Doug and Rich were an unlikely duo, but fate brought them together in a way that would change the course of their lives.
It all began when I met Rich through work. He was a good friend, the kind you could count on when times were tough. Through Rich, I was introduced to Doug, a screenwriter in his mid-60s with a passion for storytelling.
One day, Rich convinced me to call Doug and offer him some advice on navigating the cutthroat world of screenwriting. Having already completed a script for a full-length feature, I had some experience to share. When I finally connected with Doug, I asked him a crucial question, "Doug, did you copyright your script? Have you protected your work?" Doug assured me that he had taken the necessary steps to safeguard his creation.
With a sense of responsibility, I urged him to put his script out into the world, to shop it around. He hesitated, fearing that someone would snatch it away. But I encouraged him, explaining that once it's protected, he should do his best to share it with the world.
Weeks passed, and I tried reaching out to Doug, only to be met with voicemail every time. Something felt off, and my intuition told me that something was amiss. I shared my concerns with Rich, who promised to investigate.
Weeks turned into months as Rich tirelessly tried to contact Doug, but his efforts were in vain. In desperation, he reached out to Doug's daughter, who managed to contact the owner of the condo where Doug was staying.
The heartbreaking truth emerged—Doug had suffered a massive heart attack and passed away. His dreams of bringing his script to life were buried with him. It was a poignant reminder that our time is limited, and we must seize opportunities when they arise.
Tragically, Rich also fell victim to a massive heart attack last October 2022, leaving me in shock. Doug’s script actually landed in my possession legally. I am going to let it go quietly to its own death. Instead, I decided to write a script dedicated to Doug and Rich. I never finished it. I am going to.
For a while, I put screenwriting on the back burner, but as Arnold Schwarzenegger once said, "I'll be back." I realized that life is too short to let our dreams die with us.
Doug and Rich's stories serve as a poignant reminder that we must pursue our passions and never let them fade away, for we alone hold the power to bring them to life. This is 100% a true story.
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My condolences to Doug and Rich's families, @Mario Leone. Your post is a great reminder to do things now. I think it's wonderful that you're dedicating your script to Doug and Rich. Looking forward to seeing the movie.
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Thank you for sharing Mario Leone. I look forward to seeing this.
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@Mario Thanks for the poignant share. Sorry to hear of the loss of your friend. So true we must seize the day. Time waits for no one. What if’s? and fear of unknown repercussions regarding decisions about our work can gnaw away at our confidence but we can’t let them win.