Hi Everyone -- I started writing in 1995, in the world of audio drama. Living in the Boston area at the time, I dramatized and produced audio dramas based on the rich history of the area (Lexington and Concord, Old Ironsides, The Pilgrims...) and managed to get the cassettes into all the major gift shops (yes, CASSETTES!). Audio drama was not as popular then as it is today. I spent a good deal of time explaining to various stores what an audio drama was!
Time marched on and by 2004 I had expanded and was dramatizing classic books (Captain Blood, Treasure Island...) and started writing a western drama series called POWDER RIVER, which eventually ran 13 seasons and 178 episodes. In 2005 we went on the air with a daily show on XM Radio, and developed a loyal audience. POWDER RIVER became our most popular show and CD sales of the seasons were released by Blackstone Audio and eventually Brilliance Audio. We were also asked to do a program with Ray Bradbury... DANDELION WINE. This led to three other shows with him... SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES, THE HALLOWEEN TREE, and THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES. He was an amazing man. I still can't believe I worked with him.
In 2009 I wrote my first screenplay and... coverage notes stated I had no idea what I was doing. They were right. But I was determined. I worked on that script on and off for eight years (I was still writing several audio series, plus features) and when I discovered screenwriting forums, I asked what were the best books to learn formatting and screenwriting. I gathered up the books, retired from audio (after writing 480 scripts), and got to work. That first script I started with ended up winning a few festivals, and was an Academy Nicholl QF. It was also optioned, but the option eventually lapsed. I sold my first script, a thriller/horror, and then a western to Lionsgate (based on my POWDER RIVER audio series). So far, I have made four sales, and all were produced (one of which is currently in post, and the fourth is now shooting in Arizona).
During this time I was able to land a manager, and she helped me get several of my scripts into great shape... but she is now stepping into retirement. To date, I've completed 27 features and two shorts... so I am looking for new representation (I have a fifth script under option) to help me push forward. It's a crazy business, but I love it. I'm bored to death when I am not working on a script!
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What a journey Jerry Robbins. One of my first creations was an audio drama in 1995 as well, my senior year in college!
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That's cool! Audio Drama seems to be easy when you first think of it... but that's hardly the case as I'm sure you know. When I started writing screenplays, I had to unlearn 25 years of audio drama-style writing. That took a long time to overcome, lol. If I had a dollar for every note I got that said "show, don't tell" I could produce my own movie!
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Hi, Jerry Robbins. Hope you're doing great! I agree with Nick Phillips. What a journey. Congratulations on all your accomplishments! "In 2009 I wrote my first screenplay and... coverage notes stated I had no idea what I was doing." That's basically how it was for me too. I was shocked the first time I got notes. I thought my script was perfect! But clearly it wasn't.