Meet T. R.:
T. R. Locke is 
an author, screenwriter, speaker and ghostwriter. He shares his life with his wife of 20 years, Lisa, his daughters Aja and Rachel and his dog, Lala. He lives in the movie capital of the world–Burbank, CA–just behind the Hollywood sign.
To contact T. R., you may email him at: trlockeonline@gmail.com, or on Facebook or fill out the form below. Members of the media and those seeking to book T. R. for interesting and exciting speaking engagements or interviews will find his media room here.
Please also follow T. R. on Twitter or friend him on Facebook (indicate you were referred by the blog).
Background: T. R. first learned he had a talent for writing in ninth grade when he wrote an essay for a contest, which got forwarded to the Cleveland School Board and, according to his English teacher, caused “the shit to hit the fan.” That essay earned him an honorary membership in student council for the rest of the year.
In tenth grade, T. R. won a scholarship to the College of Wooster Summer Writing Camp. Soon after, he got a comedy column in his high school newspaper. He then became the editor-in-chief his senior year, when the paper won a citywide excellence award. Although T. R. loved to write and had kept a journal since that tenth grade year, he didn’t pursue a career in writing. Writing did, however, pay for his college education and expenses.
In his former life as a youth worker with street gangs in Chicago, T. R. (then known as Superfriend) often spoke at conferences, led seminars and wrote magazine articles on social/political issues. He even once advised the office of Health and Human Services Secretary Louis Sullivan during Bush Sr. administration. Even though he wasn’t actively seeking writing opportunities, they found him. He wrote a chapter in an Anthology on Urban Issues and ministry called “A Heart For The City” and he was offered a book deal that he chose not to pursue.
T. R. finally woke up and realized he was ignoring his dreams at age 27. He then attended Columbia College in Chicago to study screenwriting. Soon after, he placed in the semi-finals of the Chesterfield Film Co Writer’s Film Project–one of the most prestigious and competitive screenwriting contest in the country–started by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment and later run by Paramount Pictures. Not only had he done well in that contest, but while still living in Chicago, he had two Hollywood producers vying to purchase his first script and a highly-respected entertainment attorney in Century City (who repped some of the biggest screenwriters in the country) referring him to agents. His script, “Disciples of K-Town” received the coveted, and nearly extinct, “recommend” coverage from both William Morris Agency and CAA. He even flown to L.A. and had a meeting at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills with an agent from Broder-Kurland.
Writing seemed to always lead to great things for T. R. He wrote another script and the same producers wanted to purchase it as well. Shortly after flying out for a meeting with the producers in Burbank, he decided to move to L.A. to follow his bliss and become a Hollywood screenwriter.
Although it took a bit of time, within a year T. R. had a manager and an agent. Next thing he knew he was in meetings at every major studio. He was pitching. He was rewriting draft after draft. He was reading screenplays and writing evaluations. He was being interviewed for writing jobs. He was signing contracts relating to my fees, percentages, buyouts, backend money and rights. And he was sitting at parties hobnobbing with TV, movie and music stars.
His book is about how it all went to shit.
Seriously. As his mom would say, “It all went to hell in a hand-basket.” But it’s not just about how it went wrong, but why and what he learned from it all. It is what he wishes he knew before he moved to Hollywood. T. R. knew he wasn’t alone in this experience, so to make the more even more interesting and dimensional, T. R. interviewed about a dozen very successful Hollywood players–writers, comedians, actors, singers, producers, directors, and even stars and got them to share the hardest lessons they had learned on their road to success as well. They even share insights into what to do after you make it to ensure you don’t fall off.
It’s about who lies and why. It’s about where the pitfalls are hiding. It’s about how to protect yourself. It’s about life behind the Hollywood sign. It’s about what no one teaches you in film school or in any class. It’s about the day-to-day hustle and grind in a town that feeds on hope and dreams. It’s about the struggle left on the cutting room floor whenever people interview successful stars and filmmakers. It’s about why even successful people get on drugs and ruin their lives. It’s about the game of selling human artistic expression and how artists are the most vulnerable to getting hurt.
It’s a book about waking up and seeing Hollywood with your eyes wide open so you can better navigate your dreams and understand what’s really going on. It’s about adding reality to your hope. And ultimately, it’s about following dreams courageously and wisely.
And it happens to be pretty damn funny, too.
Here’s some what people are saying about it:
Click the link to see the Amazon review page.
Barnes and Noble Book Maven Review
Click the link to see the Barnes and Noble Book Maven Review
Or just read the quotes I pulled from the reviews here:
“The fact that Locke manages to teach deep, helpful truths on this emotional roller coaster while at times being laugh-out-loud funny is a testament to his skill as a writer….
It should be required reading for every performing arts program in the country. It is required reading for anyone looking to learn more about Hollywood before they go (or before they give up on their dreams and leave). For those with no Hollywood aspirations, this book satisfies on a literary level and reminds us that dreams of any kind are worth the struggle. 5 Stars”
—Barnes and Noble Book Maven Review
“Personally, I have absolutely no desire to go to Hollywood, but even so, I LOVED this book! T.R. Locke is an amazing observer of human behavior and psychology, including unpacking his own choices with phenomenal insight as well as a terrific sense of humor. Locke poignantly displays the more universal truth that when we are centered and wise, we can thrive even in the ego hurricane that is Hollywood. His insider views on the norms of the Hollywood culture are extremely helpful for those whose bliss leads them to Hollywood, but the information is packaged in such an intriguing and at times hysterically funny way, that it is a pleasure to read for anyone. I will be buying multiple copies to share with friends and with my therapy clients, as well as for donation to my school of the arts high school alma mater. Well done, Mr. Locke! Thank you so much for this entirely enjoyable and immanently practical work. “
–Tiffany L. Craig, MS, NCC, LCPC (Maryland)
(Therapist)
www.cckidz.com
www.continuumcounseling.org
“Mr. Locke definitely has valid insight into the entertainment capital. His testimonies reflecting on a dreamer’s journey are both honest and noteworthy. A few laugh out loud moments gave me several reasons to continue to turn the page. I am strongly suggesting that all artist who are thinking about relocating to the Los Angeles area consider reading this account of what it is truly like to move away from family and friends, follow your dreams and quickly discover that talent has nothing to do with being discovered in a town that has a plethora of amazing writers, actors, producers, musicians etc.”
–Tarsha L. Proctor (Los Angeles)
“Locke doesn’t come off as someone trying to elicit sympathy or to simply make money off his pain or his proximity to fame. Nor did he seem like a frustrated screenwriter trying to make a name for himself by writing a book about his frustration. Neither is Locke’s book a cynical warning to those who might be foolish enough to go after their dreams in Hollywood. Rather, Locke comes off as an artist who is still engaged in the battle and who wants to arm those like himself who might want to engage in their own battle. His message seems to be, “don’t be afraid to come – but here are the weapons you’ll need for more than just a battle – but for a long, drawn out war that will be fought on all fronts and with every ounce of your strength, patience, and wit…and these are the types of situations and people you will be at war with and against – just be ready….
The entertainment value of the stories alone were worth the price of this book. I laughed out loud several times when reading it and I read it in just two sittings over the course of two days. And whether or not I do as Mr. Locke and follow my bliss to Hollywood, this book was completely worth it.”
–J Truillo (N.Y, N.Y)
