Award-winning composer, songwriter, screenplay writer, published author and founder of CinemaWDS
By Dennis McNabb, Staff Writer
Oliver W. Tuthill Jr. is, in the positive sense, the definitive jack of all trades. In the ’70s, he moved from his hometown of Chicago to Los Angeles, a musician in pursuit of a record contract. He landed one, and due to the breadth of his talent (singer, songwriter, and guitar virtuoso), he scaled the heights of recording and playing alongside all-time greats such as Steppenwolf and John Mayall. For two years, he toured as an opening act for the multi-platinum rockers Styx. Later, he transitioned to writing scores for numerous documentary films and even feature films.
Looking to expand his horizons, Oliver began acting classes and joined the Screen Actors Guild. He was an extra in his first film, the 1976 sci-fi classic “Logan’s Run,” then quickly landed speaking roles in a multitude of TV shows and movies. Just as his acting career was beginning to take off though, he was injured in a terrible accident, and was unable to walk for nearly 2 years.
Not one to sit idly by, Oliver moved up to Seattle where a friend found him work writing for a boxing promotions organization. He developed and honed his skills writing columns for multiple boxing magazines. It was during that time that he discovered a passion for both the sport itself and for writing about it. Although he would continue to write for Ring Magazine for 25 years, he would also branch out into writing screenplays (and later directing and producing films), and that would eventually lead him to where he is today.
Today, Oliver is living his best life right here in Lake Oswego. With all of his many skills and years of experience, he has founded Cinema Writing & Development Services (CinemaWDS). Along with partner and co-founder Tara Walker, CinemaWDS will take your screenplay, novel and idea submissions, suss out the key cinematic elements of the story, and transform your work into the most poignant and sellable version of itself. For those looking to take it a step further, they also offer film development services. Currently, they have four films in development, and as Stuart Stern, Academy Award-nominated writer of “Rebel Without a Cause” said, “Tuthill and Walker have a gift for finding and developing the various nuances present in so many stories.”
Oliver also published his first novel this year, “When the Sunlight Goes Dark.” It is available at all major outlets and delves into far more profound depths than the protagonist’s career might suggest. Ostensibly, the story is about a boxer seeking fame and fortune, but Oliver has masterfully interwoven such diverse topics as worker exploitation, child abuse, domestic violence and sports politics. He sought not only to tell a compelling story, but to appeal to a more intellectual reader, and it’s a stunning piece of literature.
Oliver W. Tuthill Jr. is a neighbor, a friend and an active member of the Lake Oswego community. Listen to him on Amazon Music. Read his work on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble. Contact him directly via his website, cinemawds.com, and see your ideas turn into an actual film!
