MISSING - SAKNAD

Squaw Valley Writer's Conference

2010-06-04T12:22:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to announce that Missing/Saknad has been accepted to be part of the 2010 Squaw Valley Writer's Conference.

This is a great honor, and I'm very excited to take part, especially with this project.

For more information, please click here!

American Scandinavian Society Cultural Grant 2010

2010-05-05T03:25:00.000-07:00

I am so pleased to announce that MISSING has been awarded the American Scandinavian Society Cultural Grant for Sweden, for 2010.

There will be a ceremony June 3, 2010 at the Brick Parish House, 91st and Park, at 6PM. They have asked that I read, or have actors read at the ceremony.

Now, must start organizing and researching new producers and contacts in Sweden and the UK. Thank you so much to all of my friends and family for reading/re-reading this work, over its seven year life so far.

Such a success!! Thank you. Tacksam!

2010-04-22T00:24:00.000-07:00

Last night, a group of wonderful actors, and a crowded 12th floor room with a view of the Empire State Building, were a part of a wonderful reading series event, that included an excerpt from MISSING.

I was so grateful to everyone who helped make this happen. The Writers Room, first for asking me to read. It was an honor to be in such great company with the other two authors who read before we read from MISSING. I have to thank Julie Schubert, as always, for always being a full-service casting director. Even for a reading, she helped find some talented actors. I have to overwhelmingly thank the actors for working so hard on their own, and coming with such clarity, and strength to the reading. And thank you to all who came! I feel so supported and loved.

The reading itself consisted of scenes pulled from the feature length script, that still attempted to show the arc of the story, and Sara's journey. There were 6 actors who sat in a small semi-circle framed by large windows, and I stood beside them. It was my job to read the stage directions. That alone made me more nervous than sharing my work with the room. But once the reading began, I felt the energy in the room, and it seemed that people were riveted throughout, so I calmed down. The actors really let the story build, and gave it such life. I was so grateful for their help.

Afterwards, a rush of folks from the crowd were excited to speak to me, and to the actors. So many kind words, and requests to read the full script. Also, the Writers Room was taping the event, so I look forward to seeing that, and maybe posting it here as well.

Again, thank you to all who helped, and all who are invested in Sara's story.

Writers Room Reading of Missing, Part 1

2010-04-21T19:12:00.000-07:00

Reading Part 2

2010-04-21T19:00:00.000-07:00

Reading Part 3

2010-04-21T18:55:00.000-07:00

Writers Room Reading for MISSING

2010-04-21T00:31:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to announce that MISSING has been chosen to be read at the Writers Room Series on April, 20, 2010. I hope I'll be able to find some actors to help! I think it will be unusual for the Writer's Room (the writer's colony where I am a member, and where I work), to host a screenplay reading. Usually, it's mostly prose, fiction, or non-fiction. But, it seems appropriate as I feel that this story might be best adapted into a novel. And as I work on that idea, this could be so helpful to see how that process could work.

The Writers Room is at 740 Broadway, off Astor Place, 12th Floor. The reading will be at 7PM.

I hope you can make it!

The story of MISSING

2009-04-25T00:50:00.000-07:00

The story of MISSING is a saga itself. Many years ago, I'd written a poem about two kids on the island of Moja in Sweden, where my family has a house. The poem was about a bloody nose, and a rock near a pond, and a shared bond between two lost kids. The poem never really left me.

Years later, at Columbia, the poem seemed to form itself into a short that took place entirely on the island, with these two characters, Gustav and Sara. On a trip to Stockholm, I met with some producers, who showed interest in the project. One producer suggested that I expand the short into a feature. I had thought about that as a possibility, but his suggestion, and idea to apply for government funding with a feature, had me working. He was also creatively in tune with the story, and was really inspired by it. He gave me a list of things to gather for him...images, music, cast ideas, and a deadline for the feature. I traveled back to New York and went to work. When I started delving into Sara, a whole world opened up. The story, complicated, dark, emotional -- the journey, arduous, conflicted, and full, I actually finished on time.

Then came the many, many drafts. The comments from writers, mentors, friends. More drafts.

Then a few actors were attached. Hampus Pettersson and Julia Dufvenius. This was beyond exciting.

Then we actually got through the first stage of funding! We were on our way...then my producer got a job for BBC TV in Copenhagen. So, there was a halt.

I kept working, more drafts, more drafts. I applied to the Sundance Screenwriting Labs, and went through a few rounds. It seemed the project was a finalist! But, it didn't ultimately get chosen. Still, great to be considered, and in such great company.

As I worked on other projects and stories, MISSING, stayed with me. It started to occur to me, that the story might be larger. Maybe this was a novel? As I began to seriously consider it, the notes, and ideas were flowing, and moving, and seemed to really start to form another medium. It's an unorthodox method. Usually, novels are turned into screenplays. But this seemed to work.

So, that's where I am now. Focused on creating a fully-developed, version of MISSING, where some of the smaller stories have room to breathe.

MISSING - Images

2009-04-22T00:58:00.000-07:00