About Connor Frandzel
My name is Connor Frandzel, and I am the founder and CEO of TDIB Productions. I am 22 years old, fighting every day to pursue my dream of becoming a screenwriter and professional speaker. I graduated from Chapman University this past May, where my true dream was discovered. One day, an idea came to my mind for what I believed could be a good TV show. Despite having no prior experience, I dedicated myself to research for months on end and was writing nonstop, as this became the future career I dreamed of having. Over time, I completed four additional TV scripts and a feature film. Alongside writing, I’ve gained industry experience through internships and full-time jobs post-college that provided me with extensive knowledge. This experience includes time at production companies, film festivals, and entertainment marketing agencies, and I am currently working in the mailroom at a talent agency. Simultaneously, I’m building TDIB Productions, where I’m dedicating time to a different sector of the industry.
Childhood Story Struggles
At 5 years old, sitting in my kindergarten classroom was when I first experienced what it meant to have a learning disability. Attempting to understand what I was reading didn't come easily for me. News later came to light that I struggled with reading comprehension. The teacher yelled at me as frustration kicked in for both of us. The moral of the story is that I just couldn't get it, and she wasn't equipped to teach someone with a learning disability.
At 10 years old, I was faced with a decision, and little did I know how influential this decision would be. After struggling in school for some time now, my family looked into a learning disability school. This is when the misconception kicked in for everyone, including myself, before I learned more about what a learning disability really meant. Switching schools was transformative, and the opportunity to learn in alternative ways showed me the impact of what a learning disability school offers. Finding out how I learn best may seem small in the way I'm describing it, but this marked a turning point, allowing me to feel a relief that changed my life.
Now, fast-forwarding to my 18-year-old self in my freshman year of college, I became a business major and took Econ in my first semester. On the verge of failing, I was forced to drop the class. Now, I personally don't really care about failing at something, but the same feeling I had at 10 years old and even 5 years old was back. This class made me relive the feelings of being scared, frustrated, and lost, wondering what the future held for me.
Approaching my junior year in college was when everything changed, and not because I switched majors or because my learning disabilities disappeared. Everything changed because my entire outlook on what it means to have a learning disability flipped. I can now say with complete certainty that my learning disabilities were the best thing that could have ever happened to me. This company shows the shift in my mindset and the value of why I’m more eager than ever to share this dream with the world.
What are We at TDIB Productions
TDIB Productions is a film production company and professional speaking service built on the belief that being different is in no way a limitation, but a strength. When first beginning my writing journey, it was clear that I gravitated toward developing specific characters in storytelling, completely subconsciously of it. Through writing drama, action, and comedy genres primarily, I always seemed to include a learning disability character and the impact shown through them, seeing every strength and vulnerability. I thought to myself that if done right, maybe I could show the world what we, as people struggling with learning disabilities, truly offer. From that point on, I decided one of the main characters in each of my scripts would showcase this. This turning point made me realize I had found my niche for TDIB Productions, but I knew I needed something more. I learned a lot about myself through writing, but I wanted to create something deeper. No matter how many powerful or inspirational words were on the page, it didn’t feel nearly enough to truly showcase what someone with a learning disability could do. Now realizing this, I had to brainstorm nonstop on what the answer could be. The idea finally clicked, yet it terrified me because I’d have to overcome my biggest fear, public speaking.
Speaking Services
The speaking service wing of my company goes deeper into what I want the world to understand. I educate both learning disability and mainstream schools, as well as through educational workshops, banquets, festivals, and additional community events. On my speaking services page, you will see topics provided in regard to speaking events. Exploring those topics comes from my personal experience, research, and the avenues I have explored to better understand more about myself and my own capabilities. Through this process, I can say with certainty that this was the missing piece that completes my mission for this company. My first speaking event will be in January 2026, with date confirmation pending. Three different types of speaking events are set, and topics will be added as the new year approaches.
The Truth
The truth is that I’m not experienced in the process of how you start a business, but I do understand with certainty how difficult it is. People always say you just have to start, so that's what I'm doing. I'm a self-taught writer and have little experience as a public speaker. I have had this idea for a couple of years now, and I made the decision that I'm done just talking about it. Putting myself out there like this is one of the scariest things I have ever done, in all honesty, but it seems sometimes you have to face your fears and run straight through them. At the end of the day, I guess I'm just a guy who's crazy enough to think he can change the entire world's perception of what it means to have a learning disability. So, I hope you take a chance on someone like me because you won’t regret it.