1118 9^th Street, #5 • Santa Monica, CA 90403
PHONE 310-395-2119 • FAX 310-260-7989
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Summary: Specialist in creative writing, especially for the screen.

Story Analyst/Ad Hoc Development Specialist

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
1993 – 1999

Responsibilities included synopsizing, analyzing, and critiquing screenplays and books, evaluating them for their feature potential.

Served as troubleshooter on problem projects, refining their vision and redeveloping plots, and thereby prevented projects from going into turnaround.
Participated in development meetings with studio executives and producers, bringing clarity and focus to projects.
Performed vital role in honing the direction of failing projects by telephone conferencing with writers as they were working.
Relied on to do last minute and quick coverages on hot submissions which enabled executives to bid on timely projects.
Wrote detailed synopses and comments on scripts and books, which provided a crucial second opinion for executives to utilize in their decision-making.
Recommended several scripts and books which the studio then purchased.

Screenwriter

MGM/All Girl Productions
1995

Hired to write a screenplay.

Developed new plotline for Bette Midler project, Queen of the Boiler Room, that saved it from being abandoned.
Against all standard practice, was hired to write the screenplay in a step deal and was picked up for three drafts which were well received by Ms. Midler.

Story Analyst

20^th Century Fox
1989 – 1992

Responsibilities included synopsizing and critiquing screenplays and books, evaluating them for their feature potential.

Analyzed scripts and books, providing executives with a valuable second opinion to aid in their decision to purchase or pass on submissions.
Provided extensive coverage and story notes on Fox projects, adding another voice to augment the development process.

Janaki Symon, Independent Contractor

Script Consultant, 1980-Present

Services include providing private consultations on individual film and television projects.

Work with producers to develop well structured stories and help to create exciting pitches that are presented to studios.
Work with writers in all phases of their process, helping them to realize the visions of their stories, spec scripts, and books.
Consult privately with working writers and provide significant assistance on studio generated projects.

Writer/Producer, 1986-1996

Activities included writing, creating and developing projects for film and television.

Optioned an unfinished manuscript and developed an original story loosely based on it, then wrote a strong-selling treatment, pitched, and sold it to Mace Neufeld.
Hired by production company to write an anthology series for cable television. Created the pilot episode, several concept paragraphs for future episodes, and the opening through line for the show.
Hired by producer to develop stories and write treatments that were later submitted to studios.

UCLA Extension (1980-1997)

Responsibilities included teaching three UCLA Writers Program extension courses.

Conceived and taught a highly regarded four-day intense, experiential, workshop – Developing The Character Driven Story – taking students from concept to outline. Class was always full and attracted students nationwide, as well as from overseas.
Conceived, developed, and taught a one-day seminar highlighting dramatic structure and subtle writing techniques that make a screenplay great.
Taught story analysis, a ten-week course designed to teach students the craft of writing coverage.

Freelance Story Analyst (1982-1988)

Responsibilities included receiving scripts and writing coverage on scripts and books.

Worked as a story analyst for a variety of feature and television companies, such as HBO and Tri-Star, providing in-depth analysis of submissions, evaluating them for specific venues.

Story Department Administrator

The Ladd Company
1980 – 1982

Responsibilities included managing the day-to-day function of story department as well as preparing notes and doing second reads.

Assigned work to readers, assuring each submission would be given to the story analyst best suited for the material.
Requested by executives to do second reads on some submissions and notes on projects, which offered another opinion and ideas to aid in their decision-making.
Performed all research, created writers and directors credit books, and assembled writers lists for various projects, providing both creative and administrative support to executives.
Handled all administrative functions, insuring a smooth and efficiently run story department.

Education

Bronx Community College – Bronx, NY
Speech and English Major
UCLA Extension – Los Angeles, CA
Certificate program in Journalism and various writing classes

Writers Guild of America (1995-2000)
Story Analyst Guild (1989-2000)

Rattle of a Simpleman, 12^th Street Playhouse, New York, NY (1978)