A Screenwriters Journey: The Reinvention of Frank Gaydos

By Scott Simmons

Scott Simmons recently interviewed Frank Gaydos to find out how a former organization development consultant retired to San Miguel and reinvented himself as a screen/TV writer.

SS: How did your journey as a writer begin?

FG: It started when I got a B.S. Degree in Language Arts (English, Literature and journalism) from California State Polytechnic University (Cal Poly-Kellogg Campus). I was working at the Kaiser Steel Plant in Fontana California nights and going to school during the day. When I graduated, I was promoted to Editor of Plant publications and later became a public relations representative. That’s how I began my writing career.

SS: What happened next?

FG: I got my MBA from Pepperdine University and transferred to Kaiser Permanente Health Care in Los Angeles and became a personnel development specialist. While at KP I did my doctorate work in Public Affairs at the Claremont Colleges and later became an OD consultant for electric and gas utility companies and the Department of Energy.

SS: That was quite a transition. When did you retire to San Miguel?

FG: My wife, April and I moved here in 2010.

SS: When and how did you become a screenwriter?

FG: In 2014, I met comedy writer, Mark Saunders at the San Miguel de Allende Writers Conference. Soon he became my mentor and we began writing screenplays together. Mark has written three books, Nobody Knows the Spanish I Speak, Dogs, Cats and Expats and She Cooks, He eats. He is also the co-founder of the Diez Minutos International Play Festival in San Miguel. He is now a successful playwright in Portland, Oregon.

SS: You’ve been on your own as a screenwriter for a long time now. What kind of things have you written?

FG: I adapted two best-selling books into screenplays: Into the Beautiful North by Luis Urrea and In the Shadow of the Angel by Kathryn Blair. I’ve also written a romantic comedy, Hotel Mañana, which takes place in San Miguel, a female buddy comedy, Worst Friends Forever, another romantic comedy, Road to México and a Limited TV Series, Black Dispatches about slaves who were spies for the north during the Civil War.

SS: What are you currently working on?

FG: I just adapted the novel, Zapatista by P.W. Ross into a screenplay. It’s a mystery – thriller that takes place in and around San Miguel. I’m very excited about the project. I have a producer in México City who has a contract with Netflix’s, has won an Emmy and wants to produce the film. And what better location to shoot a feature film than beautiful San Miguel!

SS: What’s stopping you from shooting the movie?

FG: Like most independent film makers, it’s all about raising the funds. It’s a low budget film, less than a million usd. But in México you can make a quality film for that amount. Equal to a two to three million dollar film in the U.S. We have a Business Plan and a Graphic Look Book we would be happy to share with anyone who would like to learn more about the project.

SS: Good luck with Zapatista! I hope it sets a precedent for other films to be made here and contribute to our economy.

FG: Thanks Scott. You have also been an inspiration for me. Several years ago you formed a writing and publishing group, A Cast of Characters. I’m proud to be part of the group and part of the recent Playbook you and David Johannsen published, The Confessions, a play about the assassination of President Obregón in 1928 during the Cristero War and the first volume of One Hundred Years Ago in México with 175 photos. It’s a “must read” for anyone interested in the history of México. Congratulations! Waiting for volumes two and three.

SS: Thanks Frank. Any last words for our readers?

FG: Yes, San Miguel is a melting pot of artists, writers, musicians and many other creative endeavors. It’s magical place where you can reinvent yourself and make your dreams come true. Go for it! What have you got to lose?

frankjgaydos@yahoo.com 52 415 113 9723