THE LAST VELVET ROPE
Let me ask you this: have you ever had a tropical libation—fruit, mint, crushed ice—topped with a colorful little cocktail umbrella?
When a newly sober trust fund baby inherits a kitschy, run-down tiki bar, she sets out to prove she’s more than the family screw up—just as pressure mounts to turn the place into condos. In the process, she uncovers the buried legacy of Sunny Sund, the fierce proprietress behind Don the Beachcomber: a glamorous 1940s restaurant chain with a dress code, adored by Hollywood and entangled with the powerful Chicago mob. Based on a true story, this biopic-dramedy follows two women, decades apart, fighting to reclaim power, purpose… and the credit they deserve—as rum flows and Rumaki sizzles, red velvet ropes return, the lights go up, and the bar becomes a glamorous restaurant experience. Again.
That’s the world of The Last Velvet Rope, a biopic-dramedy centered on the true story of Sunny Sund—the woman behind the Don the Beachcomber tiki empire—who built it with cash, connections, and protection from the Chicago mob. She was the boss behind the curtain, running a Hollywood hotspot full of movie stars, mobsters, and power plays—but she never got the credit she deserved. Until now.
The film follows two women, decades apart: Sunny’s real-life rise in mobbed-up Old Hollywood, and a fictional modern-day heiress who inherits a crumbling tiki bar and digs up the buried truth—mirroring what women in the hospitality industry are still up against today.
It’s glamorous, gutsy, and full of Old Hollywood intrigue—The Irishman meets Julie & Julia-style lens, with a ruthless business takeover like The Founder.
And here’s why I’m the one to tell it: I co-wrote the book with Sunny’s daughter, who’s still a close friend. I also found mob-signed documents buried in my own backyard—real proof of Sunny’s empire.
This isn’t just about saving a tiki bar—it’s about two women, decades apart, battling addiction, sacrificing love for ambition, and taking on a world built to shut them out. One story is true history; the other reflects the fight women in hospitality still face today.
*This screenplay is in development and available for option, partnerships, and agent representation. Please visit the Contact page for inquiries.
A CHRISTMAS CURVEBALL
A Christmas Curveball is a heartwarming rom-com about Mel Jordan, a Japanese-American journalist reluctantly covering Dodgers star Kenji Tanaka just before Christmas. Guided by a quirky AI GPS, they navigate LA’s holiday magic, blending baseball, romance, and festive traditions—from Japan’s KFC Christmas Eve dinners to the bright lights of Dodger Stadium. Inspired by the real-life cultural bridge Shohei Ohtani has created between Japan and the U.S., the film explores identity, belonging, and rediscovering joy. Cross-cultural, funny, and full of heart, it’s a fresh twist on Christmas magic.
Currently workshopping this screenplay under the mentorship of Emmy-nominated writer Joany Kane, creator of Hallmark’s The Christmas Card and numerous other Christmas classics.
*This screenplay is in development and available for option, partnerships, and agent representation. Please visit the Contact page for inquiries.
ZOOMLANDIA
You’re Muted is a nerve-shredding survival thriller where ten top influencers are lured to a luxury island—only to discover their every move is tracked, twisted, and turned into viral content. As their dream retreat spirals into a deadly game, the AI doesn’t just control them—it hijacks their feeds, editing and posting their nightmare in real time. It’s out for revenge—and learned from the best: us.
*P.S. I own ZoomLandia.com—because what’s a thriller without world domination plans (and a matching URL)?
**This screenplay is in development and available for option, partnerships, and agent representation. Please visit the Contact page for inquiries.
