'We're Making Your Movie, Susan'

This is a little tale about never giving up. Never saying never. Never losing hope.

It started with a story. A true story about a true man who came into my life as a child and changed it. Forever.

And over eight years ago while walking on a hike I heard the first line of dialogue come into my head and I went home and began to write. Every single day I would hike and write, hike and write, hike and write — listening to the voices tell me the story until one day I had a completed screenplay.

That screenplay got in the hands of huge movie star who wanted to do it. Do my movie! Play the role that in my dreams I only imagined this actor playing. Could this be happening?! Yes!

No.

Years passed. The option ran out. The actor was very busy. The script sat. And sat. And sat.

And life moved on and jobs came and went and still that script meant more to me than any other I had ever written.

After six years of sitting it got in the hands of an incredible Oscar nominated director who fell in love with it and wanted to do it.

Two more years passed.

It sat on my desk. My daughter read it. I even wrote a column about that experience.

My manager never stopped believing in it. My director never stopped believing in it. I never stopped believing in it.

And it sat some more.

And then a little over four months ago everything changed.

My manager had a meeting with an independent production company that finances low budget films. A company that had just had enormous success with an indie film. My manager was there on other business but just before he left the meeting he said three words,

There's this script...

The company read my screenplay and, with tears in their eyes, gave me the news I have waited eight years to hear,

We're making your movie, Susan.

With my loyal manager, director and, now, passionate producers by my side we are doing it. It is happening. The voices in my head, the words on the page, the tribute to this man will finally come to life.

A writer writes to tell a story. To share a moment.

This is mine.

Never stop believing. Never say never. Never lose hope.