My name is Craig Michael Beck and I am a storyteller.
Writing is the lifeblood of shared experience.
Our ability to craft story, to create and share original narrative catalyzed from nothing, is what makes us uniquely human. Each tale told is born of ephemeral thoughts captured on paper, and if fortune has smiled upon me today, I may well be the human you seek.
My goal is to fan the flames of your original story from a raging inferno of words into a dazzling symphony of voices.
I was born and raised in California, to an English teaching mother and a naturalist father, each of whom granted me their own special gift of language. One guided me to mastery of the written and spoken word, the other allowed me to discover the timeless wisdom nature bestows to those patient enough to listen for the hushed voices of centenarian trees, babbling brooks, languid lakes and ancient mountains.
At 22, I got a job on a boat in San Diego. On a weekend dive trip to Catalina, I met an airline pilot, and we hit it off with a vibrant conversation about the physical complications of flying after diving. I learned he not only loved diving, but also enjoyed jumping out of perfectly good airplanes too. I was smitten. Becoming an Airline Pilot, Divemaster and Jumpmaster became my new bingo card Trifecta. I had found my Life/Work balance goal. In 2001, just days before my FAA Commercial check ride, planes began falling out of the sky intentionally, and my career in aviation suddenly didn’t seem so wise or secure. I was already a Divemaster, but went back to school, flip flopping my major and minor between Criminal Justice and Psychology.
I wish my advisor had told me you can’t do much with a degree in Psychology without a Master’s or PhD. I was tired of school after 20 years, so in the early aughts, like everyone else who had a pulse, I got a CA Real Estate license and jumped into the housing market melee. At least, until that profession had a spectacular crash all its own. In an attempt to escape the impending wipeout, my wife and I moved to Atlanta, Georgia, but the collateral damage was everywhere. Yet, in sales, you’re never out of the game; you only need a new product. In 2008 I began driving throughout the state of Georgia, selling life insurance to working people in the privacy, and intimacy, of their homes. I went on to open a satellite office in Savannah.
And that’s how I ended up in the film industry. I achieved financial success and was miserable. I took a mentor to lunch for advice and he asked when I was last happy; truly happy. I half jokingly said, “Last time I was on stage.” He said, “Then do that.” It seemed too simple an idea to work, but the best ideas usually are. I walked away from my high stress agency assignment and embraced the pauper’s profession of acting in mid life. I devoured books, took classes, workshops, signed with agents, yet discovered my prior professions had already taught me how to be real, honest and authentic. I was happy again. I even got my SAG card in 2015.
But the financial insecurity and uncertainly of acting was causing issues at home, so I transitioned to more steady work; first in Art Department and then Transportation. After 13 years in the Industry, I’ve got a solid understanding of what goes on inside the Hollywood machine, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes, along with the executive level politics, myriad quirky characters and variety of personality types that keep it all humming.
The written word has been my constant companion and confidant for as long as I can remember, and it was a friend who wrote a novel which placed me on this adventurous path. We’re a team, you and I. Writer and narrator; two sides of the same coin. However, while you can mint as many coins as you desire, I can’t tell your story without your blessing.
So the question is: Do you want me to be the voice of your words?
Only you know the answer.