Derek Rydall

Derek Rydall (born April 18, 1968) is an American screenwriter, screenplay consultant, script doctor, stuntman and author.

He has also worked as an actor, starring in several films & television shows with Tom Skerritt, Charles Bronson, Elliott Gould, Tony Roberts (of Woody Allen films), Paulie Shore, director John Turtletaub, and many others. His biggest role was the lead in Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge, along with Morgan Fairchild, Rob Estes, Pauly Shore, Jonathan Goldsmith and Kimber Sissons.

As a screenwriter, screenplay consultant, and script doctor, he has been on staff for Fox ("Wildforce Rangers") and Disney, developed projects for RKO, United Artists, Miramax, Fine Line, Universal, Saturn (Nicolas Cage's company), Deepak Chopra, Wildrice, Longbow, and the creators of "Air Force One" and "Ghost". Additionally, Rydall script doctored on the feature films "Diamonds" and "No Turning Back."

Rydall is the author of "I Could've Written a Better Movie than That!: How to Make Six Figures as a Screenplay Consultant – Even if You're Not a Screenwriter," and "There's No Business Like Soul Business: a Spiritual Path to Enlightened Screenwriting, Filmmaking, and Performing arts", both published by Michael Wiese Productions.

While in Jamaica on the set of a film that was experiencing problems, Rydall claims he decided to go snorkeling in a coral reef without telling anyone where he was going or what he was doing. According to Rydall, he found himself lost and surrounded on all sides by fire coral, becoming increasingly disoriented as he frantically tried to make his way back to shore. Rydall claims he frantically kept himself afloat as his body became physically exhausted and describes the bizarre mental gymnastics one's mind goes through as they face oblivion including fantasizing about fame-even in death-and rationalizing that someone would rescue him.

According to Rydall, his mind rejected each of the previous rationalizations until, completely out of energy and unable to keep himself afloat any longer, Rydall realized there was no choice except, "to let go." Rydall claims that all fear and doubt vanished and as he let go he was overcome with a sense of peace and he found himself suddenly able to swim out of the reef.

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