To get LOST & FOUND made as a feature film

Six years ago, I had an idea for a film which sprang from a dozen different HARDY BOYS books buried in my subconscious. An idea about 2 brothers who go on a treasure hunt. That idea became the foundation for my first screenplay, titled LOST & FOUND. Only problem was, I had no idea how to write a script. I didn't even own script writing software.

I started working on the idea over the Christmas break during my first year of graduate school at USC. It started as a synopsis. Then grew into a treatment. Then, I put down my first couple of drafts. By my last year of school, 3 years ago, I fast-talked my way into a small, extremely exclusive class taught by the head of the writing department, the writer of my alltime favorite childhood film, TOP GUN. In that class, the other students taught me immeasurably about the craft of re-writing, and helped my hone my story. I hoped to fashion a script that I could actually direct myself, so I could begin my directing career.

I graduated from school, got friends to give me notes, and continued to re-write the script. One of my directing professors took a liking to the story, 2 years ago, and offered to produce. He helped me hone the story even more. But his connections to financing fell through, and he left the film.

A year and a half ago, some friends from Oklahoma started a film fund. They wanted to make LOST & FOUND the centerpiece of their slate. But their financing didn't materialize either.

A year ago, I asked a manager to read the script, and he responded to it. He signed my writing partner and I, and passed the script along to ICM. The team at ICM responded to it, and they signed both of us.

Six months ago, 2 close friends with extensive producing background started a production company. They showed it to an investor. who loved it. These 2 friends spent months putting together a business plan for the film, 2 inches thick. We signed a co-production agreement last week.

I'm on my 20th draft of the script. The basic concept is the same, but virtually everything else has changed. I've learned to be patient, to hope....but not get my hopes up. I pray that this new opportunity will be the one that gets this film from the page to the screen!