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Zoetifex Blog
- 20 June 2019 /
- by zoetifex Studios /
Well, it looks like it's time to let the cat out of the bag. And this cat is more like a Lioness of Rock!
I just began working with Rock Icon Lacey Sturm (former lead singer of the band Flyleaf) to write a screenplay on her life's story that is based on her best-selling book "The Reason: How I Discovered a Life Worth Living" (2014 - Baker Books).
BACK STORY - August of 2018, I finished reading Lacey's Book and almost immediately got the notion that the story would make a fabulous movie. Mainly because I felt it could be a life-saving and life changing movie. So, much like my pursuit to work with Michael Garland on a few of his children's books, and my ability to get the gig to work with Geoff Tate on an animated feature film version of Queensrÿche’s Operation: Mindcrime, I set out to see what it would take to get to be the lucky one to write this story, and hopefully produce the movie as well.
During my investigation into trying to reach Lacey, I was shocked to learn a few things. First, after watching an interview with Lacey and her husband Josh, it was revealed that there might already be a movie in the works. I was devastated, but not deterred, so I continued with my task at hand. Next, I discovered that Lacey and Josh lived right here in Pittsburgh! What? I knew right then and there that God was working on something special.
Turns out they live here because this is where Josh grew up. But out of any place they could live, they live here. So to me, that just meant there was a greater chance of getting to talk with them face-to-face about this. But I still had some work to do to get there.
Through some connections (that you Chris Furr, thank you Cindy "Mothership" Blankenship), I was able to get to Lacey's manager, which lead to a great first conversation with him, which lead to a meeting with Lacey and Josh at a local Starbucks. During the conversation, I learned that several production companies had approached them to make this movie, and thankfully, they had not selected any of them to move forward. (So you're saying there's a chance).
I'll skip several months that go by as God was teaching me once again to be patient and wait on His timing for everything. And soon enough, we were signing a collaboration agreement to start the writing process.
Michael, Josh & Lacey - Jan. 2019
DAY ONE - I finally got sit down with Lacey and her husband Josh to begin to work through the details of her story. For the first night, things were pretty productive. Like any story that I start, I first want to know more about "The Players". In this case, that would be those who influenced her most, including her family members. So we discussed those mentioned in the book and even those that were not very prominent. I also went over the process that will get me to writing the actual script.
After a few hours (and a few sidetracked conversations), we wrapped up the evening talking about the writing schedule and "what's next". I felt very comfortable swapping stories about how we grew up and how I could relate to some of the things she shared. We talked a little bit about how we wanted to portray certain life events from her perspective. There is obviously a lot of work to do on my end, but with Lacey's input, I'm very confident this will be a smooth process.
Collaboration sessions continue next week, but there's a lot to do in-between. But hopefully you'll come along for the ride and enjoy the journey with me. Of all of the stories I have had the privilege of writing, this may be the most important one yet!