The Minimum Wage Screenwriter Rises -- a bit.

Where have I been? What have been doing? More of the same, more or less --- just from a different variety of mental and physical places.

After a mammoth 2011 in which I wrote eight features, two documentaries and a short or two, things slowed down - sort of.

On one day in April, I optioned an old screenplay, Morgan, Michael, Vanessa & Max” and I closed a deal to write a book, “100 Movies To Watch With Your Kids.” If all goes well, the film should be shooting sometime next year. The book is scheduled to come out in November.

“Sugar Cookie”, a short film based on an original screenplay of mine, premiered at a film festival in July. “Technical Support,” another short that I wrote, is in post-production and the same company is planning to shoot another short of mine, “Nightcap.” Last week, I delivered “Public Relations”, a short that I was hired to write a week earlier.

In June, I auditioned for and was cast in a small role in the upcoming indie feature “Rendezvous” that is shooting next year.

Sometime in August, I got hired to write a documentary about the racist promotional campaign for the 1982 heavyweight boxing championship bout between Larry Holmes and Gerry Cooney. The script is due at the end of the month. Somehow, as always, I will deliver it on time.

All of sudden, things are starting to heat up. In the past two weeks, I have gotten  inquiries --- meaning people coming to me, seeking me out ---  about writing three features.

Two days ago, I picked up another teaching gig: third screenwriting class and I quit my job as an acting teacher.

So why did I just submit my materials for four screenwriting jobs when I can barely handle those that I already have?