Personal details
- Birth Date: 1951-04-15
- Birth Location: Bakersfield, California, USA
- Professions: Producer, Writer, Script and Continuity Department
Walter F. Parkes kicked off his journey in Bakersfield, California, born in '51, then snagged a degree from Yale—fancy, right? Anyway, his first dip into filmmaking was a documentary, The California Reich, back in '75. Fast forward a bit: he meets Laurie MacDonald, his future creative partner. The guy helped write WarGames, which, let’s be honest, is a classic, and even landed an Oscar nod for the screenplay. That flick set off a string of deals, though some fizzled out (Hollywood, man). He kept the momentum rolling with Volunteers, Project X, and later, movies like Sneakers and Awakenings. He and his writing partner Lasker cranked out hits, then split, and Parkes teamed up with MacDonald to launch Aerial Pictures. That was more of a blip, but then Spielberg swooped in, and boom—they’re running Amblin Entertainment, churning out stuff like Twister and Men in Black. Then came the DreamWorks era—he’s calling shots, producing blockbusters like Gladiator and Deep Impact. Eventually, he and MacDonald launch their own shingle, Parkes/MacDonald Productions, working on everything from The Kite Runner to Sweeney Todd. They even dabbled in TV and signed with Image Nation, keeping busy with sequels like Men in Black 3, Rings, and new stuff like Flight. By 2016, Parkes was diving into VR with Dreamscape Immersive. And yeah, he’s still at it, cooking up projects like Gladiator 2 and Barbie. Not a bad run, honestly.
referencennShe’s always the smartest person in the room, and yeah, it kinda shows. After snagging that degree from Yale—like, who just casually does that?—she dives headfirst into a world where book smarts don’t always line up with street smarts. Suddenly, she’s navigating people who don’t care where she went to school, and honestly, her diploma’s not getting her out of every mess. There’s a mix of awkward run-ins, hilarious misunderstandings, and a few moments where she just flat-out panics. Still, her quick wit keeps her afloat. Along the way, she picks up some wild friends, makes a few enemies, and learns how little a fancy education matters if you can’t tell when someone’s lying to your face. The story’s equal parts cringey and endearing, peppered with those “oh no, she didn’t!” moments you can’t help but laugh at. By the end, she’s a little less perfect, and a lot more real.
April 15, 1951
Konidela Ram Charan
Bakersfield, California, USA
Yes, Graham Parkes
74 years old