Empire, “LITTLE HELL”
Logline: While visiting Chicago, Nucky is presented with a potential business deal that forces him to choose between friend Johnny Torrio or fellow Irishman Dean O’Banion. Meanwhile, Margaret ponders if the gates of Heaven will be open for her in the afterlife.
Original TV Drama Pilot: “THE TRADE”
SERIES LOGLINE: Over the course of two decades, money-hungry trading floor brokers, traders, and salesmen not only compete against one another, but also must adapt to changes in technology, all in order to survive in the heartless financial industry.
SEASON 1 LOGLINE: An FBI mole is implanted in a trading pit to investigate illegal drug activity but after assimilating into the trading floor culture, discovers a much larger problem on hand.
THE TRADE teaser trailer:
Feature Screenplay: “FATA MORGANA” (psychological thriller)
LOGLINE: Before funding is pulled on a medical trial, an emerging star doctor in the psychiatric field must cure a patient suffering from schizophrenia with a pill he developed, all in order to save his OWN mind.
Why I Write: Writing is a form of escape and stress relief for me. I leave this world and enter into the world in which I’ve created. Certain characters are influenced by or share the same traits as those I know in real life, but it’s a different dimension nonetheless. Being the “creator” of this new place is humbling and enlarges my perspective of the real world.
Inspiration: Certain movies and TV shows captured me into their stories. It’s this creativity of other writers that has inspired me to cultivate my skill and write my own story that can hook in an audience and leave a mark on them.
Brand: Through drama or comedy, my brand of writing explores coming to grips with the past in order to move on with the future.
Writing Process: I spend a lot of time building the base, digging out the true theme behind the story. Next I create a logline that I find will best expose the theme in entertaining fashion. I then begin intense work on an outline putting various pieces of the puzzle together. Once the puzzle is somewhat visible I’ll begin to write the scenes. Provided the story flows well, I’ll then start the rewriting process to trim space and tighten/spice up dialogue. Then another rewrite…and another rewrite…and another rewrite…and then probably a few more.
Writing Schedule: Having a full-time job limits my time to write so I take advantage of my time on the train during my commute. This is where I do most of my outlining and first drafts. The rewrites are done either in the evenings or weekends when I can focus more attention on them.
Actions I’ve Taken to Further My Career: I’ve taken numerous classes with the one and only Erica Byrne to improve my writing skills, joined the Chicago Screenwriter’s Network for networking opportunities, attended the Great American Pitchfest to pitch my scripts, and entered my scripts in various screenplay competitions.
What’s Worked: Everything has worked so far because I’m a better writer today than I was yesterday and will be better tomorrow than I am today.
What was a Waste of Time: I take in every experience for what it is. Maybe it was a waste of money, but if a lesson is learned then it’s priceless and served a purpose.
