Jeff Andrus | Jeff's Bio

Jeff Andrus was born and raised in California’s Salinas Valley. He was selected as an AFS high school exchange student to South Africa and spent a second year in South Africa attending the University of Natal, Durban. He earned a BA in English from Stanford University where he studied Creative Writing under the tutelage of Wallace Stegner and Nancy Packer. He did post-graduated work at UCLA's film school, and in 1971, his comedic screenplay Doc placed first in the Samuel Goldwyn Creative Writing Competition.

Jeff has compiled an eclectic resume, including four years as a radio announcer, two years developing documentaries for Wolper Productions and two terms teaching at UCLA Extension. For more than 30 years he has been a freelance writer and editor. He scripted nine movies for television, including Proud Men starring Charlton Heston and Peter Strauss, and Triumph of the Heart: The Ricky Bell Story. He was a writer on the award-winning animation series, The Kids' Ten Commandments, and wrote the theatrical film adaptation of The Jeweler's Shop from a play by the late Pope John-Paul II. Jeff has consulted on numerous projects to bring stories from conception to the screen. He has edited and ghostwritten a variety of articles and books, fiction and non-fiction, and has authored three crime novels.

Credits

ANIMATION
A Life and Seth Situation ~ Episode 3 of The Kids' Ten Commandments, a musical drama series presented by TLC Entertainment in association with SMEC Media and Richcrest Entertainment. Created and produced by George Taweel and Rob Loos; celebrity voices by Peter Strauss and Lou Diamond Phillips; lyrics by Pamela Phillips Oland, music by James Covell. Released in five installments from February 2003 to October when it became available as a boxed gift set in video and DVD formats.

BOOKS
Malibu Palms ~ Booksurge, 2009. Ecology, religion and sexual addiction background the short, sweet life of actress Cindy Korbell. On the day Cindy goes missing, her dialogue coach, Andrea Lawless, makes a play for a poolside drunk. When Cindy is discovered drowned, Andrea uses the liaison to alibi her time. The drunk is Charlie Clement, a boat handyman who survives life's knocks with low cunning, subdued rage and wicked humor. He is married to a comatose wife, random victim of a drive-by shooting. Trying to understand the ruins of his own life compels Charlie into wanting to know everything about Cindy's. He doesn't count on sobering up or becoming targeted for murder himself, both of which are child's play to falling head over heels for Patricia Diaz, a deliciously desirable Catholic who forces Charlie to face his own conscience.

The Courage To Be Brilliant ~ Collaboration with human resources consultant Marta Monahan for Vittorio Media, Inc. Hardcover printed in 2000 ("The hottest book of the summer:" John Tesh) and revised as paperback with new material in 2002 ("If you are tired of mediocrity and want to break out, this is the book for you:" Nelkane Benton, KABC Radio).

Neighborhood Watch ~ Sequel to Tracer, Inc.; Scribner, Suzanne Kirk editor. "...combining family cuteness with sociopathic slaughter is tricky, but (Andrus) makes it work, creating a credible mystery with plenty of good laughs:" Publishers Weekly, March 1996.

Tracer, Inc. ~ Mystery novel published by Scribner, New York. "(Andrus is) a rising star:" San Diego Union-Tribune, December 31, 1994.

CABLE
As Summers Die ~ Co-written adaptation of novel by Winston Groom set in the segregated South of the 1950s, involving oil, murder and a mixed-race love affair. Starred Scott Glen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Bette Davis and Bea Richards. Presented by Telepictures & Chris-Rose Productions as a Home Box Office movie; Frank Konigsberg, Larry Sanitsky, Bob Christianson and Rick Rosenberg producers; directed by Jean-Claude Tramont. Screenplay nominated for 1986 Award in Cable Excellence. Vido selected for archives in the trial and legal themes film collection of the Southwestern University Law Library.

EDITING
I've edited some technical articles that appeared in professional journals and three books that didn't appear anywhere. I got lucky with the fourth, The Gods Of Business: The Intersection Of Faith In The Marketplace by my friend, Dr. Todd Albertson, published by Trinity Alumni Press, 2007. Based on his PhD. thesis, The Gods Of Business is a "Michelin Guide" of the world's major religions and how they affect commercial intercourse.

FEATURE FILM
The Jeweler's Shop ~ World War II love story adapted from a play by Pope John Paul II for PAC Rome, IMP Paris and Alliance Montreal; Mario di Nardo, Mario Bregni and Philippe Rebboah producers. Theatrical release starred Burt Lancaster, Olivia Hussey and Ben Cross; directed by Michael Anderson. In 1992 screenplay received certificate of merit awarded by Southern California Motion Picture Council.

MOVIES FOR TELEVISION
Children Of The Dark ~ Co-written fact-based drama about the fear and persecution besetting a family whose daughters have a rare genetic disorder that makes sunlight deadly. Starred Tracy Pollen and Peter Horton. Presented by Multimedia Productions for CBS Television; Steve Krantz and Tony Etz producers; directed by Michael Switzer. Aired April 17, 1994.

Separated By Murder ~ Co-written true crime drama about the murder of an Alabama ophthalmologist, starring Sharon Gless playing twin sisters. Presented by the Larry A. Thompson Organization for CBS; Larry Thompson and Paulette Breen producers; directed by Donald Wright. Aired 12, 1994.

Men Don't Tell ~ Co-written drama about a battered husband, starring Judith Light and Peter Strauss. Presented by Lorimar Television for CBS; produced by Nancy Bein; directed by Harry Winer. Drew third highest rating for TV movie during 1993 spring season.

Miles From Nowhere ~ Co-written coming of age story about a son trying to break away from an overbearing father. Starred Rick Shroder, James Farentino, Marlyn Mason and Malora Hardin. Presented by New World Entertainment and The Sokolow Company for CBS; Mel and Diane Sokolow producers; directed by Buzz Kulik. Winner of 1993 Christopher Award.

Triumph Of The Heart: The Ricky Bell Story ~ Drama based on the last years of USC football great and Tampa Bay star Ricky Bell, starring Mario Van Peebles, Lane Davis, Susan Ruttan and Lynn Whitfield. Presented by The Landsburg Company for CBS; Alan Landsburg, David Permut and Daniel Levy producers; directed by Richard Michaels. Screenplay was selected for nation-wide high school reading program in 1991.

The Fatal Image ~ A mother and daughter on vacation in Paris accidently photograph a murder and are pursued by the killers. The suspense-thriller starred Michele Lee and Justine Batemen, and was co-written with French writer Aaron Barzman for an international co-production presented by Hearst Entertainment and Canal Plus; Gerry Abrams, Harry Chandler and Simon Hart producers; directed by Tom Wright. Premeired on CBS in 1989.

Proud Men ~ Modern western about the reconcilliation of an estranged son and a father who is dying, starring Charlton Heston, Peter Strauss, Alan Autry and Nan Marti. Presented by Agamemnon Films and Von Zernick-Samuels for ABC; Stu Samuels, Fraser Heston and Robert Sertner producers; directed by William Graham. Judith Crist of TV Guide called it "a finely realized drama," listing it among the magazine's ten best movies of 1987. Screeplay one of three nominees for Humanitas Prize.

Altogether Now ~ Co-written true story about orphaned children fighting authorities to make their eldest brother their guardian, starring John Rubibstein, Adam Arkin and Helen Hunt. Presented by RSO Films in 1975 for ABC; Diane Barclay producer; directed by Randal Kleiser.

RADIO
Sitmar Cruises ~ 1986 spot for Foote, Cone & Belding.

KRKC ~ Weekend news copy and broadcast announcing, 1962-66.

SERIES FOR TELEVISION
Moloney ~ Story re-write and original story sale for 1997-98 CBS series, staring Peter Strauss as a police psychologist; executive producer for Tri Star, David Jacobs. I was offered a staff position, but then the series was cancelled.

The Thomas Edison Story ~ Docu-drama segment of True Tales pilot for children's series. Produced by NBC Productions and The Manheim Company; Michael Manheim and Eda Hallinan producers. “Andrus has written an excellent example of this kind of script. A solid story with a twist at the end:" Brandon Tartikoff, President, NBC Entertainment Division, 1991.

The Assassin ~ Co-written episode of ABC's Kung Fu series, starring David Carradine. Jerry Thorpe produced for Warner Brothers; directed by Richard Lang. Broadcast October 4, 1973.

Wolper Productions ~ Staff writer from 1972-74, Warren Bush and Christine Foster supervisors. Team development of series and specials, among them Primal Man, Judgment, Chief Joseph and The First Woman President.

SHORT SUBJECT
The Proverb ~ Ten-minute mockumentary of contemporary journalism and religiostity, lampooning both as serious in form only. Produced and directed by Todd Albertson; DP Nick Rivera; starring Scott Waara, Nancy Stafford, Lauren E. Roman, Christopher Prizzi and Anna Michelle Wang. Winnder of the 2004 Gold Award at 168-hour Film Festival. In 2006 The Proverb was the first English language film of any length to take Grand Prize at the Spirituality Film Festival in Calcutta.

TECHNICAL
Triumph Fabrics ~ Promotion introducing geo-textiles distributor to southern California, 1989.

Reardon Construction ~ Human resources and quality control procedures for bid submission to Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, 1988.

Gama Direct Marketing ~ Mailer copy for SMA financial software, 1987.

OTHER
www.jeffandrus.com "A funny man. Check out his site:" Hugh Hewitt, KRLA Smart Talk Radio, 2002.

The Tenth Pint ~ 1985 article about blood donation for The Rustler that won First Place, Features Category, California Publishers Association Better Newspaper Awards.

Appendicitis Sure As Shootin' ~ 1984 "Guest Artist," World's Word, literary journal of World Bank.

Doc ~ First place, Samuel Goldwyn Creative Writing award, 1972.