Education & Early Career
Geno Scala grew up in Staten Island, but moved down south to enroll in the University of North Georgia. At UNG , he stayed busy while pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Social Psychology as he was a member of the US Army R.O.T.C. (Delta Company), the school’s football and golf teams, and Sigma Phi Epsilon. After graduation, he relocated to Phoenix, Arizona where he served as a police officer for nearly a decade. He thrived in this role and was named “Officer of the Year” during his time in this capacity. He eventually decided to apply the knowledge and skills he learned while on the force, and established a private investigation agency. He moved to Los Angeles where he established himself as one the more prominent private investigators in the Hollywood community. Geno Scala joined Wackenhut Security and Investigations in 1996 where he served as a branch manager overseeing more than 250 employees and 35 accounts. Several years later, he began serving as the Facility Assistant Manager for Staples Arena, and served as the Executive Director for the Academy Awards (2000). That year, he also served in the same capacity for the Golden Globes, Blockbuster, Soul Train, and Grammy Awards.
The Script Mentor and Shark-Eating Man Productions
The Script Mentor connects aspiring screenwriters with veteran screenwriters, who help guide the client through the process of crafting a great script, advising them on how to best avoid the pitfalls of the profession and industry. As owner of Shark-Eating Man Productions, Geno has been involved in a number of projects including the feature-films “The Girl at the End of the World” (2014), “Mirror Lake (2013), and the TV series “Mi iv” (2012). He serves as an Executive Producer for the upcoming feature films “Black Salt” and “Debris”. In addition to his work at The Script Mentor, he is an accomplished screenwriter in his own right. He has authored scores of scripts such as “Junior Simple,” “Sextracurriculum” (Spike TV, 2012), “Mi iv”, “Blurred Lines” and “Banking on Betty,” which placed 4th in the prestigious Scriptapalooza contest in 2013.
Geno’s Life Outside his Career
In his free time, you can find Geno Scala spending time his wonderful family, singing, and birding. He currently resides in Huntsville, but maintains residency in both New York City and Los Angeles.
Geno’s Work Philosophy
The world of a screenwriter consistently involves an incredible amount of work for what can be an inconsistent amount of reward or recognition. This reality reflects one shared in every sphere of the arts. Therefore, for individuals driven by passion to commit themselves wholeheartedly to a chosen craft, the greatest satisfaction must always come from the figurative journey itself and not the rival to some expected destination. A great many things are outside the control of the screenwriter in the entertainment industry. Indeed, for may writers (especially those new to the scene), it can be overwhelming to fully understand the extent to which your work – if it is ever picked up and read at all – is no longer yours once the process of bringing it to life begins. Screenwriters labor intensively and for long stretches of time, sometimes lifetimes, to craft a moving and profoundly unique product. However, in the greater scheme of things, the most that script can ever be is a seed. The producers, directors, actors, and everyone else involved in breathing life into it are responsible for nurturing that seed. Should it spring to life and blossom, it will hopefully reflect the love and care the writer put into sowing it. It may remain very truthful to the writer’s vision. It may not. It will hopefully be beautiful regardless. However, embracing the process and a writer’s place in it is a critical first step to entering the industry with a mindset geared towards success.
The very best screenwriters know and never lose sight of their driving reason to write. Whether it’s a lofty and pure adoration of writing as an art or pure egotistical desire for fame or a simple, unwavering need to have your story heard, the result is the same. So, know your reason and draw the strength to develop the right habits to see your work improve and, eventually, see the light of day as a completed production. To get there, screenwriters need an exceedingly high standard of excellence, a high level of discipline, the ability to consistently set and achieve writing goals, and the grit to not only understand the rules of the game, but to adapt to them. Above all else, the work incredible screenwriters can do are is able to accomplish one thing regardless of the context or topic at hand – it evokes an authentic, emotional response. This is crucial. When your script is just one in a pile of hundreds, the time will come for it to be considered. A nice story is easily forgotten. A script that makes the reader sincerely feel something, however, is truly a gem that will stand out against all the rest.
