Longtime readers will note that my former assistants have done well for themselves. [Rawson](http://imdb.com/name/nm1098493/) has directed two movies, [Dana](http://imdb.com/name/nm1401416/) has become an in-demand screenwriter, and [Sean](http://imdb.com/name/nm1091301/) is a TV staff writer with a pilot in production.
I’m happy to add [Chad](http://imdb.com/name/nm1548657/) to the list of successes. After many delays, his script “Sydney White” is going into production on February 12th, with [Joe Nussbaum](http://imdb.com/name/nm0638271/) directing. Variety has [the story](http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117956518.html?categoryid=13&cs=1) 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](http://cinema.usc.edu/producing/index.cfm). 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.