Home Base: Los Angeles, CA
Bio: Hailing from Spanish Harlem, I am an Emerson College alum and began my TV writing journey with an ambitious spec for the series Roseanne. Shortly afterwards, I went on to write one-hour specs for NYPD Blue, Picket Fences, Chicago Hope and Ally McBeal.
I am an alumni of Film Independent’s celebrated PROJECT: INVOLVE Program.
Along my journey, I’ve written, produced and directed the short film, On the Low, which won the prestigious BEST MALE SHORT AWARD at both the North Carolina and Long Island Gay and Lesbian Film Festivals. The feature film adaptation script for On the Low was selected as a participant of the highly competitive OUTFEST SCREENWRITERS LAB.
In recent years, I’ve written TV samples for Grey’s Anatomy and Dexter, a 2010 SCRIPT PIPELINE finalist. Additionally, The Ex-Factor, an original pilot, was featured as the #1 procedural on the BLACK LIST.
My House of Cards spec won the 2014 SCRIPTAPALOOZA TV one-hour competition.
Why I write: I love watching a compelling story unfold. The best stories are absolutely captivating. For example, the pilots for Six Feet Under or The Good Wife are so well written, so enchanting that the scripts were page turners. I want to create page turning stories and leave an indelible mark with the material I create.
What inspires me: Exceptionalism. Whether it’s in entertainment, sports, politics, etc., I am inspired by people who are exceptional at what they do. They are the people who motivate me to strive for excellence.
My Process: Envelop the world I’m trying to create. For example, when I wrote my House of Cards spec, I watched seasons 1 & 2 repeatedly until Frank and Claire’s voices were not only in my head but a part of my psyche. As for Dexter, I knew I could nail his voice because at the heart, he was an isolationist and as a writer I could relate.
My writing schedule: Get it in when I can. There are 24 hours in a day, figure out how to use as many of them to my advantage. Also, I’m not afraid to tell friends and family that I will circle back to them when my work is done. Get the work done, period.
My brand: I aim to create 3-dimensional, non-stereotypical human beings, especially of color and specifically of LGBT orientation. One recurring comment I received about my short film was how human my lead character came across – he’s just a regular kid who was involved in an unrequited love affair, not a caricature.
