Four for four, or Hooray for Chad
Longtime readers will note that my former assistants have done well for themselves. Rawson has directed two movies, Dana has become an in-demand screenwriter, and Sean is a TV staff writer with a pilot in production.
I’m happy to add Chad to the list of successes. After many delays, his script “Sydney White” is going into production on February 12th, with Joe Nussbaum directing. Variety has the story in today’s issue.
“Sydney White” is basically Snow White set in college, with Amanda Bynes playing the titular character, and seven outcasts taking over as the dwarfs. The project is a family affair; Chad’s wife Dara is co-producing. You may recognize her as an occasional poster on the site.
What’s the secret behind my assistants’ success? It’s certainly not me. I rarely read their scripts, never take them to meetings, and only sporadically offer advice. I think one main factor may be that there’s only a limited amount of work to do in any given day, so that leaves lots of time for staring at the computer monitor, wondering what the hell they should write.
Another common factor: except for Sean, they’re all Starkies. So I’m hiring from a pool of people who are likely to be successful regardless. But that doesn’t make me any less happy for them.
Articles
January 3rd, 2007 at 1:09 pm
This is no surprise, the key to success is namedropping.
Big Time Producer: So, you´re John´s assistant.
Assistant: Yupp. He´s nothing without me.
Big Time Producer: Oh?
Assistant: Yeah, I wrote Big Fish.
Big Time Producer: Really?
Assistant: Yes. John has a bit of a problem (winks and makes a drinky-drinky motion with hand)
January 3rd, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Cangratulations Chad.
January 3rd, 2007 at 1:55 pm
So does this mean you’re on the lookout for a new assistant? Because coughs I know a certain LA based screenwriter coughs myself coughs that would give his left eye to fill that seat. Taking any resumes?
Scott in Sherman Oaks
January 3rd, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Did you graduate from USC Scott? That might make it a little easier.
January 3rd, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Drinky-drinky motion. That’s gold Einar. Everyone knows the gesture you’re talking about, but I’ve never seen it described in print so well.
And well done Chad. Scott - are you sure you want the pressure of being John’s assistant? I mean…four from four. You wouldn’t want to be the one to end the golden run.
January 3rd, 2007 at 6:18 pm
Not that you need to hear it from some random blog commenter, but: Congrats Chad! Looking forward to the movie. I love a good success story (maybe that’s just because I’m not a screenwriter, so I have nothing to be jealous about).
January 3rd, 2007 at 6:47 pm
Without blowing too much smoke of Mr. August’s arse…his comments seem exceedingly modest/humble. It would be too much of a co-winky-dink for so many of his charges to hit the big time. But alas…I have no USC credential so I must wallow in my schadenfreude.
Actually it is inspiring. A post about how these folks made it to the big-time would be appreciated!
Thanks for all the hard work on the site and good luck finding a new assistant-
lippyone
January 3rd, 2007 at 10:24 pm
I believe that you aren’t helping them directly, but certainly being your assistant doesn’t hurt them?
January 4th, 2007 at 12:54 am
I think it’s time that Mr August proved his oft-repeated claim that he has no role in the success of his former coffee-fetchers. Rather than hiring yet another young overqualified well-groomed Stark grad, let’s see the next assistant be a drooling illiterate hunchback with two-quart-a-day absinthe habit and really bad organizational skills.
If (when) Igor gets a mid 6 against low 7 deal for his first script, we’ll then know what’s what.
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B
January 4th, 2007 at 11:54 am
Congratulations Chad! It’s great to hear when someone new joins the ranks of “Those-Who-Have-Sold” to which we all aspire. Much continued success! John, I guess that makes us separated by three degrees as I lived in the same dorm as Joe Nussbaum at USC. He might actually remember me - maybe - with a picture. Maybe. That probably doesn’t make me a shoe-in for your assistant position but perhaps my extensive knowledge children’s board books would? Plus I could probably type up your notes much better than Scott H could with only a right eye.
January 4th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
I should probably get a new eye and get my application in to USC on the double!
January 4th, 2007 at 5:54 pm
Gah! Now I just need to finish my bachelors, move to LA, hope and pray to get into Stark, and then maybe by the time I’m 50, get the opportunity to apply to be John’s assistant to be able to work on my screeplay to get it sold.
Or maybe just keep writing.
Chris in Oklahoma
January 5th, 2007 at 3:13 am
tony, it appears to be a tv series (john said “pilot,” i believe.)
oh, and not to be a know-it-all, but schadenfreude is happiness for someone else’s misfortune, lippyone, not your own.
April 18th, 2007 at 5:51 am
Even more important than Chad’s connection to John is his excellent high school education at Fairview HS in Boulder, Co… Oh yeah, that’s where John went also. And of course they have in common journalism/geography/anthropology/economics teacher/magician/screenwriter/producer Robert LaRue. Without me they are nothing! (evil envious laugh).
Congrats from the old school Chad!
LaRue