Introduce Yourself : Writer by James B Brandt

I recently completed four scripts: CARROT (on InkTip, formally titled I MARRIED A BITCH), THERE ARE NO COWS IN HONG KONG, RIVER RUN (recently optioned to Lapdog Entertainment), and SNAKE DANCE, which goes into production later this year. Also, since New Year's 2012, I have completed two novels: THE TOY MAKER and A SENSE OF DUTY. I am novelizing an earlier screenplay, THE MAN FROM THE SHADOWS and James A Willis' screenplay AURORA. My first novel, OUTPOST SEVEN, was published in 2001. However, my professional writing career goes back much farther. I began with stories and essays but had my first job as a copywriter for an ad agency in 1969. DREAMS AND OTHER THINGS, a stage play, was produced by Ohio State University's Dramatics, Inc. and selected to be taped and rebroadcast by the school's telecommunications service. In 1980 I was hired to write a script for Film Ventures International for a film that had already been cast, was in development, and was suddenly without a viable script. That became WHATEVER IT TAKES. I also completed ANCIENT MY ENEMY (1981), based on Gordon R Dickson's novella for Kacharo and Grad Productions, R.A.T...S [RETIRED ACTORS OF TEXAS... SANATORIUM] (Comedy) in 1984 for Texas and Arizona Productions, and THE MISSING KEYS, (1993) from William Dear's novel, all on assignment. Between 1980 and 1985 I sold options on seven other screen plays to three different production companies. DR WHO IN AMERICA, a 1983 documentary I co-wrote and co-produced, was bought for worldwide rights by the BBC in 1985 after a year's run on PBS regional networks. In 1993 I worked on development of WARRIORS OF VIRTUE. That same year I optioned MINOR CRIMES to Lang Elliot, former CEO of Tri-Star Pictures. Lang and Hugh Kelley were responsible for the successful production of CAGED and CAGED II. They are both still interested in MINOR CRIMES, should funding be available. Hugh has also expressed an interest in THE MAN FROM THE SHADOWS. Additional writing credits include seven years as Technical Editor for Government Video Magazine, two years as Managing Editor and Editor-n-Chief for Sight and Sound Magazine and one year as Editor-n-Chief of Texas Film and Video News. I also teach part time for a community college in their video production program. Not including, of course, what I have produced and directed.