Michael L. Mizrahi New Yorker, screenwriter, blogger.

Self Portrait

The late, great, portrait painter RW Cowan, who I’m proud to call him my friend, once said to me, “I always start painting someone’s face with the eyes, do you know why?” I didn’t have a clue. He then casually answered himself. “Because you gotta start somewhere!”

My eyes are blue, not the piercing crystal clear kind, just blue. I’ve been told I have a cat face. My father is from Egypt, I’m first generation American, so technically that makes me an African American but I’m white. My last name is Mizrahi which means “a person from the East” (as in the Middle East). My mom is from the beautiful country of Germany. I’m writing this blog to showcase my writing ability during a time where I really appreciate life. I am not overdramatizing when I say, I’ve cheated death and I’m recovering from adversity, on a path to discovering who I am and the meaning of my life.

“A hundred million bottles washed up on the shore… ” – Sting.

Message in a bottle, a metaphor for a world full of people and everyone has dreams and millions of dreams are lost.

“I’m not selling anything!“

Why read this blog? Everyone has stories, why read mine? I’ll try not a rant, or be political or religious, if I do, I promise not to tell just one side of the story. I’m not selling anything! I’m not trying to convince anyone why their ideaology is wrong and mine is right. It never works on me. I’m not here for clicks. I’m not here to write about what’s wrong with the world, nor do I have an axe to grind or manefesto to publish. This blog is a bunch of personal anecdotes meant to provoke and process thoughts to grow as a person and possibly inspire. I write about different subjects, so pick a title that appeals to you. I attempt to engage a reader on a subject but end each post giving the reader something that they did not expect. Bottom line is, writing this blog helps me process my thoughts about life.

My Stats

pronouns: me/my/mine

I was born and raised in a small town called New York City…

(fill in dark misspent youth here)

I received my formal writing education from 1984-1997, in the burnt down abandoned buildings of the City from dealers, junkies, crackheads and cops, where I learned how cruel this world can really be.

Restarting life again at 32, on a different footing, I went to night film school, leading to work in TV/film production, 2007 – present, during which time I studied screenwriting, a semester at NYU and now at UCLA Extension. I’m also a self-taught screenwriter, reading screenplays, expert books, webinars, and contest notes, all to win awards in 12 major screenplay competitions.

Inspirational filmmakers: Oliver Stone, Quentin Tarantino, M. Night Shayamalan, Ridley Scott. 

Motto: “The only Zen you find at the top of the mountain, is the Zen you bring up with you.”- Robert M. Pirsig