Today we’d like to introduce you to jD Shapiro
Hi jD, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up very poor in Hell’s Kitchen, NYC with my Dad and North NJ with my Mom and three sisters. My first goal was, well, to get out of there alive. My second was to not spend the rest of my life in prison. My third was to play football for the NY Giants, or be an astronaut or fireman. And perhaps because I’m Dyslexic and see things a tad differently than others, I wanted to be an architect (jD is a moron! He put the front yard in the back!’ “jD is brilliant! He put the roof where the patio should be. So modern!” Thenn I wanted to be an actor.
As an escape I had my imagination, a broken down garage at my Moms I would build fantastic (really bad) inventions from stuff I got out of the trash in NJ and NYC or stuff I, uh, “found.” And of use movies was my escape as well. My dad buy me a ticket and then I’d go in, go to the side or back door, and let him and my sisters in. Sometimes I’d sneak in on my own. Sometimes I would pay from the many odd jobs I had growing up (Not sure why they call them :odd” jobs. Writing, directing and doing stand up -that’s odd).
I got lucky and was accepted into HB Studios were I studied with, among others, the great Uta Hagen. I did a couple of commercials and off-off-WAY off Broadway plays. I found myself constantly drifting to the directors and realized that was my most passionate interest. So I start working on any sets that would have me, many times for no pay, but it was an amazing learning experience working in many areas and helped a lot with directing and writing and even stand up (I enjoyed writing but never thought I would do it professionally. And I had no interest in being a stand up… until I had interest. My mother said she alway knew I’d be a writer. I kept a lot of journals and wrote a lot of short stories, plays and short films I’d make with a 16mm camera my parents bought me for my birthday. which was an AMAZING gift since I usually got socks, underwear and hand-me-downs).
I moved out to LA after kind of finishing one of the universities I attended with $1,100 to my name, a car full of crap, my girlfriend at the time and a head full of dreams. I got “odd” jobs when I got there; construction, house painting, maintenance. men in the building I lived, and so on. Then I wrote a spec called, “Robin Hood: Men In Tights.” My dentist got it to a guy who worked for Mel Brooks in the 1970’s named Emile Buice (sp?). He lied it, met with me, said I was as crazy as Mel and it might work so he’ll give it to Mel That was on a Saturday. On Monday I got a call from Emile telling Mel wanted to meet with me on Wed. From when I came up with the idea and wrote the script to release of the movie was just under one year. I thought “This is how it works.” As you know, “Nope.”
I sold well over a dozen spec scripts, had a few TV deals and am a Creative Consultant on movies.
I wrote, directed and co-starred in a very low budget indie called “We Married Margo.” We won The HBO Aspen Comedy Festival Audience Award Best Film. I got lots of offers to direct studio movies I felt needed work but they felt they did not. So I didn’t take any of those gigs. There’s only one I know look back and feel I should have.
What was not in my wheelhouse was stand up comedy. But during “Men In Tights,” seeing Mel Brooks almost every day and hanging out with Richard Lewis I got interested. Robin Williams, who I first met at The HB Comedy Festival, was one of the people who talked me into doing stand up. I had a chance encounter and “jousted” with him. He was hitting me with lefts, rights, uppercuts… but I got in a few jabs. He thought I was funny and was a stand up. When I told him I wasn’t he talked to me about why he felt I would be great at it. It still took me several years to start doing it. I would see Robin out or at events and he’s ask me if I was doing ti yet and when I’d say no head either just give me a look and say something snarky/funny or tell m whey I should do it. He called me and when I picked up my phone and hear :”Are you doing it yet?” I ‘d say “Not yet but–” He’d cut me off by saying, “Fuck off” and hang up on me. But I finally started doing it in 2014 or 2o15. He was at The Comedy Store performing when he saw me after his set and asked me if I was there to watch or perform. When I said perform, and that Mitzi Shore had made me a Made Man (Paid Regular) he gave me a big, sweaty, disgustingly beautiful hug. He was one of the kindest people I have ever met and I miss him a lot.
Anyway, I lost interest in doing stand up, I think it was 2,000. I was writing screenplays and had a TV deal with Spelling Entertianment. Then I met with Stan Lee to pitch an idea I had with my friend Tony. To turn each NFL team’s ascots (Stan and I changed that because each team does not have a mascot but mainly because we felt mascots was corny. and not strong enough. So we made the essence of each team and the city they are in) into superhero and evil villains came from a “mistake” that happens at CERN. NFL bought our project but it ended up with The NHL and then… well, let’s just say the business side fucked up a lot and did a lot of illegal stuff. But Stan and I became creative partners creating many things together from 2002 to 2016. I’m proud to say he called me his protege. But even prouder to say we became close friends. We spent a lot of time laughing, talking, me learning. He told me things what aren’t public and they will stay that way. An AMAZING person, as we his wife Joannie (She liked me but loved my wife, now ex wife, Elisabeth).
In 2012 I got married to the aforementioned woman, Elisabeth. She is from Spain and is an actress. We lived in LA and went back and froth from LA to Spain. When she booked a TV series in Madrid I decide to get a place here (I am presently in Madrid). During covid I realised I could do write rom anywhere in the world, in The Universes. So I go back and forth from Madrid to LA (and NYC).
Also during covid I gained interest in doing stand up again- big time, Became my #1 passion. In 2022 I got “invited” to perform at one of the top 5 Venus at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, The Gilded Ballon (I put “invited” in quotes because although you must be accepted into any of the many- to many venues there, the bigger venues are much more selective and I (and all performers) pay for our venue, hotel, flights food, etc. A lot. I was not use to this since it was clubs in USA that paid for all that and paid me. But it was worth the experience and money I knew I’d lose. I did the festival again in 2023 at a different venue even though my gut told me not to. I did well, made money but it’s is a shit-show. A money grab from the performers and people who go watch. And most performers don’t realise how much they are lied to (I didn’t my first year) and that they are mostly like not going to make their money back (I knew that but didn’t think I’d lose as much as I did the first year(). I was told by many who have performed there for many 10 years or more that it use to be great. Use to be. That it had turned into the owners of venues going for the money a couple of years before covid and then after covid, which was the first year I performed, it was all about the money for them and the only shows they promoted were Far-Left Woke. I hate labels, because no on is the sum total of what they are told they are or say they are, but I am progressive. I ain’t work.
Anyway, I am presently traveling between LA, NY, Spain and other areas of Europe. I am finishing a script called TwoFour The Road that will be mostly shot in Astoria, Spain. A comic book series that will be made in LA. And a coming of age musical comedy that, if financing comes to be, will shoot probably in LA.. I have many projects in Development Hell which, as you know, means good chance they won’t get made. And a passion project of mine got killed due to covid but I think it could come to life. It’s based on a book by a brilliant Swedish author named Magnus Arp and it’s the true story of a young Norweignen women who’s father moves her to Sweden to be safe during WW2 (He and her brothers work for the resistance pithing the natzis) And she gets caught in a very dangerous situation and makes a very difficult decision to help the allies win WW2. It’s called “Three Days of April.’ I wrote the bulk of it in LA. Although I have written in most genres, it’s about characters for me when where they git best (I also don’t buy into a film being one genre. Most are many) But if I had to put this in a genre it is a very serious drama and I didn’t think I was up to the task. For some reason the producer and Magnus flew to LA to convince me to write it. I’m glad I listen to them I think it came out very well. That being said, I never, ever, ever watch anything I’ve been involved with after the premier. I only see the flaws. And I sit there at the premier, embarrassed that my name is on the movie or, not (du to NDA’s being a creative consultant) and go to myself “Self, you should have tried 6 frames here.” “You should have added 3 seconds there.” “That bit sucked. “Shit! I have a great idea but it’s too late the movie is about to be released.”
I have a rescue dog named “Nara” I call “Little Miss Sunshine” because she reminds me of the main character in that brilliant movie. I believe what we call “animals” are more human(e) than most humans. And I wish people would, even if they don’t like someone, understand we all have the same wants and needs and to respect that in The Other. Oh, and I still think I can help make the world a better place to live- which proves I’m totally crazy..
Gambaru!!!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Smooth road? Has anyone in the entertainment business ever had a smooth road? I think no. As for me,
it’s been very smooth. Filled with nothin’ but sunshine, birds singing, animals singing, flowers singing and all the cotton candy I want to eat.
Wait! That was a dream I had. My road has been anything but smooth. In fact, I think I am constantly building a new road from scratch. It’s been filled with incredible ups and very, very low downs. More downs then ups, but the ups are enough that make this crazy journey worth worth while and something I love. Not only love, want to do and NEED to do. Some people writer a living. I write to live. Because without it I’m pretty sure I would not be on this planet anymore. Writing, directing, stand up and even when I am “just’ a creative consultant allows me to use my depressionm demons and dark side instead of them using me.
Things went very unsmooth after “Battlefield Earth” came out in 2000. I pitched Mike Marcus, the president of MGM, who bought it. John Travolta wouldn’t sign on until there was a draft. Luckily, I guess, John loved my draft and sign on to playJohnny Goodboy Taylor,- the good guy human. And three A-list directors were interested in making it.
Then- I got notes. Really really bad notes. I called up Mike Marcus and said no way these notes are from the studio. He first said they were, then said they were from the church. I said it really didn’t matter where they came from but these will kill the movie. 90% of these I won’t do. I was fired the next day. And a “pencil” was brought on to write a new draft (You might know “Pencil” is a derogatory nickname writers give a person who could care less, takes the job for the money and does all the studio notes. Thus the reason there are too many bad movies made)..
When Mike Marcus left MGM he took with him, I think a few scripts. I know he got “Battlefield Earth.” I didn’t;t know it went o Fox until the head of Business Affairs at Fox Search, Joe Demarco (He had become. very close friend) told me that Fox proper had been talking about making it. That Peter Chernin loved my script. But the producer, I think it was only Mike Marcus at the time but I don’t know, was pushing for the other script (I later found out it was due to Scientology wanting the other script because mine didn’t totally follow the L. Ron, baby novel as closely as the Pencil’s did, and that there was a script that L. Ron Howard, baby, had written a script and the pencil used a lot from it. I never even was told there was a pre-existing script. John went from playing the good guy to the evil alien and I went to the Razzie Awards. By the way, John Travolta is a terrific person and was fun to work with. And Kelly- what an amazing woman! I was heartbroken when she moved on. John has a big heart and is very kind and was very open to my ideas and how I wanted to tell the story and how I wanted his character to grow. Scientology… not so much. Unfortunately John can’t talk to me anymore because I was public with my view of the movie and so became, and still am, persona non grata .
WGA board decided my name should be on the movie. Easy decision since I was the original writer of the novel and it’s very difficult, due to that, not to be named a writer- even though the pencil changed like 95% of all the dialogue I wrote, the storyline I created, and so on. But he did use the chapters I use from the massive book so thus I got credit. Oh joy.
Before the movie was locked I was going to take my name off the movie, much to the debate/arguments with my agent and attorney, but then the main people at Scientology asked me to meet. I did. They had obviously saw it and knew what a piece of shit it is (I had not seen it I was busy directing We Married Movie. But I did read the pencil’s draft. By page 2 I was in my little home gym murdering my heavy bag. Then I went back and murdered it more about ever 3 or so pages. The script was that god awful beyond). Scientology wanted me to take my name off the movie (That way they would have plausible deniability. So if I trashed talked it, and some people there knew me well enough to know I don’t hold my tongue, they could lie and say I only worked on it for a few days or say something like that to the press). They threaten me, not so subtly. First time I got “You’ll never work in this town again if you keep your name on it.” Actually he said. “You might never work in this town again.” Then they made the mistake of saying “We know were you live.” When I told them I had already planned to take my name off they were happy until I said “But”. “…You have no clue how or where I grew up so now I’m keeping my on the movie.”
Bold move to keep my name on it after getting threatened by scientology, right? NOPE! Stupid.! No studio president, executive, producer., director- ANYONE in their right mind wants to say (excitedly)”:Hey, guess who I have writing my next feature? The guy who wrote ‘Battlefield Earth!'”
I was in Hollywood Prison for a bit (So I didn’t make my goal of not going to prison, but luckily it was not a life term). When Stan Lee and I started working together things went smooth again, Then not smooth again. Up and down, Down and way down. Now I am happy and proud to say things are back up. And eventually won;’t be. And then will be. It’s part of this journey we call life. Damn it!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Hmmm. I wrote what I wrote because I chose “Other” timing I could write about whatever I wanted. Now I just saw there are questions.
I’ll quickly answer the questions and keep the Other I already wrote
QUESTIONS
Like many in the entertainment business and life I specialise in self sabotage. But I am getting much better at not specialising in that. I also special in characters, those create the story for me. I’m considered to be very good at humour and am know for that, especially among far-left woke (I kid, I kid. They hate my humour. As do the far right. Hmmm.. maybe I am not known in a good way for this)
I’m most proud that, somehow, I keep getting back up after all the times I’m knocked down. And in many ways I still see the world as a child does (May times great when it comes to dating, but great for me because it keeps me going).
What sets me apart is my incredibly beauty.. People stop and stare, Car accidents happen when I walk. People often throw themselves at my feet. This is all very awkward because I am shy and the attention is something I am comfortable with. When covid hit, it was great for me because I wore a mask. Although people could still see my dazzling eyes and that was problematic, I was able, most of the time, free to walk around and not get thrown at.
OTHER
I wish people in the world had more empathy. It would be a game changer and make our world a much, MUCH better place. I think if people traveled more they would have more empathy because they see we all have the same basic wants and needs. And when I say “:basic” I do not mean that in a bad way at all. I mean that, there are so many things we want we don’t need, we buy due to marketing (marketing/advertising and man-made religion [and it’s all MAN-made) are the biggest evils in the world; they go hand-in-fist) If we focused on what we need that too would be a game changer.
We are the only animal in the kingdom, the only living Beings that don’t understand we are one with everything. If we understood that- MASSIVE game changer.
Too much fear that leads to hate that leads to violence. And we abuse animals as if they are “beast of burden” and in fact they are not at all. They are love. women are treated as third class citizens due to man mad religion. And so on and so on. I am no angel. I’ve done my fair share of wrong. So I won’t throw stones at glass houses. But I have learned a lot. Am still learning and growing. And wish people didn’t chose to live in ignorance because it is not bliss. Not at all. It’s stupid and stupid people do this. When I say “stupid” I don’t mean anyone who dons’t have a capacity to learn (Although I’ve hardly cry seen a person down syndrome or some kind of syndrome not smiling. I’ve seen them, most times, smiling and enjoy what we call the “simple” things in life that are truly the most magical in. my point of view). I mean people who have the capacity to learn the truth, see facts (and not miss use them nor leave out some facts fit their agenda) and grow and refuse to do so because, for some reason, they proudly rant their stupidity.
Hey, ya think I’m gonna piss some people off with this article?
I think. like many way smarter people than me do, that we are at a tipping point. I am an optimists, But I think a storm is here and going to get worse before it gets better. And I believe it will get better, That a real awaking of who we are and what we need vs what we want is coming next. That greed, fear, hate and violence that consumes too many people will consume way less because we all know it’s not good for anyone- and most will realise the person it’s not good for most is themselves.
Gambaru!!!
Ok, enough Yoda-jD
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Lack of sleep. Lots of coffee. Pressure.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jdshapiro.com
