My name is Aaron Heinrich. I started my screenwriting journey about 30 years ago as a graduate from USC's screenwriting program. I had my thesis script optioned at the time, a script optioned by a producer, and another script read during what was then a pedal to the metal one week process of script reading. Yes, I was close, but so was my wife's cancer. So, I had to get to work getting a full-time job...which turned into a career in marketing, PR and freelance article writing.
My wife is cancer free, we have a fine daughter, and even a grand daughter, but I never gave up at least the thought of getting back to pursuing a career in screenwriting. I'm now the head of marketing at the ABC affiliate in Sacramento. Thanks to the encouragement and interest of a co-worker (Mark S. Allen) who has produced some small budget movies (Fear Pharm, Notorious Nick, Amy's F*&ck It List), I'm back at it. I dusted off a couple of scripts - The Killing Dream (sci fi thriller) and Hellbound Train (supernatural horror/thriller), and wrote a couple of others - St. Nick (action) and The Way Things Are (WW2 romance/drama) in the last year.
Several have won multiple awards, and thanks to Stage 32, The Killing Dream is being read by a manager and a producer, and Hellbound Train by a manager.
All of this is good news, and happy to encourage anyone frustrated and impatient with the slog. I can tell you this, Hollywood hasn't change much since I first worked at breaking in. It's all about networking and having a good slate of well-written scripts to show what you can do.
And any and all connections, advice, etc. are welcome.
Cheers,
Aaron
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Great to see you again, Aaron Heinrich. So glad your wife is cancer free!!! Congratulations becoming the head of marketing at the ABC affiliate in Sacramento and congratulations on all your success! Networking and having a stunning portfolio are key. It's rough out here for screenwriters and other creatives, and a lot of it we can't change, but we can network and build up our portfolios.
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Congrats on all that progress Aaron Heinrich, you're pretty darn prolific! But most of all it's so great that your wife is cancer free!
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Great news that your wife is cancer-free, Aaron Heinrich ! My wife has been through two bouts of it, and has won both times! To me, she is like a determined, fierce soldier with battle wounds to prove it!
Glad you're back at writing. Like you, I've been a writer all my life, but dove into the business world to make a living and help raise our 4 kiddos. But since 2019 I've been back at writing... full-time, now.
Keep at it, Aaron!
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I'm so glad your wife beat cancer twice, Todd Garrison!!!
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Todd Garrison glad you're wife has beaten it twice! I can't imagine what two times would be like. And I completely understand the need to do what you need to do to raise a family. I'm still working full-time, so my writing comes as it can. But better than not at all!
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Aaron Heinrich have you ever entertained collaborating on scripts?
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Hey Todd, I tried it once but didn’t care for it much. I’m not entirely closed to it. But it would have to be in something where there’s a shared vision of the story and characters.
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Aaron, congrats on the reads!! That's awesome. I'm glad you undusted your scripts! Keep creating, my friend!
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Aaron Heinrich I love your Christmas and WWII loglines and summary! I, too. would be open to collaborating, but with very specific guidelines, a mutual vision and goals for the project, and a clear understanding and agreement as to how to collaborate. I think we have some things to chat about that may be good for both of us. Why don't you email me if you're interested in just chatting about it? u don't quit at gmail (all one word).
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Aaron, from one writer having found a second wind to another, thanks for posting...and so doggone glad you're here on Stage 32!
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Jim Boston Thanks. Still figuring it out, but I've been pretty pleased so far.
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Todd Garrison Thanks! I'd be happy to chat and see where it might lead. I'll email you shortly.
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Aaron, you're so very welcome!
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Great to see you on IYW, Aaron. Such an inspiring and generous-of-spirit post in every way. So glad to hear that you're wife is doing so well and that you are writing and bringing your stories to the world!
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Sam Sokolow thank you. Yes, the fact that she's well and still here is a lot to be grateful for. And FWIW - I'm a big fan of the Genius series. Saw the Einstein and Aretha Franklin series - loved them both.
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Thanks so much, Aaron Heinrich. That's worth more than you know. Its an honor every day to be a part of the team and the series. So happy you like it :)
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Sam Sokolow whatever your journey involved to get to do so I'm sure was worth every minute.