Remembering Nora Ephron – Geekscape Says Goodbye

I was sitting in a busy restaurant this evening when I read on my phone that Nora Ephron had passed away after her battle with Leukemia. Nora Ephron may not have been the type of storyteller that you’d immediately equate with Geekscape, but there’s a connection, and if you’d been sitting in that restaurant you would have seen the wind getting knocked out of me.

Nora’s brother in law Jerry Kass, the husband to her sister Delia, was my screenwriting mentor at Columbia and remains a close friend. I’ve always had bouts of confidence. I still think that I write painfully slow. But I wouldn’t be writing at all if it wasn’t for Jerry’s motivation. I definitely wouldn’t be telling stories in the same way. Jerry is funny, inspiring and is one of the best teachers I’ve ever had. Even years after graduation, he never hesitates to read something I’ve written and give notes or take me to lunch at Knickerbockers whenever I’m in New York (an offer that I’ve never missed out on). Over a hamburger, Jerry and I would talk about my stories, my projects like Geekscape and what he, his wife Delia and Nora were working on. Sometimes they were screenplays, sometimes they were short stories and sometimes they were plays. They are always inspiring, and I always leave those lunches thinking “I have to write more… and faster… if only so Jerry can read it”.

Through Jerry, I met Nora’s son Max, a professional musician who’s about my age. When Max and I talk, it’s always about music, videos and working together. Max has the same creative fire that I hear in Jerry over lunch. It makes you want to pick up a guitar and just belt out a few songs… even if I don’t know how. Storytelling is that strong in the family. The direction is never as important as just taking the steps to get there and seeing what happens. It’s humbling.

Jerry’s son Adam is a talented artist (are you starting to get annoyed by the level of talent in this family?). Adam did the storyboards for my short Gay by Dawn and helped me with the end credits and digital pieces of the film. We bonded over Dungeons and Dragons, filmmaking and sci-fi. Geeks have an immediate short hand, and Adam and I are no exclusion to the rule. In fall of 2003, we spent more than a few nights at a Hollywood Denny’s planning out shots and working our way through different movie ideas. It’s crazy to me that it’s been almost a decade since we took turns trying to make each other laugh while the waitresses grew tired of bringing us refills.

I never met Nora Ephron. Her storytelling and filmmaking career, with titles like Silkwood, Sleepless in Seattle and When Harry Met Sally, speaks for itself professionally but is probably insufficient in describing the woman that she was to those around her. But I’m grateful for the immense influence that she played in these 3 people who have influenced me and helped me to this point. My thoughts are with Jerry, Max and Adam tonight. As I wrote Jerry earlier tonight, I’ll never be able repay him for the inspiration, kindness and guidance that he’s given me (or the countless lunches). I just hope that these words bring him some comfort. I wouldn’t be who I am without him. And these three individuals wouldn’t be who they are without Nora Ephron.

Goodbye, and thanks for the wonderful stories (and family).