Darlene Craviotto has worked professionally in the entertainment industry for over twenty-five years. She wrote Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Love Is Never Silent, which won an Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie. Her feature film, Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale, a Walt Disney Film, garnered a Teddy Award for Best Family Film. Her award-winning play, Pizza Man, has been performed all over the world, and her first book, An Agoraphobic’s Guide to Hollywood: How Michael Jackson Got Me Out of the House was published in November, 2011. Ms. Craviotto is married, has two children, and lives in Goleta, California.
Yes, I was also a Universal Studios Tour Guide.
I loved the Leonard story.
Will there be a movie?
I have just one question: why on earth are you following my blog?
total curiosity, that’s all.
Every blog is unique and interesting to me. I love connecting with all different types of blogs. I found yours and so, I signed up. And thank you for reading my story about Leonard. I would like to do something more with that story. Not sure if it will be a movie, but let’s just say that we haven’t seen the last of Leonard.
HI Darlene,
Remember me? Bob Pickett? Kristi Engleman Cardoza Elliot and I have reconnected on Facebook. I am currently directing a production of The Taming of the Shrew for the Shrew for our newly formed Half Moon Bay Shakespeare Company and posted some pictures on FB. Krisiti commented that she remembered a production of Shrew that you had starred in in High School and I remembered you in The Madwoman of Chaillot. We both remembered you as incredibly talented. Well, I Googled you (love the Internet) and found your web site and blog and wondered what you were up to these days. I knew you had written Squanto and Pizza Man (great play) but wondered if you had written anything else lately. I was always too shy to try out for the main stage shows but took drama my senior year and did Oh Dad Poor Dad and The Sandbox by Albee in class. both roles were nervous characters and it was easy to play nervous and shy. What was the drama teacher’s name. I loved him and my first play I saw was his production of Waiting for Godot. How incredible was he? I have gone on to get my AA in Acting from SB City, BA from UCSB in Directing and MFA in Directing from the U of Utah where I was Production Manager for two years. I started the Napa Valley Shakespeare Festival and now I’m on my second go round with the Bard. Hope you are well and would love to hear back from you. Cheers, Robert (I dropped Bob when I got into The Theatre, so much more pretentious.)
Hellooooooo Robert!
Seems so strange not to be calling you Bob, but yes, I understand the switch to Robert. I’m so excited to find out that you went into theatre. I thought I was the only creative misfit in our class crazy enough to 1) want to perform 2) want to write for performers. Theater has always been my first love, but Hollywood dissuaded me from writing more plays by tempting me with (of all things) money. Money seems to trump love, at least when it comes to the arts; I’m not the first writer to be seduced by Tinseltown. Your new production of “Taming of the Shrew” looks like it’ll be wonderful. Wish we lived closer – I would definitely be buying tickets. Mr Duerr was the theater arts teacher at San Marcos, and yes, he was really terrific. He tried to talk me out of pursuing Hollywood – obviously, I didn’t listen, and I’m glad that I didn’t. Hollywood was very, very good to me; although it’s not the easiest of businesses to navigate. Read my book, if you have a chance. I think it really captures what it’s like to be in the film industry. Would you believe that I still have ties to San Marcos? We moved back to the area and my husband left professional acting to get his teaching credential. {Ahem} Guess where he teaches Performing Arts and English? Yes, I am still rooting for the scarlet red and royal blue. And you know what he directs every year (for the last nine years): a Sheltered Theater Shakespeare production. He is working with at-risk kids, second-language learners, and Special Ed students. And he’s doing amazing work with them. He’s won several awards and was nominated County Educator of the Year.
I’m so happy you contacted me here – Stay in touch, okay? Break a leg with the new production!
Wasn’t sure where to post this, but I’ve nominated you for the Sunshine Award! Check out my post here for more info: http://emilystealeaves.wordpress.com/2012/09/03/the-sunshine-award/ Congratulations!
… Intrigued by that “Craviotto” unmistakably Italian, where the “crav” root suggests Sicily whereas that “iotto” is a typical Piedmontese dialect ending. Meaning that several hundred years ago the ancestors of today’s name carrier were shepherds (crava means goat in several dialects). Not to be taken personally, as my last name means “marshy lands” – indeed a marsh when some Benedictine monks obtained an imperial charter to dry it (south of the Po river). As evident from the above I delight in uselessness and the site where this skill is remarkably demonstrated is http://www.yourdailyshakespeare.com
All the best with your writing
How fascinating! I love that our ancestors were shepherds because my great-uncle (whose sister married a Craviotto) spent his whole life as a Basque shepherd here in the U.S. I must have great herding instincts because it runs on two sides of my bloodline.
Thanks for coming by and leaving a comment. I will definitely go to your website and take a peek. My husband is a big fan of Shakespeare so anything with the bard’s name in it immediately catches my attention.
Thank you for passing by my site and liking my post. One of my short stories is called Agoraphobia. It didn’t win any prizes or even get published but maybe one day …. Nice to meet you
I’d love to read it when it comes out into the world. By the way, your book looks fascinating. My mother’s family originally came from Ireland and I’m just now trying to research what part of the country they came from.
Thank you Darlene. Ireland is a lovely country. My mother’s family is from County Cork which we visited on our holiday.
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I have just awarded you the Best Moment Award http://quirkybooks.wordpress.com/2013/03/28/best-moment-award/
Congratulations. I enjoy reading your blog.
I feel so honored. Thank you so much!
You are most welcome. Well deserved.
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Hi, very nice blog, really loved it.
Peace and Love, Sanoj
Thanks a lot for visiting!