pronounced “Ghee-oh”

Paul Guyot published his first work in the back of Mrs. Parker's 4th grade class. Laws was a violent and bloody, yet at the same time laugh-out-loud funny, parody of Jaws.

A year later Paul followed that up with the publication of High Afternoon, a violent and bloody, yet at the same time shoot-milk-through-your-nose funny, parody of Spaghetti westerns. High Afternoon took 2nd place in the Scottsdale Christian Academy Creative Writing Contest, losing out to Beverly Gordon's Why God is Good.

Though the critics were harsh—at one point Paul was forced to sit outside during the class screening of Where the Red Fern Grows—the public took to the lean prose and witty dialogue and Paul never paid for an extra milk at lunch again.

The University of Arizona followed, where Paul realized his true destiny—to write movies and television shows. So he completed a screenplay, moved to Hollywood and immediately went to work as a liquor store cashier. But real Hollywood work soon followed when Paul was hired as a waiter at a Denny’s on Sunset Boulevard.

Paul quickly returned to Arizona to fulfill a new destiny—to work in the golf business.

Years later, while awaiting his big break in the golf biz, a movie crew came to Tucson to film the memorable motion picture Firebirds. Because of his experience at a Hollywood Denny’s, Paul was by far the most qualified person in Tucson to serve as Nicolas Cage’s stand-in. He decided to put his golf career on hold for 44 days.

On Day One of shooting, Paul was sitting on stage waiting for Nick to arrive when the love interest of the film entered in the form of the beautiful Sean Young. She proceeded to sit down opposite Paul, grab the inside of his thigh and say, “Hi ya doing, cutie?”

It would be years before Paul would ever think about golf again.

On the heels of Firebirds another production arrived in Tucson. Paul would win the coveted job of stand-in for Christian Slater on Young Guns II.

Now a seasoned veteran, Paul got word that Don Johnson was in need of a “quality” stand-in. Paul would again say good-bye to Arizona, and return to Hollywood with a band of misfits filming the timeless epic Harley Davidson & The Marlboro Man.

During filming Paul had hours upon hours to reflect on his life and career while waiting for Don to come out of his trailer. It was then that Paul realized he still had a burning desire, nay, a fiery need to write. He would spend the rest of those hours honing his writing skills, and once “Harley” wrapped he would embrace his original destiny. Be it movies or TV, Paul knew that Hollywood was calling, nay, screaming his name, and that there was only one vocation for him: WRITER.

What Paul didn’t know was that Hollywood was just being sarcastic. Over the next several years Paul would stand-in for Charlie Sheen, Willem Dafoe, Bruce Willis, James Spader, and Tommy Lee Jones. As well as three more pictures with Don.

Eventually, Paul realized it was time to settle down and get serious about writing. He would officially retire as “Hollywood’s best Stand-in.”

And go to work as an actor’s assistant.

Paul was the first non-Chinese person to ever work as personal assistant to the great Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-Fat. During this time Paul and Yun-Fat bonded, having many long discussions about life, love, writing, and the correct pronunciation of “Looky-Loos.”

One particular morning Paul and Yun-Fat were standing on the balcony of his apartment discussing Paul's desire to become a writer. Yun-Fat turned to him and said, “When people in Hong Kong would ask me, ‘How do I become an actor?’ I would tell them the first thing you must do is start acting.” A blazing inferno of epiphany blinded Paul.

Turns out it was actually a transformer blowing across the street, but the point was driven home. Paul would never stand-in or assist again.

Eventually, Paul began to be paid as a writer, and has been fortunate enough to work with some incredibly talented people. He began writing for the short-lived David E. Kelley series Snoops where he worked with the Bobby Orr of writing, Hart Hanson. Next came Felicity where Paul worked along side J.J. Abrams. Contrary to rumor Paul is NOT the guy who suggested Keri Russell cut her hair. Paul then wrote for the UPN series LEVEL 9, where he got to match keystrokes with best selling author Michael Connelly.

Paul spent three years writing and producing the CBS drama Judging Amy where he was able to work with the legendary Barbara Hall, as well as Karen Hall—the most nominated female writer in television history—who taught Paul the most important rule of good writing: Don't ever use the word “nay” in any context. Ever.

A few years ago Paul became a father and quickly realized that LA—the nexus of the entertainment industry—was not the place to raise children. So, he packed up his collection of baseball cards and hood ornaments (if your father’s Buick lost one between the years of 1980 and 1983, Paul apologizes) and moved to St. Louis, Missouri.

And in typical Hollywood fashion, since he made the move, Paul has been in demand more than ever. He created and executive-produced back-to-back pilots for TNT, and is currently doing the same for Sony Pictures Television, and Fox TV Studios.

Paul has also had multiple short stories published (see the latest news) and is working on a novel

Paul is a member of the Writers Guild of America, Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers, Inc.

Paul is represented by The Gersh Agency.

Paul bats right and throws left.

© 2002 Timberwood Lane, Inc.  

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