Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, Anthony Bruce began writing student articles for the Terre Haute Tribune in October of 1981 while attending Terre Haute North Vigo High School. He went on to continue his writing for several newspapers and magazines throughout the United States. In 1997 he penned his play, "Visions of Sugarplums", which premiered in a Palm Springs, California, theatre one year later. In 1998 independent film producer Edward J. Fasulo was impressed enough with Bruce's writing talent to commission him to write the screenplay for the film version of his play, Visions of Sugarplums (2001), which was released in VHS and DVD formats on November 30, 2001. On April 30, 2001, Bruce's screenplay "Murder at Random" (aka "Murder at Hollandsburg") was optioned for film production by Emmy Award winner and veteran producer/casting executive (Columbia/Screen Gems Television) Renée Valente and fellow producer Eddie Kritzer. Bruce has another screenplay in the works entitled "Redefining Normal", which is based on his own "very colorful" true life story.
He is a former child stage actor.
He is a former local live-coverage segment coordinator for "The Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon", benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association, at WTWO TV 2 (NBC) in Terre Haute, Indiana.
He hosted a local live-audience TV talk show entitled "Reality with Anthony Bruce", based in San Diego in 1993.
His stageplay "Visions of Sugarplums" was published in book form by Dialogus Play Service, based in Dallas, in 1997.
He is a former middle school drama teacher in Los Angeles.
Was abandoned by his biological mother and left to die in a trash bin in his hometown on a snowy December day, just before Christmas 1964. He was rescued and later adopted by a widowed woman and is now an advocate for adopted children everywhere.
His screenplay comedy "Trailer Park Diaries", about two white trash dysfunctional familes in the Midwest, is in development.
Has resided in Indianapolis, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Boston, New York, New Hampshire, San Diego and currently in Los Angeles.
During the spring and summer of 1989, Anthony worked as a newspaper correspondent and as a waiter at a pub in the tiny New Hampshire town of Hampton Beach. His frequent customers included high-school teacher Pamela Smart and her husband, Greg, the former later convicted of seducing several of her students to get them to murder her husband. The notorious case shocked the nation and is the basis for the film 不惜一切 (1995) starring 妮可·基德曼.
Received personal writing advice from 舍伍德·施瓦茨, creator and executive producer of The Brady Bunch (1969) and Gilligan's Island (1964).
At age 16 his very first TV commercial was a public service announcement for the Muscular Dystrophy Assocation with fellow Hoosier and actor 肯·克切弗尔, star of CBS' Dallas (1978).
His screenplay _Redefining Normal (2007)_ is loosely based on his forthcoming autobiography "Out With It: My Personal Journey To Self-Acceptance".
He makes a point of including even the smallest reference to 周末夜狂热 (1977), his all-time favorite film, in every screenplay he writes.
In July 2005, he underwent emergency surgery to remove his gall bladder. According to his surgeon at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, if he didn't have the operation, he would have died within two weeks.
In May 2005, he was admitted to Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles with a possible minor heart attack. After spending a few days in the ICU, it was determined by his cardiologist that, in reality, he had suffered a severe anxiety attack and was extremely lucky "this time."
In November 2004, he was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, for which he continues treatment.
Before becoming a full-time screenwriter and independent film producer, he worked as a waiter at a few L.A. restaurants, where he served several major Hollywood stars. The last celebrity he served on his final day as a waiter was Oscar-nominated actress 瑞茜·威瑟斯彭. He remembers her to be a great tipper and a very pleasant customer.
He worked as a waiter at the famous Hamburger Hamlet restaurant (which was recently demolished),directly across the street from Mann's Chinese Theater(and now the Kodak Theater) on Hollywood Boulevard, when he first moved to LA in the mid-90s.
In December 1978, he made his debut theatrical performance in "A Christmas Carol" in the roles of Peter Crachit, Young Scrooge and a Street Urchin on the stage at Indiana State University, directed by Lew Hackelman, in Terre Haute, Indiana.
He credits Emmy-Award winning film producer and former casting exec Renée Valente for encouraging him to write his screenplay _Redefining Normal (2007)_. It was in an America On Line instant message chat that Renee first heard of Anthony's story and told him it would make for a great film.
He originally had actor 杰森·雷特, son of the late 约翰·瑞特, in mind to play the lead role of Tony in his film _Redefining Normal (2007)_. Jason passed on playing the role. According to John's former wife and Jason's mother Nancy Morgan, this particular script was one of the last scripts John Ritter read before his untimely death in 2003. She said he very much enjoyed Anthony's screenplay.
After his film _Redefining Normal (2007)_ drew a great deal of controversy from his hometown (Terre Haute, Indiana), Anthony was invited to speak (all expenses paid) to theatre students at Indiana State University as a show of support for his film being shot there. While there, had lunch with Terre Haute Mayor Kevin Burke, ISU President Dr. Lloyd Benjamin and ISU Theatre Department Chairman Dr. Arthur Feinsod. He also spoke to students at Terre Haute North Vigo High School, from where he graduated in 1984, and Chauncey Rose Middle School, where he attended from 1978-1981, and received his very first writing opportunity while working on the school newspaper staff.
While visiting the campus of Indiana State University (in Terre Haute, Indiana), Anthony was followed around by a student camera crew consisting of Joe Donohue, Kyle Cates, Ronald Short and Neil Hackel. The four aspiring filmmakers are producing a behind-the-scenes documentary about Anthony Bruce and how his film "Redefining Normal" came together. During that same visit, he learned that plans were in the works to adapt his screenplay into a play for performance on the live stage by ISU playwright Tommy Jamerson, for which Anthony has given his blessing.
At 10 years old, he organized his small town Indiana neighborhood and produced a summer back yard carnival, complete with stage shows, and raised $28 to benefit "Jerry's Kids" and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
He embraces the fact that he was raised "poor white trash" as he affectionately refers to his upbringing. At one time, he would avoid discussing his childhood. Today, he feels, that because he knows how it feels to be without, it makes each of his accomplishments that much sweeter.
Loves documentaries, such as those aired on A & E and The Biography Channel.
Tragically, three of his biological siblings committed suicide.
Since 1988 his birth date is also known as World AIDS Day and he was born nine years to the day Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to relinquish her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama (December 1, 1955).
His first professional writer's office was on Prospect Street in La Jolla, California in the early 1990s.
He was the "Hush Puppy Dog" character for the local Hush Puppy Shoe Store in his hometown, as a summer job, in the early 1980s. He was amazed how the little kids would kick and punch him and that their parents would find it entertaining.
He pledged Phi Delta Theta fraternity in his freshman year of college, but decided the "frat-boy life" wasn't for him.
He worked at both the luxurious Boca Raton Resort & Club (Boca Raton, Florida) and the world-famous Studio 54 type nightclub The Copa (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) in the late 1980s.
In his senior year, he was a homecoming escort for the fall Sports Queen court at Terre Haute North Vigo High School in 1983.
He was nearly killed on Jaurary 14, 2008 when the car he was driving was flipped three times after he was hit by a speeding motorist on Sunset Boulevard near Benedict Canyon in Beverly Hills, California.
He lost 43 pounds in a six month period of time.
He is producing partner of actor Dylan Ramsey.
His top favorite club song of the '80s is "It's My Life" performed by Talk Talk.
Currently working with actor and producing partner Antonio Rufino to produce Anthony's biopic screenplay "Redefining Normal", which is based on Anthony's very own colorful true life story. Principal photography for the project is set to begin June 2006 in Hollywood and will conclude with on- location filming in Anthony's hometown of Terre Haute, Indiana between Thanksgiving and Christmas 2006. This will be the very first feature film ever shot on-location in Terre Haute's history. [December 2005]
Current Screenwriting Projects In Development:
"Murder at Random" (AKA "Murder at Hollandsburg")
Producers: Renee