JR Rodriguez: Actor, screenwriter and producer in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Once had a Literary Manager tell me I was too old to get noticed as a writer. The brother was from a big company too..You know, the ones all the unknown writers want to be part of. Since then, I have re-written my Christmas piece, reworked my trafficking piece(Made it even darker) and reimagined my biopic. I know it sounds like this happened a few years ago...It happened about 4 months ago. (Doing my best to not name the company, 'cause it still stings). See, this cat didn't READ anything, he just looked at my age. THAT was my problem. The establishment will always protect its "current" members. I certainly understand that. Just keep working, keep pushing, keep doing YOU. Of course, I'd love this to end with a feel good "Oh, it happened" but that's not the case. At least not yet. And it may not happen, but I won't wake up a few years from now saying "I wish I hadn't quit." I may be older, but I have the drive of a 20 year old...

Episode 4 finished... 2 Lit Managers looking at it and in talks about a POC. Steps forward. When I say it's my story, it's not just my writing. Opening myself up to how I got where I am, it hasn't been easy, but, it's the most therapeutic process I've put myself through...5 years of stretching my comfort zone. I hope one day to share it with everyone.

The History of Us...

Hey everyone...Gotta be up front, I've never been good at the Networking bit. As a writer, I have trouble with rejection, but I'm learning.(As an actor, and 45 years of doing it, I'm used to it). I have two current projects that are "Lookable" and one, I'm really proud of, because it actually lends itself to the "Rejection" bit. I wrote a biopic about 4 years ago and starting with an incredibly supportive producer on here, I have worked and reworked the script. Starting this year, I showed it to a few producers and although they thought it was an interesting story, they didn't feel it wasn't a feature. One even said, "See if you feel a series in it." I did, they were right. I have written a pilot and I'm currently writing 6 episodes(2 are done). The. episodes explore this group of friends(My friends) by highlighting each character individually and how each of us weren't ready to be 50. The pros and cons of getting older has been hard on a number of us, but...We have each other. The current "Ensemble" craze is great, but what I do, with the 6 of us being 80's kids, I depend on a John Hughes style of story telling, comedy through actual pain...Not just tears. Just had another request yesterday...From Stage 32. Of course, I can't expect anything, but...It's nice to be asked. I wish everyone brilliant success and tell the story YOU want to tell. I'm sure you know that already, but doesn't hurt to hear it again.

Just finished the third episode of my limiter series, The History of Us. I have it broken down into 7 episodes(Including the pilot). It chronicles my life after 50 as well as the pitfalls my friends and I never expected and yet, still have to face. Written John Hughes style, it leans on the greatest time period(My Opinion) of Music, the 80's. Each character with it' own theme and each episode dedicated to a character as well as an artist. Pretty exciting stuff for me. I feel it's been bottled up a while...Guess I've wanted to tell this story for a while.

This is a nice surprise, I thought at first was a mistake because last week I won 1st Place in the Ca. press awards for a sci/fi TV Pilot, Antidote Man, which also won Tribeca Best Screenplay of the the year. The Ghost and the Gold Louis is a period piece that won Stage 32 semi-finals, Best TV series Cannes and the F. Scott Fitzgerald Awards, Paris 024. The foreign press awards are important as they list winning titles in the NY Times, the Hollywood Reporter and WildFilmmaker Magazine. Stage 32 will receive mention with other awards I've won this year, Tribeca, Stanley Kubrick Awards, Cannes and the Alfred Hitchcock Awards, Cannes. I hope the press releases will impress a manager. I need a rep.

I'm an actor and a writer in NC. I have one feature out in the world and currently working on my second as well as a limited series about my life...Hoping to land that elusive PRODUCER...(Or Lit Manager). I hope everyone is well and looking forward to a lovely weekend.