- Earned a Juris Doctor degree from the SCALE accelerated program at Southwestern University School of Law and a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from Arizona State University.
- In 2008, volunteered with the Israel Defense Forces and served in logistics, first stationed on a 101st Battalion Paratrooper combat outpost on the Lebanon border, then on a Home Front Command base in Central Israel. In 2010, re-upped with the IDF, first stationed on an Armored/Tank Division base on the West Bank, then on a Medical base near Tel Aviv.
- Upon graduation from law school, was offered a Field Agent position in Central America by the CIA's Directorate of Operations.
- Spent several years studying Boxing, Shotokan Karate, Shorin-Ryu Okinawan Karate, Chang Moo Kwan Taekwondo, and traditional Wing Chun Gung Fu. At 17, was offered a scholarship to the Kukkiwon Taekwondo University in Seoul, Korea, but passed on it in order to attend the University of Washington. Was accepted as a student of a revolutionary, hybrid fighting style known as Jun Fan Gung Fu, later renamed as Jeet Kune Do, in Bruce Lee's "underground" school located in the basement of a grocery store in Seattle's Chinatown/International District. His instructor was Bruce Lee's most senior student, Taky Kimura. Fought in full-contact, pre-MMA kickboxing tournaments and taught martial arts until being seriously injured by a drunk driver.
- In 1989, co-wrote the original feature film screenplay for The Scout (1994), a baseball comedy movie set to star Rodney Dangerfield. When Rodney Dangerfield left the project, the script was shelved, but was eventually rewritten by and for Albert Brooks.
- Wrote the original version of his mother's true-life, Holocaust love story, "To See You Again," and was instrumental in selling the project to Steven Spielberg and Dreamworks/SKG Studios.
- Wrote and produced for comedian Bob Hope and five U.S. Presidents (Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford and Bill Clinton) on Hope's last ever TV special, Bob Hope: Laughing with the Presidents (1996).
- Brother of American Comedy Award-winning comedian, Robert Schimmel. Wrote the screenplay for "True Blue," a feature film about Robert's career as a no-holds-barred, X-rated stand-up comedian that was commissioned by MGM/UA and Oscar-winning actor, Martin Landau.
- Executive Producer of Robert Schimmel's fourth comedy CD, "Reserection".
- Has written and/or produced numerous comedy specials for HBO, Showtime, Comedy Central, and first-run syndicated television.
- Sold a Cold War spy thriller, "Archangel," while attending law school. The buyer was the Phoenix Entertainment Group, run by Gerry Abrams, the father of J.J. Abrams.
- Since 2007, has been teaching his own, original curriculum on Screenwriting and the How Writers Can Navigate the Entertainment Industry in cities throughout the USA, while also guest lecturing at colleges, universities, and special events, such as the L.A. Screenwriting Expo.
- Attended the Phoenix Police Academy as a recruit, but withdrew voluntarily to complete undergraduate degree at ASU.
- On four separate occasions, performed with his brother, Robert Schimmel, as a comedy team. The venues included the Melrose Improv and Comedy Store in Los Angeles.
- During a production delay on a WB series, presented an in-depth, impromptu analysis of the 1988 Tom Cruise film "Cocktail" to all staff in attendance. The critique of the movie ran longer than the actual film's 1 hour and 43 minute running time.
- Prior to joining the Writers Guild of America, West, wrote one-act plays and magazine articles using the pseudonyms "Lex Petronia" and "Dabney P. Masudo".
- Worked part-time during law school for Larry Flynt's "Chic" and "Hustler" magazines, writing fake letters to the Editor.
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