Diane Namm

Writer/Director


Writer-in-residence,Pasadena Playhouse May 2008
Writer/Director/Exec Producer "The Sacrifice"

2007--On "The Sacrifice" location.
Top row (from left to right): Eric Mofford (producer),Diane Namm (writer/director); Ivy Isenberg (casting director); Jon Lindstrom (Walter).
Bottom row (from right to left): Chris Mulkey (Rev); Darby Stanchfield (Loretta); and Molly Quinn (Esmee).
Not pictured: Richard Riehle (Sheriff Avery)

Playwright/Director/Producer
2006

Diane directs "HUCK" (Austin Jay Chadwick as 'Huck Finn' and Chioma Nwosu as 'Widow Douglas')
2007

Diane signing books for RIFSoCal fundraiser
Manhattan Beach, CA
2007

Author
2000

The Sacrifice
Devotion has its price.

Cast: Chris Mulkey, Darby Stanchfield, Jon Lindstrom, Richard Riehle and Molly Quinn


Directed by Diane Namm

Produced by Eric Mofford
Screenplay by Diane Namm
Casting Director: Ivy Isenberg
Director of Photography: Terrence Hayes
Production Designer: Katherine Bulovic
Film Editor: Lindsay Mofford
Music by Buddy Judge
Photo credit Vic Olam

"The Sacrifice" is a short drama about what happens on the day a polygamous cult leader comes to take a reluctant 13-year-old girl as his wife.

Selected in the 2007 Top Ten of the "Abbreviated Screenplay" Competition; Finalist in 2007 American Gem Short Script Competition.

Production completed and out on the festival circuit. Festival screenings to come.
 




THEATER

HUCK in June 2008, Saturdays at 1pm and 4:30pm at the Edgemar Center for the Arts at 2437 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405.
For tickets go to www.westofbroadway.org or call
310-428-3343.

An interactive adaptation of Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," and a high-energy good time, with special guest appearances by Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer, the "King" and "Prince" in the new and updated adventures of Huck Finn. Produced by West of Broadway, in association with RIFSoCal.


MRS. SCROOGE - December 2008 Saturdays at 1pm and 5pm
For tickets go to www.westofbroadway.org

Whip up the perfect holiday recipe for the family. Take a grumpy Mrs. Scrooge, stir in some grumpier ghosts, sprinkle a couple of angels on top -- and be sure to add a snow-ball fight finale and you've got Dickens's "Christmas Carol" story told as it never has been before. The best way to make this Christmas one that you're family will always remember.
Produced by West of Broadway in association with RIFSoCal.

Diane Namm's LA STREET SCENES 3: Everyone Has a Story.
Friday, October 17, 2008.
Show information to come.
Produced by Create Now! and West of Broadway

PAST SHOWS
"Bunny Tales Episode IV: Bunny Wars" inspired by Beatrix Potter's "Tale of Peter Rabbit," Diane's interactive anti-war adaptation is a zany take on the original Peter Rabbit story.

"Red Chief!" inspired by O.Henry's "Ransom of Red Chief" tells the tale of Red Chief, sugared up and ready to roll on Halloween night, who gives the adults in charge a run for their money along with a well-deserved fright.


FILM SCRIPTS

"Greed" is a horror/thriller about a woman who discovers that her greed just might cost her her life.

Finalist 2007 Filmmakers International Screenwriting Awards; Second Round Selection, 2006 Austin Film Festival; Platinum Prize 2007 Filmmakers International Screenwriting Award; Quarter-finalist 13th Annual Writer's Network Screenplay & Fiction Contest

"Pranksters" is a family comedy about two thirteen-year-olds who wage a practical-joke war on their dating parents to prevent a family merger.

Quarter-finalist 13th Annual Writer's Network Screenplay & Fiction Contest; a 2007 California Independent Film Festival selection for "Best Screenplay"; Quarter-finalist in the 2007 American Screenwriters Association 10th annual competition; and a KidsFirst! 2007 selection.

"Full Blue" is inspired by "Blue Blood," a Showtime documentary on teenage boxing at Oxford that premiered at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival

Finalist in the 15th Writemovies.com International screenplay contest; and Semi-finalist in the 10th annual American Screenwriters Association 2007 competition.


TELEVISION

"Reality Strikes" a reality-show horror series. First Place Winner in 2008 Scriptalooza Reality TV Competition.

"In the Dog House," a reality-show featuring Animal Control Officer/Expert Animal Trainer CLARK BROWN.

Upcoming and Recent Publications

Diane's adaptation of Leroux's "Phantom of the Opera" and an adaptation of Margaret Sydney's "The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew" for the Classic Starts series, published by Sterling Books, a division of Barnes & Noble Publishing.

Adaptations of Kipling's "Jungle Book" and Lofting's "Doctor Dolittle" for the Easy Reader Classics series, published by Sterling Books, a division of Barnes & Noble Publishing.

Laugh-a-Long Readers: Funny Bunny Jokes; Jungle Jokes; Slithery, Squirmy Jokes; Silly Jokes.

BACKGROUND

Diane is the author of over 50 children's books, including the best-selling first edition (over six million copies sold) of "A Charlie Brown Christmas;" as well as original stories for Scholastic/Children's Press. She is an "official" author for Reading Is Fundamental. Diane has written a number of original stories published by Little Golden Books; original Disney stories published by Bantam; the young adult series, "Kisses" (First Kiss, Senior Kiss, Goodbye-Kiss) published by Troll and the novel "Never Tell Ben" published by Bantam.

Formerly an Executive Editor at Simon & Schuster's Little Simon and NhiBooks, Diane is founder, playwright and artistic director of West of Broadway Theater Company, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. In addition she writes for film and books for children and teens. Diane's journey from NYC book editor to LA playwright, screenwriter and stage and film director is described in the "Live What You Love" series by Melinda and Bob Blanchard, the "Changing Course" volume.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

West of Broadway, a 501(c)(3)non-profit theater company/Artistic Director,President
University of Michigan English Department, Advisory Board
Edgemar Center for the Arts, Board of Directors
Authors Guild
American Screenwriters Association
AFI Alumni Association
Create Now! (a writers' mentoring organization for high-risk teens)
Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California


AWARDS
1999 AFI Television Movie Award for "Warrior Queen," based on the life of Queen Boadicea of Iceni.
2007 KidsFirst! 'seal of approval' for "Pranksters"
2007 Top Ten of "Abbreviated Screenplay" Competition for "The Sacrifice"

"Pranksters" is a 2007 Kids First! Selection


Selected Works

Fiction
West of Broadway Easy-Reader Adapatations
"A Christmas Carol," "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," "Tale of Peter Rabbit," and "Ransom of Red Chief."
Sterling Books/Barnes & Noble Publishing Classic Starts 2007/2008
Diane Namm adapts Gaston Leroux's "Phantom of the Opera" for Sterling Books, now available in stores and on the web, Margaret Sydney's "Five Little Peppers and How They Grew" due out in 2008.
Fiction-Beginning Readers
Sterling Books/Barnes & Noble Publishing Classic Readers 2006 and 2007
Timeless classics adapted especially for beginning readers.



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