articles, news, and resources for working and aspiring screenwriters
The Writer:
Marti Noxon is one of the most powerful women in Hollywood. She has written for such acclaimed television series as Grey’s Anatomy, Mad Men, Glee, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She’s also the writer behind the recent flicks Fright Night and I Am Number Four. IMDB has listed her among the Top 20 Writers of the Past 20 Years — one of only four women on the list.
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The Writer:
James Cameron is the Canadian creative force behind some of the biggest blockbusters of the last three decades. Known for his strong female characters, his spell-binding sci-fi adventures, and (of course) Titanic, two of Cameron’s films have held the title of highest grossing film of all time (Titanic and Avatar). Cameron once said that his five favorite films are The Wizard of Oz, Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Godfather, and Taxi Driver.
The Writer:
Few writers have a style quite as distinctive as Quentin Tarantino. He’s eccentric to be sure, but also a film genius. He’s the writer/director behind such classics as Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, and Kill Bill. His current project, Django Unchained, was one of the top scripts on the 2011 Black List.
A bit of trivia about Tarantino films: Every feature film he’s written features a scene in which at least three characters are all pointing their guns at each other.
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The Writer:
London-born Christopher Nolan is responsible for some of the best action-packed, mind-bending films of the last decade. A writer/director currently at the top of his game, Nolan is the creative force behind the latest Batman installments, Inception, and Memento. He’s the writer that aspiring screenwriters most desire to emulate, and the one one writer that they shouldn’t attempt to.
According to IMDB, Nolan’s favorite films are 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), The Black Hole (1979), Blade Runner (1982), Chinatown (1974), The Hitcher(1986), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969), Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), The Man Who Would Be King (1975) and Topkapi (1964), as well as anything by Stanley Kubrick.
The Writer:
Michael Mann is another one of those Hollywood triple threats: a writer, director, producer. Mann is the creative force behind such great films as Public Enemies, Heat, and The Last of the Mohicans. Favorite subjects of Mann include lone wolf heroes, criminals, and the great city of Chicago.
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The Writers:
Along with Howard Koch, Julius & Philip Epstein were the writers behind Casablanca. Born in New York in 1909, the twin brothers were under contract at Warner Brothers at the time. They started their writing careers separately, then decided to team up in 1939. Producers who wanted “the Epstein flair” added to a script were known to shout what became a common phrase in Hollywood: “Get me the Epsteins!”
The brothers turned in their draft of Casablanca (based on the never produced play Everybody Comes to Rick’s) three days before production started — the famous ending wasn’t settled until the end of the production.
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The Writer:
Paddy Chayefsky is one of those names that every writer should know. A top writer from the early days of television, late in his career Chayefsky scribed the cynical masterpiece, Network. Other highlights from his illustrious career include Marty and his work on Goodyear Playhouse. He remains the only person to hold three individual Academy Awards for writing — other writers who have won three all wrote with partners (Billy Wilder, Francis Ford Coppola. and Charles Brackett).
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The Writer:
By Hollywood standards Dustin Lance Black is still a very young writer, and yet he has already picked up an Oscar, found major success in film and television, and made his name as a screenwriting powerhouse. Most recently Black penned the script for J. Edgar, and a few years back he won the Academy Award for Milk. Aside from his writing pursuits, Black is also on the board of directors for the Trevor Project, a national crisis and suicide prevention organization that helps LGBT and Questioning young people who are facing familial rejection or considering suicide.
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The Writer:
John Logan may not be a name that you know, but you should. With a background as a playwright, Logan made the switch to the silver screen with his first spec script, Any Given Sunday. Most recently, Logan penned the script adaptation for Hugo. He’s also responsible for such films as Gladiator, The Aviator, and Rango. His eclectic credits all have one thing in common: great writing. Logan has been nominated for two Oscars, an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and has won a Tony.
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The Writer:
Nora Ephron is the undisputed queen of the romantic comedy. Often writing in teams, Ephron has earned an Oscar nod and a place in film history for her script When Harry Met Sally. Other classics she has turned out include You’ve Got Mail, Julie & Julia, and Sleepless in Seattle. Beyond her screenwriting achievements, Ephron has also directed, produced, published a novel, and a book of essays.
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