support
If you haven't viewed the RECOGNITION page yet, may I ask you to look at it now? There is no way I could have accomplished any of what you see on that page without the help of the mentors, producers and script consultants you'll see on this page.
kATHRYN
Kathryn (Kat) Sparks is the owner, producer and director of Southwest Films Productions. She is also a brilliant mentor. If she tells you your script is ready for production, then it's ready. Evidence? Look at the many awards Bridge the short screenplay has received . . . that's all on Kat. Also, I've written the feature film version of Bridge and a screenplay (Contraflow) about a policeman whose daughter is kidnapped days before Hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans. Kat is helping me tweak those scripts; again, when she says they are ready production, they will be ready for production. I am forever indebted to Kat for all she's done to help me get to where I am. In my view, Kat is not just a mentor, Kat is family.
https://www.iseeyouproductions.com
https://www.instagram.com/swfilmproductions/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC4Xfp9Tee4 (Kat as Patty in "The Young and the Restless")
Lance
Lance Nichols is an American actor (Curious Life of Benjamin Button, HBO's Treme, et al.) and co-owner and producer of LanZardis Productions in New Orleans, LA. I attended a film festival in New Orleans and saw that Lance was one of the judges. I asked the festival organizer to introduce me to Lance, and I asked Lance to read Bridge, the one act play. He called me on a Sunday: he did not say he liked the play, he did not say he did not like the play, he said he was going to produce it. And that is how Bridge got started. As I watched the stage reading which Zardis--Lance's wife--produced, I got this feeling I could be a playwright who makes a difference. I attribute that feeling to Lance.
dENISE
Denise O'Neal is Executive Director of Shabach Enterprise and artistic director of Fade To Black Theater. I do not know if this is really the case, but I've read that outside of New York City, Houston has the most vibrant theater scene in the country. So since someone of Lance's caliber was willing to produce Bridge in New Orleans, I figured why not see if I can get it produced in Houston. I contacted Denise and asked her to read the play. Even though she didn't know me, she said she would read it and she told me when she'd call to let me know what she thought. She called exactly when she'd told me she'd call. And like Lance, she didn't say she liked the play, she didn't say she didn't like the play, she said she'd produce it. I almost dropped the phone. And that's how Bridge got started in Houston. In New Orleans it was stage read; in Houston it was actually produced. And whatever heights Bridge reaches, I will give credit to Denise. Because of my connection with Denise, I have become connected with Houston theater elite such as Thomas Meloncon, Eileen Morris and James West.
john
John Campbell Finnegan is a professional actor, director and designer and producing artistic director for Bunbury Theater in Louisville, KY. For probably a year, I helped John's relative Karen tweak her play; finally, we did a Zoom production of it which I hosted and John played a role. John told Karen he liked how I hosted the production and Karen told John I write plays, too; John asked to read something I wrote; I sent him Bridge. Here we go again: John did not say he liked the play, he did not say he did not like the play, he said he'd produce it. I drove from Houston to Louisville through the remnants of Hurricane Helene to see the production, and seeing it was certainly worth the drive. I think I am correct when I say John is deeply committed to presenting plays that stress diversity and equality. I've often procrastinated about writing plays because I'm concerned about the number of characters and set design. John says, "You just write the play, let us worry about everything else."
https://www.facebook.com/john.finnegan.16; https://www.bunburytheatre.org/the-team
While the people below are not producers or artistic directors, they have supported and assisted me in other very important ways.
stephen
Stephen, for instance, supports me emotionally. He and I meet for breakfast on Thursday of almost every week and we just talk about whatever. He taught me detached engagement--I really needed to learn that. Though I have not known Stephen very long, I consider him my third brother.
Stephen Mark Findley traces his first acting role as a child in a school production when he played a “rabbit who roared like a lion.” Stephen has appeared recently in the Fade To Black Play Festival’s production of “Raising Solomon” and “Life, Love, & Boobs”. His acting credits include “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone,” “Anna Lucasta,” “Deep Are the Roots,” and “The First Breeze of Summer.” During the Houston Arts Festival that will take place in June, Stephen will participate in two stage readings--Trains, Blue Gardenias and White Daffodils and my play, Bridge in the Distance. Stephen has also contributed to the theater as a Dramaturg and as a Playwright Liaison.
https://stephenfindley.co/, https://www.facebook.com/stephen.m.findley
Nico
Nico is an astute script consultant. He'll backread my plays and screenplays and point out lines that do not work but which I simply missed. In Contraflow, for instance, I have a killer in evacuation traffic running from the police. Nico said, "Wait, evacuation traffic inches along, how can someone speed?" Oops!
Dr. Nico Zaunbrecher has performed, directed and taught improvisational theatre in over 400 shows over the last 25 years. Starting with the still-running Cult of the Stage Monkey at University of Louisiana–Lafayette in 1999, he went on to complete a Ph.D. in Performance Studies at Southern Illinois University–Carbondale, focusing on culture, theory and history of improvisation and spontaneity. He has taught communication and performance at Lenoir-Rhyne University, South Louisiana Community College, and Southern University, and published research on improv and social theory in the journals Theatre Topics and Human Studies. He is currently Artistic Director of Silverbacks Improv Theatre and one-half of the improv duos Two for the Road, Lonelycrowd and Encounter En-Canto, and developing an online daily narrative comic strip. It has been a delight to work with Mr. Holmes and to see his work grow and blossom.
lily
Lily--my neighbor and someone I would argue is the best mother on earth--helped me design this website. The picture of the living room on the stage (PROJECTS) . . . Lily figured out how to insert the bridge and flash of lightning inside the curtained window. We started working on the website I think back in late January. We're finally ready to launch it.
Lily Lopez is a dedicated mother of three, a successful contractor, and a seasoned professional with a passion for providing exceptional service to her clients. Leslie has built a versatile career that has spanned recruiting, management, and working with leading global medical clients. Her ability to adjust seamlessly to different industries and client needs has made her a valuable asset in delivering thoughtful and effective care. Despite her demanding career, Leslie remains deeply committed to her role as a mother. She finds balance in juggling the challenges of parenthood with the professional demands of contracting.