About the Author
Michael Koski is a graduate of the UCLA Department of Theatre Arts. He has written ad copy, commercials, and made many short films, including “Eye Music” for the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. He wrote and directed the soap, “Edge of Ajax” for television in Aspen, Colorado. As corporate vice-president, he designed advertising, events, and public relations for Design Center South in Laguna Niguel, California.
He lives in Palm Springs, California, where he is a residential interior designer. His projects have included a guest house for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as interiors for fine homes in several states. He is presently working on projects in Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Orange County, and Scottsdale, Arizona. See michaelkoskidesign.com for more information.
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DEAR BEN is available on AMAZON
The Author recounts the history of “DEAR BEN”:
I was challenged by my friend and neighbor, the actor David Huddleston, (“The Big Lebowski”) to write a Franklin play for him. He had played Benjamin Franklin in the musical, “1776,” on Broadway and loved the role. David and his wife, casting director Sarah Koeppe, were pleased with an early reading of the play and I was off on “A Long Day’s Journey Into Franklin.” Unfortunately, David did not live to see the work completed.
I later approached Hollywood script consultant Kathie Fong Yoneda, telling her, “I have this play…” “You need Rocaberti,” Kathie said, sending me to the 2018 Rocaberti Writers’ Retreat in Angouleme, France. Claire Terry, Founder/Director of Rocaberti, had faith in my project and urged me to study under the brilliant Joan Lane (“The King’s Speech”) the following year.
Meanwhile, the stage play evolved into a movie for television. Playwright and script consultant, Theo Salter, gave me invaluable notes on an early draft of the “Dear Ben” teleplay, helping shape the script for my second retreat at Marouatte Castle. Thank you, Theo.
Under Ms. Lane’s tutelage, “Dear Ben” morphed to a nine-episode mini-series for television. A teacher of writing and editor extraordinaire, she urged me to go on to write a book based upon the mini-series. I was happy to oblige, with her looking over my shoulder.
Both teleplay and book are largely fictional, but based on historical records. Research associate Laurel Reisinger was always at the ready with historical tidbits needed to fill the gaps and to move the narrative along. (As well as supplying a few great lines of dialogue.)
A note of gratitude as well to playwright and author Kay Eldredge, who provided her very thoughtful and spot-on insights after looking over an early draft of “Dear Ben.” Thanks, also, to Debra Engle of Story Summit Writer’s School for her friendship and advice.
Early readers of bits and pieces of “Dear Ben” are my heroes; they did the heavy lifting. Among them are: Jeannie Walla, Dr. Sue Laudert, Tanya Binford, Betty Sullivan, Rick Erdenberg, Jon Jahr, Whitney Stewart, and Tom Hockins. English friends Lady Caroline Wrey and her family, as well as Charles and Hilary Barker, have been endlessly patient with readings and performances. Troupers, all of them.
Special thanks to Al Reisinger for his guidance and support of the “Dear Ben” project, after reading only one scene.
Of course, I think of David Huddleston. If I hadn’t seen David for a while and then caught him at the mailbox, I might ask him, “How are you?” “Very talented,” he always replied, which he certainly was.
Learn more about author Michael Koski and the friends and colleagues who helped in the development of Dear Ben, in this video on YouTube: