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.
Marshall Brickman, the Oscar-winning screenwriter known for his collaboration with Woody Allen on 'Annie Hall,' has passed away at 85. Brickman, who also worked on films like 'Sleeper' and 'Manhattan,' was a former head writer for 'The Tonight Show' and co-wrote the Tony-nominated 'Jersey Boys.' He was a versatile talent, contributing to both film and stage, and remained a lifelong friend of Allen. Brickman is survived by his wife, two daughters, and five grandchildren.
Hanif Kureishi, a renowned novelist and screenwriter, continues to produce creative work despite being paralyzed from a fall in 2022. His recent memoir, 'Shattered,' details his experiences, while his adaptation of 'The Buddha of Suburbia' for the stage has been well-received. Kureishi's work, including his groundbreaking screenplay 'My Beautiful Laundrette' and controversial novel 'Intimacy,' explores themes of multiculturalism and identity. His memoir 'My Ear at His Heart' and various short stories and essays offer further insight into his literary contributions.
Ryan Reynolds, star and screenwriter of 'Deadpool & Wolverine,' shared his favorite line from the film, highlighting a powerful scene where Wolverine delivers a speech to Deadpool. Reynolds was honored at the Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards for his screenwriting, alongside other winners like Jon Batiste for best original score and Kelsey Mann for best animation. The event celebrated various achievements in filmmaking, with Reynolds expressing pride in the collaborative effort behind the movie's success.
The article argues that the decline in Hollywood's box office success is due to underwritten films lacking depth and emotional payoff. It highlights the success of well-written movies like Barbie and Oppenheimer, suggesting that audiences crave intelligent and literate scripts. The author reminisces about past films with rich dialogue and complex characters, advocating for a return to challenging and thoughtful screenwriting to revive the movie industry.
The 2024 Writers Guild of America (WGA) Awards celebrated the best screenwriting of 2023, with "The Holdovers" winning the Original Screenplay award and "American Fiction" winning for Adapted Screenplay. TV series "Succession" and "The Bear" took home awards for Drama Series and Comedy Series, respectively. The event marked a return to normalcy in the awards calendar after last year's strikes, and honored the impact of screenwriting on film and television.
Screenwriter Simon Stephenson has accused the Oscar-nominated film "The Holdovers" of being plagiarized line-by-line from his decade-old screenplay "Frisco," just a day before the Oscars. He alleges that director Alexander Payne likely read his script in 2013 and again in 2019 before approaching the writer of "The Holdovers." Despite the film's five Oscar nominations, including Best Original Screenplay, Stephenson has made bombshell allegations to the Writer’s Guild of America, and a lawsuit is being considered as the most viable option. Payne and Stephenson declined to comment on the accusations.
The day before the 96th Academy Awards, screenwriter Simon Stephenson accuses Best Picture nominee "The Holdovers" of being "plagiarized line-by-line" from his decade-old screenplay "Frisco," which was never made into a film. Stephenson claims that director Alexander Payne likely read the "Frisco" script when it was part of "The Black List" in 2013, and he has detailed numerous ways in which "The Holdovers" allegedly plagiarizes his work. The Writer's Guild of America is reportedly considering the issue, and Stephenson has been referred to a law firm as a potential next step.
Screenwriter Simon Stephenson alleges that the Oscar-nominated screenplay for "The Holdovers" is extremely similar to his own 2013 Black List spec script, "Frisco," and suggests that director Alexander Payne likely read his script. The credited screenwriter for "The Holdovers," David Hemingson, has a background in TV writing and producing. Stephenson's script, "Frisco," had been submitted before Payne began work on "The Holdovers," and there is a paper trail of emails suggesting Payne was aware of it. The WGA has been contacted about the claim, and Payne has stated that he was involved in shaping the "Holdovers" script despite not taking a screen credit.
The nominees for the 2024 Writers Guild of America Awards have been announced, featuring a diverse range of screenplays, television series, and new media content. Notable nominations include "Barbie," "The Holdovers," "May December," "Past Lives," "American Fiction," "Killers of the Flower Moon," and "Oppenheimer" for original screenplay, as well as "The Crown," "The Last of Us," and "Succession" for drama series. The awards, taking place in April, are expected to influence final Oscar voting and Emmy campaigns.
