Derek Ruth
Co-Founder
A professional screenwriter with twenty years experience in online branding and development, Derek brings his unique fusion of talents to the creation of The Script Lab.
After arriving in Hollywood in the early 90's, armed with his copy of Syd Field's "Screenplay", a head full of ideas, and set on making his mark as a scriptwriter, Derek's day job as a website designer took an unexpected turn. With the explosion of the dot com phenomenon and the increased profile of LA's Silicon Coast, the small operation he founded quickly grew into a multi million dollar corporation.
Largely considered at the forefront of web design, development and branding, Derek went on to create the early websites for a number of high profile companies including Apple Computer, The Grammy's and Cinemax. His highly sought after company also blazed the trail for online movie marketing, creating award winning websites for a number of movie studios and films such as "The Crow" and "Jerry Maguire".
After an over ten year detour from screenwriting, Derek stepped down in 2005 to get back to his first love and hasn't looked back. Applying the same creative tenacity he used to build a highly successful corporation, Derek has since established himself as an innovative storyteller, ghost writer and writing mentor.
A consummate film lover, Derek is a student of the craft in its practical application, finding merit and lessons in all types movies from Miss March to the The White Ribbon.
Michael Schilf
Co-Founder
A Professor of Media Arts and English, teaching beginning and advanced collegiate screenwriting as well as mentoring writers and hosting workshops on The Formula, Michael Schilf brings his career as a professional screenwriter and over ten years of teaching experience to TSL.
Creator and author of The Formula, Schilf earned his MFA in Screenwriting from USC's School of Cinema-Television. The winner of the Edward Small Writing Scholarship and the Peter Stark Producing Program's Short Film Grant while at USC, his scripts have received acclaim from the Sundance Writers Lab to the Chesterfield Film Project and the Don and Gee Nicholl Fellowship.
After USC, Schilf entered into the commercial production world and has worked with award winning directors on numerous domestic and international commercials and TV campaigns: Pizza Hut, NxCare, BMW, Dryers, Grants, Haig, Kia, Chrysler, Opel, Campbell’s, Pantene, Walmart, Jiffy Lube, Centrum, Petsmart, Sunny Delight, VTech, Target, Volvo, and Ford... to name a few.
A lifelong film buff and movie lover, Schilf always knew he was going to write for film and television. He credits USC for teaching him first-rate fundamentals in the tools of the trade, but the highest honor goes to his wife for believing in him when no one else would.
Schilf hopes for TSL to become not only a one-stop shop for screenwriters of all levels and ability, but also that it will create a supportive community of writers, for writers, by writers.
Latest Features
Latest Reviews
.jpg)
