60 GreerNow NOVEMBER 2007

ARTS & EDUCATION

Like most kids, as a young child, David Edward Rosiak loved going to the movies. His mother, Carole Rosiak, executive administrative assistant for the City of Greer, remembers that David seemed to have a unique fascination with the inner workings of film. “Even as young as five years old, he would not leave the movies until he had read all the

credits. He could tell you who played what, who wrote what, even who the production assistant and the grip were on a movie.” Now 34 and a Hollywood writer, David will get the chance to see his own name among the credits when the two-part television mini-series, Shark Swarm, airs on the Hallmark Channel in 2008. “I‘ve been writing from the moment I could pick up a pen and put words on paper,” David admits. “My first coherent story was probably written in the second grade – a ghost story in which my friends and I hunted down spooks and specters. It was only two pages long, so the character development was a little on the light side,” he laughs.

written by SHERIL BENNETT TURNER

Write Track On the

to Hollywood

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Always a voracious reader, David gravitated to writers of the horror genre. “Stephen King’s work really brings out the ‘ordinary’ in the ‘extraordinary.’ He has a terrific ability to place the supernatural in a believable context within the real world. That had a profound effect on my own view of storytelling. I also admire Kurt Vonnegut and the way he can convey intricately complex ideas in deceptively simple phrases.” To pursue his own writing aspirations, David moved to Hollywood ten years ago, encouraged by his father, Jim, who told him, “If it’s really what you want to do, go after your dream or otherwise you’ll always wonder – what if?” There, through an online message board dedicated to horror films, he met Matthew Chernov, fellow horror enthusiast and writer. Joining forces, they wrote a satanic biker gang script called Hard Ride to Hell, which David describes as “a cross between The Road Warrior and a good, old-fashioned 70s drive-in film.” Optioned by a studio but still in development, the screenplay generated such a good buzz around town that the writing duo has been working steadily since on various scripts. “However,” David admits, speaking of their current joint project Shark Swarm, “nothing says you’ve made it like finally having something produced. Having a produced film under your belt lets everyone know that someone was actually willing to spend money on something you wrote. This makes it easier for someone else to spend money on future projects.” Not your typical Hallmark Channel fare, Shark Swarm, an environmental horror flick, focuses on the consequences of man’s stupidity and greed. Set in the fictional fishing village of Full Moon Bay, it’s the story of a corporate land developer, played by Armand Assante, who dumps toxic waste into the ocean thus creating swarms of really, really angry sharks. It is up to a local fishing family, played by John Schneider and Daryl Hannah, to right the wrongs and, hopefully, save the day. However, if you are thinking that this sounds a lot like Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, think again. “While Jaws is one of my top ten favorite horror movies,” David admits, “this film could not be further from that. Matt and I started off with a long list of all the things that we’ve seen in other shark movies. Then we wrote a 240-page script that did not include any of those standards. Part of the fun was in trying to come up with new attacks, new ways to get people in the water, new ways to tear them apart.” Although he has a love of horror and enjoys the idea of

scaring viewers, David says he has no desire to work solely within that genre. “If you do something too much,” he explains, “you tend to get stale and pigeonholed.” Future writing projects include a thriller for the Lifetime Channel in the early stages of production, two feature films in development, and a made-for-cable film in the early writing stages. He’s also collaborating with an artist to create a mixed-medium children’s fantasy novel aimed at young girls. “I really think the girls need their own Harry Potter-esque heroine.” David says. “Why should the boys have all the fun?” A self-admitted control freak, David also hopes to be in the position to direct one day. “Directing,” he acknowledges, “is the most certain way to ensure that your voice makes it to the screen intact.” When not involved with his numerous writing projects, David, along with his girlfriend, take advantage of Southern California’s beautiful beaches and hiking trails, as well as cultural activities such as wine tastings, live music, art openings, and of course, films. He confesses, though, that being a writer in Hollywood is not quite the glamorous job that people might think. “More often than not you’re pretty much forgotten once the filming begins,” he says. Recently, though, on the set of Shark Swarm, David and Matt were asked by the director what they thought of a restaged action scene. “To be asked your opinion in front of a huge cast and crew,” David says with a grin, “is probably the best ego-boost you can ever have.” For proud Greer parents, Carole and Jim, there was never any doubt that the little boy who loved movies and writing would one day be a success. “We’re just glad,” Carole says, “that he’s doing something he’s always wanted to do professionally and loving it!” d

ARTS & EDUCATION