David Ho, 41, has lived in Chicago’s Galewood neighborhood since 1992 and can often be found writing at one coffee house or another. He’s an aspiring screenwriter and hopes to make it onto the big screen one day.
Q: What do you like about living in Galewood?
A: I actually enjoy it. It’s not like the big city, but gives you access to the big city. It’s kind of quiet. I know a lot of the people here and the business owners and I patronize them. It’s quiet living, but it gives you access to the big city.
Q: What do you do for a living?
A: I work part-time at CVS as a pharmacist.
Q: What’s your true passion?
A: I’m currently studying screenwriting and just finished a short horror film called “The Portrait” and plan on submitting it to the Chicago International Film Festival. I also sell books on Amazon Kindle.
Q: What’s your goal as a writer?
A: I’m hoping to use my books to fund my movies. I have written two fiction [books] and one nonfiction and plan to have another fiction out. There’s no definite time, but it will be in the horror genre.
Q: What was the happiest time in your life?
A: Recently, when I finished filming “The Portrait.” Also, it was my first major thing, but when I finished my first book “How to Write Irresistible Stories.” It’s my most successful book.
Q: How did you get into writing books and screenplays?
A: It’s kind of by accident. I started off with playwriting and always liked creating stories, but I didn’t know how to get my plays produced. It’s hard to get plays produced. I was at the Lake Theatre in Oak Park and I saw a flier from Chicago Filmmakers. Their screenwriting classes were $300 — I took one and kind of stumbled on to it.
Q: Married?
A: Single.
Q: What are your plans for the future?
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A: To write more books, more fiction and hopefully make two more short films. I’d like to raise enough money to make a feature film and pitch it.
Q: What do you do for fun?
A: I used to do martial arts before I broke my ankle. I like hanging around coffee shops. I like going there, because that’s where other writers hang out. I also like eating. I like Indian food, but I kind of like the vegan stuff now.
—David Pollard, Pioneer Press
Shout Out is a weekly feature where we get to know and introduce our readers to their fellow community members and local visitors throughout suburban Chicago.