Norman a graduate of the inaugural cohort of the Rideback Rise program, a new non-profit content accelerator that seeks to advance racial equity by increasing the development of mainstream entertainment by BIPOC creators and spearheaded by Dan Lin (Producer of “LEGO Movie”, “Sherlock Holmes”, and Stephen King’s “It” fame, Chairman of Netflix Film.)
Norman is also currently developing an original fictional series Buddy Southgate about the rise and fall of an Asian American celebrity porn superstar, and was awarded an artist grant by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. He is also spearheading an Asian American Comedy History series (think Key and Peele meet Drunk History Asian American-style) in order to combat miseducation and support #StopAsianHate.
His play “Um Sa Det Yoong” premiered in May 2014 at Chicago Dramatists during A-Squared Theatre’s production of My Asian Mom 2014.
He co-wrote a short film entitled “Magical Coincidence” with established filmmaker Keith Lock, which premiered at the Reel Asian International Film Festival in November 2012.
Norman has been grateful to have his writing praised and vetted by industry professionals from around the world. He was selected as one of the Reelworld Film Festival’s Emerging 20 artists and has been accredited at several film festivals.
Some feature scripts completed by Norman include:
Just Right, a comedy – A down-on-his-luck Asian American actor gets in trouble with the Italian mob, and unwittingly becomes a famous female chef while trying to get his life back
Layout, is an original sports coming-of-age film set in the compelling world of competitive college ultimate frisbee. – A freshman Asian adoptee questions his cultural identity while fighting to compete in the National College Ultimate Championships
Crystal Clear, is an action/thriller about a young female doctor who fight for the truth and her life when she uncovers a conspiracy in the world medical community.
He has written many shorts and one acts as well, including a comedic mystical reality short entitled Memories of Vanilla Sky, which explores the question “What if an Asian guy became Tom Cruise for a day?”
Norman continues to enjoy consulting on scripts for various projects and is grateful that some of them have garnered awards. He is always looking to increase the funny, up the stakes, and create conflict-driven, meaningful, stereotype-defying, and actor-friendly writing based on his extensive experience on stage and in front of the camera.