When I turned 40, I'd been a salesman for 20 years. After 40, a SAG actor in film & TV, a radio DJ, a talk radio producer, did documentary & video game voiceover, in a working rock band, and a multiple produced screenwriter. All because I was told I couldn't. Learn from this.

Two years ago a NY Publisher took a chance on my novel. Now? Something more is afoot.

Had a production meeting on the animated series I adapted and am a producer on. Saw the first minute of animation and the rest in animatics on the pilot episode with temporary tracks. Gonna finish casting and record in June, hopefully. Looks great.

The list of bands and musical artists I’ve seen live, I’d put up against most anyone. (Except my friend Patti) The list of who I’ve never seen and would very much like to is pretty small. So… Just bought tickets to see The Alan Parsons Project on their 50th anniversary tour.

It’s still really fun to read a script and talk to the writer / director about story logic, character, audience expectations, arcs… not the just micro, but the macro of the story. I love writing. I love storytelling.

The worst thing about signing an NDA? Not being able to tell anyone about the awesome project you’ve gotten to work on. Yet.

My week. Send assignment rewrite script in on time. Left for a short vacation in Savannah Ga, where it absolutely cemented itself as the quirky party town I thought it might be, got another rewrite job, producer read my rewrite… “Wow! I love it.”, all before I got home. I love my job.

Turned in a page one assignment rewrite today. A 5 week job. Tremendous fun. Tonight… got hired on a rewrite from a producer I’ve known for a while, but have never worked for. Read the script a few weeks ago, gave him my ideas, timing is everything. Taking a week off first.

It’s always fun to be surprised. Got a call from a producer I know well… and instead of asking about writing, he asked if I’d like to voice an animated character for his new series, something I used to do but haven’t for years. Sounds like fun to me.

It’s taken me 30 years doing this to get a week like last week. I love my job. ❤️

Had breakfast with a producer that I’m in the middle of doing a page one rewrite for. We talked about character development, set-ups and payoffs, story logic, authenticity… The cuts. The serious changes. I laid out my clear plan. 2 thumbs up. I love getting this kind of trust.

The NFL had the Broncos. Worst call I’ve ever seen on that non interception.

Yay. Number 22.

Oh my. Bob Weir has passed away. Although losing people instrumental in your passage into adulthood… even though I still might be looking for mine… at our age is inevitable, losing this one, along with Jerry and Phil before him, hurts. That music was, and still is, special. I spent years seeing the Dead. Decades. New Years shows in SF and Oakland. Dancing like an idiot every time Bobby sang “Me and My Uncle”, especially at the jaw dropping “Sound Check” concert at the Cow Palace. Without knowing Bob had passed, “Jack Straw” from Europe ‘72 came on my ITunes while I was writing today. Usually the music is background as I write. Today, I stopped and listened to that song and reveled in the memories. RIP Bobby. You may not have known it, but we spent a lot of years together. Thank you.

2025 was not the most optimal year. Here’s wishing you all a brilliant 2026!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!! 🍾

Looking for reassurance I haven’t slipped into a parallel universe. This IS the week between Christmas and New Year’s? Because I got a call from a producer I know… “Sending you a script, how fast can you read it? We need to get you started on a rewrite.” 2026 is looking better.

A friend just sent me a YouTube video that named… the top Hallmarkian (is this even a word) movie of all time. It’s like a statistics and science and psychology class, using all kinds of numbers, tropes, and… it’s kinda funny, actually. So they end with a list of their bottom and top 10. So I watched all of it to see if one mine made it. The bottom 10 were the least Harmarky (word?) films with the least Harmarky tropes. And there at number 8 of the least Hallmarky films was one of mine. “Help for the Holidays”… a film I’m very proud of for a lot of reasons. Original, funny, different. At the time it showed in 2012 it was the number one rated Hallmark film that year. So… I’m in the bottom 10. It’s not about quality, but about… the perfection of being in the Hallmark box. So, I was feeling pretty good about that. Then came their top 10. I looked at that… nope, not one of mine. And that was ok. I haven’t worked for Hallmark in a few years. They touched on the top 10… then said, “But wait… there’s more! There is one statistically perfect Hallmark film that hits every trope, has the right cast, writer & director (actual category)… all that Hallmark strives for…” And it’s…. One of mine. “Christmas in Love” (not my title). So I made number One and the bottom 10. Not bad.

So… this happened and I’m pretty stoked. Animated musical. Once more into new territory.

I had the privilege of meeting then working with Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa for a couple of years on Nash Bridges. A cool, funny, really giving terrific person… the kind of guy you just love to hang with. RIP Cary. You were a class act.

Worked with Cary for the couple years he was on Nash Bridges. A class act all the way. Funny, sharp, good actor… terrific guy. RIP Cary.

Been a good last 3 months 2025. Before that, a year and a half of “what the hell?” Have ended this year… by signing an option agreement today on an original feature spec with some experienced producers I like. I know 95% of options go nowhere, but it’s nice to be in the game.