HOW IT ALL BEGAN
Having worked in Children’s Television at the Agency for Instructional Television, I learned I love to write and create content. I worked with “Hollywood script writers” on storyline ideas and script revisions. These shows were later broadcast on PBS educational television stations to classrooms across the country.
Later, Gudaitis Production was founded with my husband, David, at the helm. They produce educational programs for the classroom and documentaries for PBS. His chief writer, Bob Risher, was the best! He wrote one-man shows for himself, sold screenplays, and was a Hollywood script doctor. He was my writing mentor and friend; but unfortunately, Bob passed away unexpectedly quite young.
His death inspired me to join Toastmasters in his memory. He was a member of Toastmasters International and often won their speech contests. After I joined Toastmasters, I began to win their humorous speech contests. Sometimes, someone would say, “Jan, you should do stand-up comedy. You remind me of Steven Wright.” So that’s how it all began.