DISRUPTING FEAR

I’ve generally avoided writing in the horror genre—until a Halloween night conversation a few years ago. My buddy Ryan and I were texting about films like Jaws and An American Werewolf in London, two "horror" films I’ve always found palatable. That chat sparked something unexpected: the fastest screenplay I’ve ever written. In just 30 days, I had a completed first draft. Since then, I’ve carefully revised and refined it with a greater sense of purpose.

The hardest part? The title. It had to have depth, purpose, and originality. I’m thrilled to say Burden of the Wolf has blossomed into a genre film with a voice and purpose I’m genuinely proud of. Below are some highlights from written reviews I’ve received:

• "Burden of the Wolf is a true page-turner, filled with suspense that quite literally makes you jump. Each character has a strong voice and a vivid disposition."
• "The magic lies in the comedic moments of dialogue that highlight the group’s dynamics. The script ends with a message..."
• "Overall entertaining dramaturgically, with well-timed hints of classic coming-of-age teen comedy. It leaves us with a point of reflection."
• "There aren’t any other werewolf films that come to mind that ask the audience to reconsider the werewolf as a distinctly different entity from wolves themselves, and that makes Burden of the Wolf unique and original."
• "The screenplay balances humor and tension, expertly timing jokes among the gang while delivering strong action sequences. The werewolf chase scenes will keep audiences on the edge of their seats, and even without the creature present, the conflict is vivid and gripping.

Growing up, I was immersed in Spielberg’s films, as well as the dramatic yet lighthearted classics, The Goonies, The Lost Boys, and Stand By Me. Revisiting these films with my kids lat er on, we explored new stories like Harry Potter, Narnia, The Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean. Filmmakers like John Hughes and Danny Boyle have also shaped my perspective, inspiring me to craft stories with heart, humor, and, if I’m lucky, meaningful messages.

After a few drafts of Burden of the Wolf, this question emerged: “What if Peter Benchley had considered the ecological impact on sharks before writing Jaws?” Afterwards that thought guided me, intentionally intertwining themes of fear and misunderstanding with an eye towards advocacy. In analysis of my writing, I realized a recurring thread in my work—turning a blind eye to the fear of the "boogeyman." I have come to accept that it is a primal fear many grapple with and sadly many more gravitate to, whether it’s the unknown or dare I say, LOVE. Someday, I will tackle the FEAR of LOVE, but for now, I’m diving into Werewolves, Ghosts, and Aliens—my imagination seems drawn there naturally.

OK, I asked Chat GPT, what is the most common myth people fear?

A common myth that people fear is the belief in "The Unknown." This fear manifests in many forms, including superstitions about the supernatural, darkness, or death. It often stems from humanity's innate tendency to fear what cannot be explained or controlled. ?

The results went on to mention, Werewolves, Shapeshifters, The Dark, Wilderness, Ghosts and Hauntings.

?? I understand that NOT playing into fear can upset the status quo, many institutions have invested deeply into fear at their core and double down on that to influence the masses and keep them on edge. But honestly, IMO, I don’t think that is any way to live, in fact it is the antithesis of living. So yeah, maybe I was fit with rose-colored glasses at birth, who knows, maybe like Stallone, “I like a happy ending.” As writers we are often nudged, encouraged and cajoled into writing something New, Different and Inspired… yet look what we are force fed on the regular.?

And what do you think the response is to New and Different?? My guess is Fear. LOL

OK this is where I have to quote my old compadre (maybe deceased) Richard Crow,? ‘It’s new, it’s different, therefore it must be shunned, feared and killed!” You’d have to know Richard to understand…Point being is, maybe I am in fact writing New, Inspired and Different? I sure hope so, but attracting the eyes of the STATUS QUO may take some handy wrestling tactics or one lucky encounter with a likeminded soothsayer.

With my writing, I aim to entertain first and foremost. I weave subtext into scenes and dialogue, hoping to spark curiosity and reflection. My ultimate goal is to create worlds people want to revisit, characters they want to hang out with, and stories that inspire levity—even if it’s through a pair of rose-colored glasses. I hope to encourage viewers to dig deeper for their own interpretations and find positive, thought-provoking perspectives and revisit my work time and time again.

Now, I’m ramping up development on Burden of the Wolf. The support from the community and the opportunities in Washington State have been incredibly motivating. I’m excited to bring others along for this journey. Won't you join me?

This is going to be great!

(Ok consider the 'irony?' the last film I shot was...FEAR (2021) perhaps the universe is telling me something after all.)