Sample Work

Scriptwriting has so many different fields, that I have been fortunate to explore. Writing for television, theater and feature films, I have seen it all. Here are some excerpts, showcasing my work.

Excerpt from "12 ounces", a theatrical production produced as part of Algonquin College's Hot House Reading Series

Setting:
It’s late on a warm, summer’s night. The heart of downtown’s thriving action is slowly dying down, yet you can hear the faint cries of the sleepless. Merv’s apartment is a small place, one bedroom, extremely messy. There is a living room with a chipped-up coffee table, on which there is a bong. Along with that, there is a couch to sit on.
Scene 1
AT RISE: (Late at night, MERV sits on his couch with IAN, they are both smoking cigarettes. A duffel bag sits beside them. JU-JU stands by the window, looking down at all the NOISE of the city)


(MERV picks up a bus route map, from under the table, spreads it out, and points with his finger, for IAN to see.)
MERV
Alright, so we take the 137, that’ll take us up to Ridgemount. If we head east, down Merkin Street, we end up in Cranbrook. We’ll start with those areas.


IAN
Then, when it’s time to dip, the 121 will take us through Woodridge, right back here.
MERV
Excellent. The bars should be closing up right about now. It’s almost time to go. How’s it looking out there, Ju?
JU-JU
(JU-JU stares out the window)
The clowns are still dancing about. There’s less of them now though.
IAN
So you guys wanna see what we’re working with tonight?
(IAN opens the bag and begins taking out spray paint cans and markers, placing them on the table)
JU-JU
These people are idiots. These drunken animals stagger along, jabbering away, not knowing what the fuck they’re saying… oouu sexy mama down below.
MERV
You just let us know when they all go away. I don’t want any eyes on me tonight.
JU-JU
Me neither, man.
IAN
Ok, we got a fancy, electric blue for outlines, a mellow California yellow for fills, and both white and red krylon, for force-fields. Now I got a bunch of skinny’s, but only a few fats, so let’s keep that in mind.
MERV
Can’t forget mister chrome gold.
IAN
That’s the booms. We’ll be rocking Phillie’s from top to bottom with that shit.
MERV
What other treats do you have for us? Oh! I see some beers.
IAN
It’s a nice night. I figure we get into a few, along the way.
MERV
I figure about the same.
JU-JU
This is that krink ball-point shit you were telling me about, the one with the crazy drips, right?
IAN
Yeah man. You’re gonna fucking flip when you see that bad-boy in action.
MERV
Alright, I can’t wait any longer. Let’s pack this shit up and hit the streets.
IAN
(IAN throws all of the supplies back in the bag, and zips it up. He stands, and throws the bag onto his back)
I’m down…and yo, if there’s even a suspicion of being pinched, at any point, call it out. Keep six god damn it, remember what happened last time.
MERV
Don’t worry, we’re all keeping six tonight, right Ju-Ju?
JU-JU
Yeah. I got your back.
MERV
If we get split up, we meet back here.
JU-JU
Let’s do this then.
(THEY all exit stage)
Scene 2
AT RISE: (IAN, MERV, and JU-JU are sitting laid-back, on the bus. It’s late, and aside from them, there are only a few other passengers)

IAN
Oh god. I just made eye contact with crazy garbage bag lady.
MERV
(MERV laughs)
Now she’s eyeing you down, like you’re a fresh pack of hacks.
JU-JU
Check out security guard Steve over there, passed right the fuck out.
(IAN and MERV laugh)
IAN
Man, he’s drooling all over himself.
MERV
He looks like a Zombie.


JU-JU
Most of these people look like Zombies.
IAN

Trippy… late night zombie bus.
MERV
Guid-ette over there is looking kinda hot…oh never mind, the armpit hair just came out.
IAN
What about blondie, punk chick, up near the front? She looks like she’s got potential.
JU-JU
Naw. She looks like she could be a crazy bitch.
IAN
What’s wrong with that? I mean I’d-
MERV
Eh, so, where’s our first hit?
IAN
Uh…well… we should go hit the Pavillion.
JU-JU
The rooftop?
MERV
That sounds mad sketchy dude.
IAN
Naaawww man. Sparo and Jokes hit it last weekend. They told me how to get up to the top. Told me it’s chill ,once you get up there.
JU-JU
Sounds good to me man, I’d love a rooftop right now.
MERV
Yeah, aight, we’ll just play it safe and stealthy.
IAN
No worries bro. The hit will be legendary. This wall can be seen everywhere downtown.
JU-JU
We gotta get up there and rep the crew man.
IAN
Big ups on a spot like that.
MERV
True. We need to remind everyone who we are. I’m sick of all these toys dissing our shit man. Someone needs to teach them a lesson in respect.
JU-JU
I saw some fucking newbie, writer, Chaos, went over me at the Bayside station wall. Like, motherfucker, do you know who I am? I swear, if I ever catch this kid out in the streets, I’ll merk em.
IAN
(IAN looks out the window)
Well we’re in for a night of tear. And it looks like we just entered rich-town.
(MERV and JU-JU look out the window)
MERV
Oh yes. I just can’t wait to vomit these disgusting colors all over this neighbourhood.

JU-JU
I’m just going to write obscene things. These bastards will wake up in the morning, shocked and outraged. Like, “Mary, you’ll never guess what kind of filth I stumbled upon today.” And Mary’ll be like, “why Walter, what ever do you mean?” And then Walter’ll be like, “as I took Fuzingston for a brisk walk this morning, I noticed a billboard that had been vandalized, spray-painted. It was despicable.” And then Mary’ll be like, “why Walter, what ever do you mean?”



IAN
(IAN laughs)
Then they’ll make a big fuss about it. Saying something like, “my taxes should cover the removal of this crap. I want it off my streets.”
MERV
Obviously, the newspapers will get involved and they’ll write a story about it.
IAN
Complete with pictures of all our hits.
JU-JU
Damn, that’d be sick. Media coverage, now that’s big ups.
MERV
What say we jump off at the next stop?
IAN
Yeah.
JU-JU
Yeah.
IAN
Of course we’ve got to take care of business before we get off.
JU-JU
Me first!
(HE grabs the marker out of IAN’s hand and begins tagging the window)


Writing for television is my dream. When I developed this series, a lot of hard work went into it. This is a story that comes from the heart.

P.O.M.E (product of my environment) One-pager

Product of my Environment
Culture makes us who we are. We are all products of our environment. Growing up in the inner-city of Toronto can be harsh. The streets are cold and unforgiving, full of sin. But with the single idea of community, one young man decides to make a difference.
Ben came to this country when he was 5 years old. He and his parents emigrated from the Ukraine and have lived in the same tiny apartment on the west side of town, his whole life. Ben has a solid heart. He’s an articulate, intelligent, young man, but his priorities are all messed up. Since quitting school, he’s had no real purpose in life. He’s made a few bad decisions before, now working as a dishwasher, at a local Chinese restaurant. He can see himself slowly declining into the underworld of the streets. The only thing that keeps him going is Hip Hop. Ben has been attracted to the culture since he could remember. When he begins to rap in his head, he escapes to another world. Late at night, Ben climbs the fire escape to the roof of his building. As he sits and listens to the beat of the street, he writes about what he sees, the pimps and drug dealers, the night crawlers. Over and over again he recites the lyrics, hoping that one day he will be able to rise above all the negativity around him.
Suddenly an idea is born. Ben, along with his 4 best friends, decides to start the first hip-hop community center in the city. Focused around the 5 original elements of hip-hop (djing, mcing, graffiti, beak-dancing, and knowledge), the crew’s goal is to unite the diverse community they live in, through art, rhythm, dance, fashion and more. Ben and his friends get just enough support from a local semi-famous jazz musician to buy a run-down building and start their revolution. The boys are overwhelmed with joy, as they open the doors to the P.O.M.E center (product of my environment) for the first time and see a crowd of people waiting to join. The ball is rolling, and the boys are more focused than ever.
The next neighbourhood over is “rich town”, and when they start hearing that their children are interested in joining the P.O.M.E center, they’re not pleased. Seeing hip-hop as a dirty, street culture, they’d rather have their children taking fencing lessons. Having friends on city council, the “rich folk” plan on shutting the center down. On top of that, the night crawlers of the streets hate the bright light shinning in their dark corner. They don’t like the attention the community center is bringing, and they certainly don’t like loosing their young prospects to it either. These people have more lucrative ways of shutting Ben and his crew down.
Obstacles stand in the way of Ben’s dream, but he is determined to fix everything through the power of hip-hop. Slowly his idea grows beyond anything he has ever imagined. As he inspires the next generation to do the same, Ben is learning more and more everyday.

* if you would like to see more of my work, please contact me*