David Scanlon

Hope.

We could all use a little, don’t you think? A little reassurance. A little raison d’être.

We need hope in times like these. And places where we can find hope. Where we can escape reality. Sanctuary. And isn’t that what entertainment provides? It always has for me. Growing up, when things got rough, I’d just pop in a tape and take a trip under the sea, or to a land before time, or a galaxy far, far away. I found comfort in watching ordinary people accomplish extraordinary things. I took solace in the notion that good always triumphs over evil and that adventure is out there for anyone brave enough to find it.

I was weaned on the stories of Walt Disney and Steven Spielberg (who, as far as I’m concerned, join Dolly Parton to form the Holy Trinity of Storytellers—fight me). They taught me to be optimistic. To understand that while the past was bright, the future is always looking brighter. They taught me about the wisdom of children, the wonders of the human spirit, and the joys of unfettered imagination. They taught me to understand the harsh realities of life, but encouraged me to never accept them as fate. They showed me how to tackle difficult subjects with humor and heart.

So that’s what I do. I tell uplifting stories that mitigate heartache and strife with love and laughter. I’m a sucker for a good tear-jerker and I believe whole-heartedly in the power of a happy ending. As a storyteller, I believe it’s my job to help audiences shed the struggles, turmoil, and responsibilities of everyday life. To encourage them to rediscover, if only for a few hours, the child that still lives somewhere inside them. To restore their sense of wonder. To give them hope.