My story so far…

When I was 19 years old, I found out two things: that the Marine I moved to Orange County for was in fact not my soulmate, and that I had no business studying business. I met with my academic advisor one fateful afternoon when I was attending Saddleback College in Mission Viejo. I told her how I felt lost, and how feeling lost made me feel like a cliché, and just before I spiraled into a Holden Caulfield-esque meltdown, she asked me what I liked to do for fun. My only hobbies at that time were binge drinking and panic attacks. After an uncomfortably long silence, she asked me what I liked to do for fun as a kid. And instantly, I answered: I used to steal my parents' video-camera and force my friends to make videos with me. She reminded me where I was, frickin’ Southern California, and that filmmaking was a legitimate career option. She explained that Saddleback had an incredible film production program and a state of the art studio right on campus. I was going to study movies! DUH!

My very first screenwriting class and I knew… I knew that I had found my thing. Too bad alcoholism didn’t give a shit, and my addiction ended up forcing me to make a tactical retreat back home to Michigan by the age of 21. I quit drinking the day after my 22nd birthday, however I then spent the next three years hopelessly addicted to prescription ADHD stimulants. So, fair enough to say I spent the majority of my twenties very, very lost as I found out that getting sober the second time around can be twice as hard. Rock bottom has a trap door, as they say. By age 25, I got clean, again, and began to piece my life back together. At first I thought, fuck, how the hell am I going to pursue filmmaking when I’m stuck in the Midwest? I quickly realized I lived down the road from one of the best universities in the country which had one of the top film programs in the nation.

At the age of 26, I began studying at the University of Michigan and this past December of 2024, I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree from the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. Finishing my degree was something I was never willing to compromise on. I completed the Film, Television, and Media program along with the competitive and highly selective Screenwriting Sub-Major. Throughout my time at UofM, I was immersed in film theory, history, production, screenwriting, and acting. I studied closely under the mentorship of John H. Mitchell Professor of Entertainment and the Director of Screenwriting Program, Jim Burnstein. Other notable screenwriting professors that I owe my success to include Daniel Tice, Cindy Davis, and Oliver Thornton. Most of my writing in inspired by addiction, trauma, mental illness, and how hilariously awful the combination of all three can be.

My time at UofM allowed me to create a substantial portfolio of writing which includes two feature screenplays, a spec television script, and a pilot and pitch deck for an original television show. I have also written several shorts that I then helped produce, some of which have gone on to be chosen for film festivals such as the Trinity Film Festival and Sparking Creation Film Festival. My most recent feature screenplay, “LifeSkills”, won Fourth Place for the Hopwood Award for Screenplay as well as Second Place for the Kasdan Scholarship in Creative Writing. I recently adapted “LifeSkills” into a 35 page script entitled “Life Stuff” that was produced by students over the course of a semester as a capstone project. I played the role of the main character, Charlotte, as it is an autobiographical story, I have a background in acting, and the director thought I’d be the best person to, well, play myself! I also regularly write and perform stand-up comedy which has been one of my all-time favorite creative outlets.

In the summer of 2024, I was a Production Intern at Atlantic Pictures in New York City where I served as an on-set PA as well as an office PA. My responsibilities included assisting producers from the pre-production preparation stages all the way through production and wrap-up of projects. I provided insightful and analytical coverage on scripts in development, kept the office running efficiently by managing phone lines and scheduling meetings, ran errands throughout the city, played a key role in procurement and marketing of a national campaign, and maintained confidentiality of all records pertaining to clients and projects. 

While screenwriting remains my primary passion, I firmly believe that a comprehensive understanding of the entire filmmaking process is vital in the cinematic world. Through hands-on experiences on film sets, I have embraced a multitude of roles ranging from producer, assistant director, actor, sound mixer, grip, PA, and many more. Engaging in various crucial positions has equipped me with a well-rounded skill set, positioning me as a valuable crew member capable of contributing to any film project.

Dream job? Staff writer for a television show. Wait, if we’re talking dreams, then Hell - I want to create, write, produce, direct, and star in my own show. Or give me a 60-minute Netflix special and I’ll die happy. Either way, I’m dreaming big.