The Origins of “RoomMate” – From Screenplay to Novel

Some stories just won’t stay buried. Roommate started as a screenplay destined for Hollywood, but life had other plans. It’s a journey that took years, but through relentless creative evolution, Roommate was reimagined, rewritten, and ultimately transformed.

Roommate began its life as a screenplay written over a decade ago. At the time, writer ChadO was pursuing his dream of breaking into Hollywood as a screenwriter. The original script was penned with a specific actor friend in mind—Jason Mewes, who was interested in taking on a sinister role that would allow him to explore a darker side of his acting abilities. ChadO was working on another project with Mewes at the time, and the stars seemed to be aligning for Roommate to become a reality.

But then life happened. The writers’ strike hit Hollywood, and like so many projects, Roommate was put on hold. As time passed, priorities shifted, and the project remained unproduced. ChadO and his family relocated, and the dream of seeing Roommate on the big screen faded into the background.

But the story never left him. The dark themes, the twisted characters, and the psychological tension that had originally driven the screenplay continued to haunt ChadO’s mind. And while the screenplay might not have made it to Hollywood, the story wasn’t finished yet.

The story simmered, waiting for the right moment to come back to life.

And then, years later, it did—just in a different form.

An Unmade Screenplay That Became a Novel

The male lead was reimagined as Charlet, a deranged movie producer with obsessive-compulsive tendencies and a past steeped in trauma. What started as a screenplay was rewritten and expanded into a full-length novel. But Roommate didn’t stray far from its origins.

The decision to write the novel in present tense was a deliberate nod to the screenplay format. The short, fast-paced sentences mirror the style of a film script, giving the novel a cinematic feel.

The novel penetrates the dark side of the human experience. There’s violence, trauma, and psychological turmoil—nothing is sugar-coated. It’s intense, raw, and at times, hard to stomach. But that’s the point. Roommate forces readers to confront the harsh realities of Charlet’s world, which is exactly what ChadO intended when he first wrote the screenplay.

For those curious about where it all started, there’s a special bonus: everyone who pre-orders the novel gets a digital PDF of the original screenplay. It’s a unique chance to see how Roommate evolved from its Hollywood beginnings to its current form as a novel. The screenplay shows the story from a different angle—one that hasn’t been seen by the public until now.

Roommate’s journey from unmade screenplay to novel is a wild ride. It’s a story that refused to fade away, despite all the obstacles in its path. Now, after years of waiting, it’s ready to be published. The novel is set for release in fall 2024, and ChadO is excited for readers to finally experience the twisted world of Roommate—both in its original screenplay form and in its newly reimagined novel.

If you’ve been along for the ride since the beginning, this is your chance to see how far Roommate has come. And if you’re new to the story, get ready to dive into a psychological thriller that’s been years in the making.