Info
Personal Information
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First Name
Walter
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Last Name
Dunn
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Gender
Male
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Birthday
November 4, 1957
Personal Details
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About Me
I'm one of those authors who took the long way around. But first, some vital stats. I'm a New York City original, Brooklyn precisely. A public school kid, K-12. Graduate of NYU, TSOA, BFA. I also kicked around the halls of Hunter college (Undergrad), Hunter College Graduate Theatre program, and Pace University (Undergrad). I've been writing creatively most of my life. I won a poetry contest at 10, and that committed me for life. I fell in love with the theater in the 1970's, (drama specifically). Began acquiring all sorts of skills (playwright, stage management, directing, set design). Then decided I loved film more. Went to film school. Acquired many more skills, (Writing, Directing, camera, sound, editing, producing, etc., etc.). Rubbed lots of people the wrong way (won't mention any names). Then worked the independent film circuit for a while. Taught television and film production for a while. Then decided to go back home and really study fiction writing. That was over five years ago. The end result is "THE WINO MUST DIE". "WINO" started as an adaptation of one of several original screenplays I wrote. Although the original inspiration is still an important story for me, I was knocked in the head by a question during the story's development that propelled me in another direction. The question was "how did I get here?" It began haunting me. The question is also a reference to the current state of my African American community. I'm not one of those people who begrudges my people, or much less anyone, for not being "further along" economically, socially, or otherwise. I believe it's an arbitrary, counterproductive, exercise. We are where we are. But I do believe every destination has a journey. Those incremental existential experiences we perceive as setbacks or progress. The question spoke more about that experience to me. Journeys are wrought with amazing challenges. Some get dealt with, head on, while others not. In either case a decision to deal, or not to deal with physical, mental or spiritual challenges leads to various transformations along the way. Both good and bad, productive or counterproductive. Journeys are immortalized by their affirmations of progress, and trans-formative experiences. It's also the reason why the screenplay I originally chose to adapt has become the sequel to the "Wino Must Die". The main character, Nick, has the transformation in "Wino" that leads to the sequel. "Wino" is a realistic story of an epic transformation. It's also a story with many interesting characters that I hope will rise up and launch many other stories. And that's my story.