SWANSTONE STARtED WITH STEVE

In late 2022, I got an email that slacked-jawed me: The Black List and Warby Parker had chosen a Feature Drama Biopic screenplay I wrote, “Not Walter Jenkins!”, to receive their Writer’s Vision Grant. I would get $20,000 to spend on a ‘proof of concept’ Short Film version of the story. Miraculous! I began teaching myself screenwriting early in the COVID-19 pandemic via a self-directed curriculum of YouTube videos, podcasts, books, and by auditing shows. This award fueled my continuing artistic growth.

Though I had my Feature script for NWJ, I didn’t have one for a Short. After trying to squeeze 90 pages of plot into 15 (still too many, btw), I chose to reframe the story’s climax into the Short’s single scene. Then, I had to take that script from the page to the soundstage — or, as it turned out, a Catholic school bathroom in Far Rockaway.

I found a producer by scouring the credits of upstart Queer content. When he said to me “you’ll direct it?”, I said I would - mostly because I wouldn’t have to pay myself.

(Oh, if I had the chance to re-do that filmmaking experience! My advice to new filmmakers: find a mentor!)

Next, casting.

Steve Schroko leapt from the screen in his audition video; he didn’t look like who I had envisioned to play Walter Jenkins — a fascinating, real historical figure shown notably heftier in official White House photographs than Steve presents — but I believed Steve would embody Walter’s plight. He did.

Steve’s performance as Walter also slack-jawed me. Off-screen, he shared insights into the New York City auditioning hamster wheel (my phrasing, not his); all I could think was “what a shame that someone with that much talent and charisma isn’t overrun with opportunities to exercise it professionally. He’s a rock star!”, I exclaimed to myself.

He’s a rock star.

That moment birthed the character of Tobias Swanstone, aka SWANSTONE, a rock star with a storied but stalled career, languishing with much to offer but few paying attention. What happened to him? What would become of him? Who cares, who doesn’t, and why or why not?

Simultaneously, I’d dabbled in songwriting - releasing tracks as the artist project 23A, named for a highway familiar to me in Upstate New York. I had lacked clear intent for these songs until I created the SWANSTONE character, and realized - these are show tunes! Albeit, pop-rock ones. Swanstone’s songs.

It began with Steve. It now becomes SWANSTONE.