THAT'S WHERE TOY STORIEZ COMES IN 

 

Hi, I’m Mike Zara, a professional film and television writer in Los Angeles who has always had a passion for toys. I’ve created TOY STORIEZ to consult for toy companies, using expert character, world-building, and narrative skills to help cultivate an undeniable toy line and, in turn, IP (intellectual property) ready for its Hollywood close-up. 

 

I have been writing and selling shows and features for almost a decade, having worked with all the major studios. This has given me the skills to craft successful and money-making original stories. But as any producer will tell you, IP is the king of Hollywood, and the toy industry has some of the richest properties in the world. Mattel and Warner Bros.’s billion-dollar-plus success with the live-action Barbie film proved that.

 

The pink Barbie juggernaut also showed me a hole in the marketplace — we need more film & TV writers on the ground floor with these toy companies collaborating to find opportunities for these lines at the jump. 

 

Who better to do that than a writer who has equally been obsessed with toys and television ever since he got stuck in his sister’s Barbie Dreamhouse as a baby? No joke. In fact, my first years of filmmaking were creating stop-action films with Barbie and a camcorder. I believe those early years of play are why I became a professional storyteller. 

 

I want to help toy companies because I love that industry and see its potential to blow up on the big screen. And I’m not just talking about the Mattel’s of the world. No matter how big or small your company is, I’m here to shepherd your IP, making it truly sparkle.

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Whether it's shooting a full-blown commercial for your toy or a series of creative stop-motion TikToks or fun Insta Reels with a kid influencer, Toy Storiez is here for you. Other services include script writing, producing, casting, full post-production services, editing, motion graphics, Adobe Creative Suite, and voice-over production.

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MEET MIKE ZARA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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TOY STORIEZ owner Mike is an LGBTQ artist passionate about telling poppy, character-driven stories that are female and queer-focused. He works in various genres, including drama, animation, horror, procedural, musical, and YA. 

 

He has developed original drama TV pilots IT’S A MYSTERY for The CW and KILL THE LIGHTS for YouTube Originals. In addition, his horror-comedy Hallmark Christmas parody, LETTERS TO SATAN CLAUS, aired on SYFY. 

 

Michael was a writer on CRIME FARM, produced by Nicole Kidman, and the final three seasons of TNT’s hit series MAJOR CRIMES. He also co-created the unauthorized musical parody of TEEN WITCH at The Groundlings and co-writes pop songs with music producer Mark Byers (RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE). Michael’s musical horror short POSSESSED competed at the Dances With Films Fest in 2022. 

 

Michael is developing the LGBTQ horror script PROM DRESS (based on the classic YA novel) with Australian director Nicholas Verso (Hulu’s CRAZY FUN PARK). 

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Oh, and his favorite toy of all time? Totally Hair Barbie. Duh. 

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