|
Zack Van Eyck
|
Last Updated: |
|
August 5, 2010 |
|
Residing In: |
|
Sherman Oaks, CA USA |
|
Children: |
|
Emily Rose, born 1990 (in Woodstock); Samantha Joy, born 1994 (in Pecos, N.M.) |
|
Birthday: |
|
August 22, 1962 |
|
Comments: |
|
After working in journalism in various parts of the country for many years, I'm finally in Los Angeles living the dream I had when I was growing up on Main Street in Woodstock across the street from the movie theater -- I'm a screenwriter in Hollywood!
Well, I live in Sherman Oaks, but it's much nicer than Hollywood. I'm currently working on the sixth script of a seven-script deal with Feature Films for Families, a.k.a. Stepping Stones Entertainment. They plan to shoot the first one in 2011. I have one produced credit so far, an independent film called "Jupiter Landing," which was shown at the Berlin Film Festival in 2006. And my auto racing documentary, "A Daytona Dream," will premier on Aug. 12 (2010) in Kansas City and be shown on the Discovery Channel in December 2010. (I wrote and directed.)
Once or twice a month, I go back to Utah, where, for some reason, I lived for 13 years. (No, I did not convert. They didn't even want me!) I also worked in Wyoming, New Mexico, Oregon and Alaska -- and even for two years as the Shenandoah County bureau chief of the Northern Virginia Daily (1990-91). Of the many places I've lived, Oregon is my favorite, although I've become too attached to sunlight to ever live there again, I'm afraid. Southern California is awesome, I just hope I'm away visiting when it falls into the ocean. |
|
School Story: |
|
Some of you may be thinking you're really getting old. "I don't remember no Zack Van Eyck in our graduating class." Well, I was really quiet back then. Plus, I wasn't there. I did spend one year at Central, eighth grade, before we moved to Alaska. And you kind folks who knew me then, and from fourth-through-seventh grades at Woodstock Elem. (where I was known by my birth name, Vince Sexton), have been nice enough to let me attend your reunions (in 1985 and 2005). Without you, I would have no reunion at all! I went to four high schools in Alaska. And at the last one, I took only three classes and graduated mid-year, so I really knew no one. I switched schools that year because Bartlett High, where I graduated, was closer to my job at The Anchorage Times, where I worked throughout high school as a sportswriter.
My memories of Central include Mr. Catlett's rather vulgar jokes in P.E., which most of the other guys found hysterical; having short hair for the first time in my childhood; getting beat up constantly by some short dude named Dinky Dalton, still not sure why he hated me so much; getting a D in science simply for not putting pages into a notebook; listening to David Bowie on the cafeteria juke box; correctly predicting it would be many years before I would lose my virginity; going to France, where the ninth-graders gave me the superb but unfortunately appropriate nickname of "Pee Wee" (for my height, mind you, nothing else).
I have many more memories of Woodstock Elem. ... Does anyone else remember the day I literally ran away from school, in fifth grade, when Ms. Holt said I had to copy everyone's essay on sportsmanship just because I reminded her that she promised we could play basketball for the second half of P.E.? I'll never forget seeing Waldo Bowers tooling down Main Street in his '60s four-door sedan, looking for the runaway! Dude, I was right there on the sidewalk, how could you miss me? ... I remember writing comedic short stories and reading them in front of the class, often. Thank you for being my audience. That kept me sane! ... I remember getting called into the vice principal's office for daring to look at a Playboy smuggled into school by other kids -- not sure which ones, but I do remember Johnny Carter and Kenny Hoover also being in the vice principal's office (and it seemed like they did most of the talking). ... I remember getting the crap beat out of me for having long hair, by David Walker and Terrel Munson, mostly, but there were plenty of others. ... I remember protesting the order to "wear a tie" at seventh-grade graduation by placing a Detroit Tigers sticker on my white tie. ... I remember the day Donna Farley chose David Wisman over me. My first broken heart. (But no hard feelings, Wiz!) Where is Donna, anyway? ... And Amy Burch recently pointed out that in the first draft of this profile I forgot to mention my book "Miracle Team," written in 6th grade and published in 7th, about the fictional athletic exploits of my real-life friends (although not all names were spelled correctly, I must admit). If any of you still have that book, please do look at the photos, they are hilarious and timeless and worth checking out again. But please, PLEASE, do not read the writing!! ... But mostly I remember the look of horror and grief that seemed to cross the faces of teachers whenever they had to deal with me. I don't know why I was such a puzzle, really. I was just a strange kid with different ideas who felt free to express himself (and really enjoyed questioning authority). Was that so difficult for people to understand? |
As "Joey Alive" in my Ramones tribute band, Ramones Alive, 2004-2006.
In Sedona, Az., spring 2007.
With soccer-playing daughter Samantha, in Salt Lake City, spring 2008.
Poster for my movie "Jupiter Landing," released in 2006.
With friends at Universal Studios, 2009.
OK, you guys in Woodstock should be proud of me. I went to my first NASCAR race (February 2010, Las Vegas) with my daughter Sammy. It was her idea, but I had a blast. We're going again in October (Fontana, CA).
Covering a rodeo for the Casper Star-Tribune in Wyoming, 1989.
With star Tod Huntington on the set of "Jupiter Landing," August 2004.
Disneyland, spring 2009.
With daughters Samantha and Emily, Christmas 2009, Los Angeles.
With daughter Emily at San Diego Padres game, May 2010.
Write your own caption.
Down by the (Shenandoah) River, near the cabin, with my mom, Clementine and sister Mary. I'm guessing this is about 1974... sixth grade?
Fourth grade! Anybody remember this?
My current neighborhood. Yeah, it's a little congested in L.A., but never a dull moment -- plane engines dropping out of the sky, etc.
With my mom at a family reunion in Bluefield, W.VA, August 2009.
In the pits at Daytona, January 31, 2010, covering the 24 Hours of Daytona. 4 a.m. and still going strong.
My Uncle James outside our house at 147 N. Main St., across from the Dalke's theater, in December 1971 (fourth grade).
What I looked like, more or less, in winter 1989 (in Eugene, Oregon).
At California Adventure, spring 2010.
With GF Amy at Venice Beach, summer 2008.
With my very cool daughter Emily, Christmas 2009, in Los Angeles.
Ramones Alive gig, spring 2005, Ogden, Utah.
Smashing up yet another guitar on stage in Park City, Utah, 2006.
Getting ready to "Beat on the Brat," Salt Lake City, 2005.
SLC, 2005
Some day!! Hopefully soon.
I went through a lot of shirts, not to mention jeans, in three years of impersonating Joey Ramone.
Classmate Comments:
Note: Classmate comments can be viewed by all Classmates. If you wish to send Zack Van Eyck a private message, please use the private message box above.
|
|
