Hello, everyone! My name is Jerry Robbins and I started in the world of audio drama (back when they would be released on cassette tapes!). My company was called The Colonial Radio Theatre and we produced about 700 productions over 25 years (I wrote 480 of them). We dramatized some of the classics (20,000 LEAGUES, TREASURE ISLAND, CAPTAIN BLOOD, KIDNAPPED) historical dramas (THE ALAMO, LITTLE BIG HORN, OLD IRONSIDES), and some original series (BEACON HILL, YANKEE CLIPPER, TICONDEROGA). Full cast, original music scores, and thousands of sound effects.
I was also fortunate to have worked on four audio dramas with Ray Bradbury. Talk about an amazing experience! In a phone call, I told him I was stuck on a script -- writer's block. He replied "There's no such thing. If you have writer's block, you don't have a story." I don't know if that's a famous quote of his, or if he came up with it on the spot, but I never forgot it.
After a couple of years, we were asked to go on XM Radio with a daily show; we were on for eight years until they sold the channel (things were never the same after they joined with SIRIUS)
Our most popular program was a western drama called POWDER RIVER, which ran for 13 seasons and 178 episodes. From POWDER RIVER sprang a Western script that won Best Screenplay in the WILD BUNCH FILM FESTIVAL and was sold to Lionsgate. The script was based on a three-episode arc from the audio drama.
My second movie, THE LEGEND OF LAKE HOLLOW will be released on Mar. 26th, and it was great news to see that FILM THREAT gave it a good review! The movie was made by Penumbra Entertainment (their first feature), and is being distributed by Vision Films. It's VOD.
Screenwriting is by far the hardest writing I have ever done. When I started my first script I had no clue about formatting or structure (it's not the same as audio drama!). After some brutal coverage notes (and I mean brutal), I picked up some recommended books and buckled down. That's when the audio drama scripts began to take a back seat. After a few years my screenplays were getting better and started to win some contests, and I also received a couple of options (which lapsed, but it was still huge encouragement).
I was able to land a manager who helped a great deal in getting my scripts through doors that I couldn't open myself, but sadly it was on the heels of the COVID shut down, and then we hit the strikes; and now she has decided to retire, so I am once again looking for representation. To date, I've completed 28 screenplays in different genres (I figure SOMETHINGS got to stick!), and I love it.
So, that's my story so far.
One last thing -- I always hated it (and still do) when someone says to me "Follow your dream," or "You're living the dream." I respond with "It's not a dream, it's a mission." I still have a long way to go, and it's not easier even with produced movies under your belt... but the mission is far from over!
Great to see you again, Morrison James. How are you?
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Hi Morrison James - happy IYW! Your positivity jumps off of your post. What are you working on these days that you're excited about?
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Happy belated St. Patrick's Day (which means more coming from someone named Patrick lol)!