All articles tagged with #screenwriting
Victor Miller, the screenwriter who crafted the original 1980 horror film Friday the 13th, has died at age 86 in Alameda, California. His son Ian confirmed the passing and announced a memorial event for November. Miller’s work established the iconic Jason Voorhees character and influenced the slasher genre, while his television career earned him three Daytime Emmy Awards.
Victor Miller, the screenwriter behind the 1980 horror classic 'Friday the 13th,' has died at age 86. His son confirmed the news, noting that Miller passed away in Alameda, California. Miller’s work established key tropes for the slasher genre, including the isolated summer camp setting and the concept of a pre-deceased killer. Although he did not write the numerous sequels, his legacy continues through the upcoming A24 prequel series 'Crystal Lake.' Miller also had a long career in daytime television, winning multiple Daytime Emmy Awards for his work on soap operas like 'All My Children.'
David Wain and Ken Marino revealed at Sundance that they draft a feature in seven days by writing from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for a full week with no concept at start, aiming roughly at 20 pages per day; after the sprint they step away for a rewrite phase that can stretch weeks or years, a method they’ve used on three films including The Ten and Wanderlust.
Profile of David Koepp, the prolific screenwriter behind Jurassic Park, Mission: Impossible, Panic Room, and more, detailing his collaboration with Steven Spielberg, his iterative drafting process, and his ongoing drive to experiment across genres while sustaining blockbuster success.
Seth Rogen told Brut at Cannes that anyone thinking of using AI to write a script shouldn’t be a writer, arguing that such shortcuts abandon the craft of writing. He also stressed that he loves the writing process and wouldn’t want a tool that makes him write less. The remarks come amid Hollywood’s tightening AI-related rules, including Academy policy updates affecting acting performances and Oscar eligibility.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced new eligibility rules: acting roles must be human-credited and performed with consent, and screenplays must be human-authored to be eligible, effectively excluding AI-generated performances and AI-written scripts from acting and writing categories. AI can still be used in productions, but those works won't be eligible for Oscars in these categories. The rules for other categories like visual effects, costumes, or music remain undecided. The changes also allow actors to be nominated for multiple performances in the same category, and international films will be credited as nominees rather than by country.
The Academy announced new AI-use rules for Oscar-qualifying films, starting with the 2027 ceremony: scripts must be written entirely by living humans, with the organization reserving the right to inquire about AI usage; acting categories require human-performed roles with consent; other updates include campaign rules, international feature eligibility changes, and the possibility of multiple nominations in the same category, reflecting ongoing vigilance as AI tech evolves.
Stephen Colbert will co-write a new Lord of the Rings film for Warner Bros., teaming with his son Peter McGee and Philippa Boyens on The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past. The story follows Sam, Merry and Pippin fourteen years after Frodo’s death as they retrace the original journey, while Sam’s daughter Elanor uncovers a long-buried secret. Colbert, a longtime LOTR fan, will begin after The Late Show ends; the project is part of a two-film slate that includes The Hunt for Gollum (2027) directed by Andy Serkis, with Gandalf and Frodo reportedly teased for returns but not officially announced.
At the 2026 WGA Awards, One Battle After Another won Adapted Screenplay and Sinners won Original Screenplay, as New York hosted the East Coast ceremony with Roy Wood Jr. presenting; the event served as one of the last major precursors before the Oscars, with Adapted nominations closely mirroring the Academy Awards and Original overlap limited to two titles. The WGA West ceremony was canceled due to a strike, and honorary awards were given to Stephen Colbert, Terry George, and Diana Son, with a full slate of winners and nominees across drama, comedy, animation, and documentary categories.
The article covers a roundtable discussion with filmmakers like Bradley Cooper and Guillermo del Toro, focusing on their craft of writing, especially how they use dialogue as musical and therapeutic tools to explore trauma and grief in their Oscar-contending films. They share insights into their creative processes, challenges of writing, and how personal experiences influence their storytelling.
Eric Pearson, a key Marvel screenwriter known for films like Thor: Ragnarok and Black Widow, shares his 15-year journey from grunt work to becoming a vital creative force at Marvel, highlighting his collaborative process, memorable moments on set, and insights into his work on projects like Fantastic Four and other major franchises.
The article discusses the impact of AI on Hollywood's screenwriting industry, highlighting concerns from writers like Billy Ray about AI as an existential threat that could erode storytelling and jobs, despite some industry optimism about AI supporting creative processes. It covers recent industry debates, legal gray zones, and the potential for AI to change the nature of storytelling and authorship, with some experts warning of chaos and diminished human creativity.
The 2024 Black List, an annual ranking of the most liked unproduced scripts in Hollywood, features diverse and intriguing stories such as "Tickle-Me-Elmo," about the toy that saved Sesame Street, and "Little Black Dress," imagining Audrey Hepburn as a Nazi hunter. Travis Braun tops the list for the second consecutive year with "One Night Only," a story about a night when premarital sex is legal. The Black List, known for highlighting future award-winning films, showcases a variety of genres and styles, reflecting the industry's creative potential.
Travis Braun's screenplay 'One Night Only' tops the 2024 Black List, marking the first time a writer has led the list two consecutive years. The Black List, a survey of the most liked unproduced screenplays, features 83 screenplays from 91 writers this year. Braun's 'One Night Only' received 60 mentions, following his previous success with 'Bad Boy' in 2023. The list highlights diverse themes, including corporate politics, relationship dynamics, and survival scenarios, and is compiled by over 500 film executives. The Black List has a history of producing successful films, including several Oscar winners.
Marshall Brickman, the Oscar-winning co-screenwriter of 'Annie Hall' alongside Woody Allen, has died at 85 in Manhattan. Known for his collaborations with Allen on films like 'Sleeper' and 'Manhattan,' Brickman also co-wrote Broadway musicals such as 'Jersey Boys' and 'The Addams Family.' His career began in television, writing for 'Candid Camera' and 'The Tonight Show.' Brickman was honored by the Writers Guild in 2006 and is survived by his wife, two daughters, and five grandchildren.