Moving Fast

Wow! Winning this scholarship has turned into quite a coup. I've been meeting more and more TV executives, many of whom are interested in looking at my scripts. I'm managing to get some publicity as well. Creative Screenwriting, Script Magazine, Television Week Magazine, a mention on the Academy Of Television Arts And Sciences website,emmys.org, an on-line Magazine about the entertainment industry called HGEN, and a few places that I'm not aware of yet. It is very cool!

I'm doing my best to keep the ball rolling, to keep my name out there, so that when it comes time to hire new writers for TV shows, the staffing season as its called runs from March to May or June, producers will think of me.

I'm trying to learn from the lessons I experienced when I was a " celebrity " twenty years ago. The main thing I did wrong was not making sure that my name was always out there. This is such a product driven business. Sure you have to be a quality product, either as an actor, writer, director, producer or whatever, but you also have to make sure that your name is out there. If you're selling soda, you better advertise that your product is on the shelf, otherwise nobody will know to buy it, and even if they notice it on the shelf, the name won't click with them so they won't buy it.

Such is the business that I love! I've tried not working, I've tried working in mainstream jobs, I've tried working at home, it's just not fulfilling for Jim Troesh. I've been excited about the entertainment industry for as many years as I can remember. When I first learn to read, I read credits at the end of shows and imagined my name being there with the rest. I even wanted another Troesh to be up there, but it wasn't until my own name was up there that that happened. And, what a satisfying day that was!

I guess the bottom line is to follow your heart. I know it sounds sappy, but it's true! The hard part is tuning out all the negative messages. And, I don't just mean those coming from the outside. If you've got friends or family telling you that you can ' t do what is your heart's desire to do, it's tough. But, if you've got a voice in your head that is also telling you not to do what it's your heart's desire to do it's a nearly impossible thing to get over. I don't know how I got over it myself, but I thank God that I did. I hope there is some comfort in that for people reading this who might be inspired to do what is they really want to do

Well, I think have run at the mouth plenty for this morning. If you're still reading, send a comment, I'd love to hear what you think.

Settling In

What's new? Quite a bit actually. I've been working with my mentor at ABC for a couple of weeks now developing my pilot so that it will promote Jim Troesh in the very best light possible with the intention of getting Jim Troesh lots of writing jobs. There is a part of me that is very concerned because Hollywood has a reputation for killing you with kindness. At the moment, things are going along well, I'm getting work and getting paid. The big crossroad is for me to move over into the arena of mainstream writers, and not disabled writers.

I'm going to assume that I am being considered as a writer, not a quadriplegic writer. However, I have absolutely no objections to using the fact that I'm disabled to get me in the door. The Screen Actors Guild just released a breakdown of the number of disabled actors that are on TV. What a surprise ... we are poorly represented to the point of it being discriminatory. I guess the fact that it became public in the last week or so is a good thing, at least it's out there, this study that can be pointed to. Theoretically, it will encourage, even force producers to consider hiring us. My problem is I've been around two frigging long. I've heard this song and dance before and not a damn thing happened.

But, far be it from me to sound like a goddamn dinosaur still pining for the good old days when I used to work all the time as an actor. It was a terrific back in the 1980's when I always knew I had an upcoming acting job, and I was flying all over the country and getting paid outrageous amounts of money for appearing and saying a few words. I got my comeuppance a few years later when I was forced to take a regular job where I earned in a month what I had previously earned in one day.

I suppose the lesson in that is to insure that when work starts kicking in more that I don't take it for granted and continually promote Jim Troesh and everything that will further Jim Troesh's career. (pardon me for referring to myself as a product, but in this town, I am)

It is my greatest hope that those of you are reading this will be seen my name in other places lots of other places. I'm doing a lot of publicity, getting my name out there wherever I can. If you happen to see something I would appreciate an e-mail because I don't always see everything that's written about me.

Well, I guess that's about enough for today. I really appreciate the fact that you are reading what goes on in my life week to week, or as often as I can get back to prattle on about myself.

ABC/Disney, day one

So, the ABC/Disney scholarship! Wow! It's Tuesday, I went to the dinner Sunday night which was a terrific networking opportunity and an introduction to the program I'll be in for the next nine months. But, yesterday, the all-day seminar at ABC was awesome! It was an entire day of intensive trainings by top people who make a lot of money training writers because they do an excellent job. They were motivational, inspirational, and educational.

I also met my new mentor, Adam Myman, ABC vice president in charge of current programming. He oversees the productions of shows like ALIAS, BOSTON LEGAL, GEORGE LOPEZ and several other highly rated shows. He selected me to work with because he really liked " The Outsiders. " I have a meeting with him tomorrow Wednesday, to talk about my goals in the industry. Wow! I struggle for twenty years trying to make it as an actor or writer or something in the industry, and I put writing as my solitary focus things start to happen. There's got to be a lesson in that.

On top of that, winning the ABC/Disney Scholarship got my " Without A Trace " spec read by a mid to upper level agent. A day later, I was represented by the Montiero Rose Dravis Agency. Things are finally happening again! I'm glad there is something about me that prevents me from giving up. Something that keeps me pressing on. And that I'm blessed with an absolute belief that some day I will succeed. Could it be that day be coming closer? I've been riled up like this several times in my career and nothing's came of it. I'm doing my best not to get too caught up in what's happening but it's tough. I've been working for this for as long as I can remember.