I started writing screenplays when I was 30…I’m now 63. I’ve done well in contests (Nichols fellowship, Screencraft, Creative Screenwriting). The goal has always been to become an independent producer. I thought in 2020 the stars had finally aligned…and then Covid came to town.
In January 2020 I finished a very Jewish Christmas drama (not Hallmark) entitled ‘The Christmas Violin’. I attached a really good line producer and director in Toronto…and the border with Canada closed. By end of the year I knew I had to write an even more contained romance. It needed to center around just a couple of characters and locations. By March of 2021…the final draft of the screenplay for Scrooge’s Folly was finished.
I sent the screenplay to the senior reader at the time for Netflix. I’m quoting his comments.
“We at Netflix skew young, and there is no one under the age of 35 who knows who Charles Dickens or Ebenezer Scrooge are.”
“You’ve written great characters. If I were you, I’d write the story as a novel.”
Without those comments, the novel would not exist.
The novel is much bigger than the screenplay. The first two-thirds are character and world building. You’ll be surprised to learn that God looks like ‘blond Tina Fey.’ The novel has been professionally edited and line edited….and the editors loved it!
I have a simple goal…when I’m done with the book, the movie, and the stage play… I simply want to own the holiday of Christmas.
Think of Christmas…think of David Weinberg (yes, that is a moose mug…so it must be Christmas!)
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