On September 12th, the weekend of my 30th Birthday, I'll be running a 5k. This may not seem like a big deal, but if you know me, you're probably picking your jaw up off the floor. If you don't know me, let me tell you about my story...
Now you should know, my teens were great. I got to do things kids only dream about. I toured Europe with an orchestra, played violin for the King of Jordan, played in the World Youth Orchestra in Red Square and made it into the Guiness Book of Records. ALL of this was made possible because of my education at The Music School of Delaware--one of, if not THE most important arts institution our state has. It's been opening up dreams and new worlds for kids for 85 years, it's the key to the future of music in our state... and it needs our help!
So my teens were great....but, let me tell you about my twenties...
They started off with a bang. I had a Presidential Scholarship to the USC Film School. (Due in no small part to my well-rounded experiences...thanks, Music School!) I graduated with honors and went right into script development, with my first script out of the gate making studios buzz. Life was set.
But somewhere...somewhere in the sleepless nights, working on senior projects and scripts. Somewhere in the stress of my best friend losing a baby. Somewhere in there... my body just broke.
Doctors called it Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, one even found traces of Lyme Disease. I'm still not sure what happened. All I know is that I went from being fairly healthy, to not being able to climb stairs.
And so, I went home. Delaware had been my home all growing up. Granted, Hollywood called and I spent plenty of time plotting my escape. When I got back, sick as a dog, I couldn't even process how my life had taken such a turn. I thought I was 3,000 miles away from my destiny, my future, my life.
Months, years went by. I could barely walk. Often couldn't drive. I thought I was in prison.
The thing about our state is that it creeps up on you. You spend so long dreaming about "bigger" places. But then you realize that all you want is right here. So one day, it hit me. I love Delaware. I love the trees, I love the people, I love that we can all gather as one around so much common ground. LA can be a lonely place. Delaware feels like family. Like home.
And with my eyes open, there was so much opportunity. If you know me, you've heard about the Delaware Film Company or The Delaware Film Finance Initiative. (If you don't want to go to Hollywood, bring it here!) But you may not know that my new life in this state was launched with major help by a certain institution.
Can you guess?
I walked into The Music School of Delaware as long-lost family. I had ideas for some commercials. You can find one below - and my company was born.
The Music School of Delaware - TV SPOT from Delaware Film Company on Vimeo.
Over the past years, the company has grown, I've gotten married to the most amazing Delaware girl (although she's also British, so she's an EXOTIC Delawarean!) and now...on my 30th birthday... I'm making a comeback.
I've just finished a screenplay for a feature film I plan to direct. (Hopefully here if the Film Bill passes!) I have a first look deal with a studio that's excited to work with me. But perhaps most monumentally of all. I can run.
So many nights I would leave my body, feel the wind in my hair. Feel my legs hit the ground with no pain. But it was only a dream.
And more importantly, please support this amazing institution. I think you're getting an idea for what an impact it's had on my life. I'm only one of 10's of thousands. Like most non-profits in these times, they really, really need our help. Please, get involved. The next generation will thank you...and so will I.
