Screenplays & Screenwriting

Producer Jeff Apple and writer Jeff Maguire. Their latest project is the new film, "In the Line of Fire," starring Clint Eastwood as a burnt-out Secret Service agent, haunted by the assassination of President Kennedy. Apple has produced hundreds of TV commercials as well as documentaries and promotional films. He came up with the idea for the film, and approached Maguire to write the film script.

Hall has been an actor, a private detective and a screenwriter -- he wrote the horror movie C.H.U.D. Now he is a novelist, writing mysteries featuring Stanley Hastings, a failed actor turned detective.

Price wrote and produced the new movie "Mad Dog and Glory," which stars Robert Deniro, Bill Murray and Uma Thurman. His most recent novel is the best seller, "Clockers." Christopher Lehmann-Haupt of The New York Times wrote "the signal achievement of "Clockers' is to make us feel the enormous power of these giants that are drugs, alcoholism, poverty." Price also wrote the screenplays for "The Color of Money," "Sea of Love," and Martin Scorcese's section of "New York Stories."

Ramis is one of the most influential forces behind some of the biggest comedy hits of the late 70s and 80s. But his influence is not generally known by those outside the industry. Ramis wrote for "The National Lampoon Show," and "SCTV." He co-wrote as well as acted in the movies, "Animal House," "Stripes," "Ghostbusters," and others. He directed the new movie, "Groundhog Day," starring Bill Murray.

Author Aljean Harmetz's new book, Round Up the Usual Suspects, tells the inside story of the making of the film Casablanca. Harmetz is also the author of The Making of the Wizard of Oz. She was the Hollywood film correspondent for The New York Times for 12 years, and is now a contributing editor for Esquire.

Bergman is responsible for the new hit "Honeymoon in Vegas," starring Nicholas Cage, James Caan and Sarah Jessica Parker. He also wrote and directed "The Freshman," and has a long list of screenwriting credits, including "Blazing Saddles," "Fletch," "The In-Laws," and "Soapdish," to name a few.

DiCillo's new film is a strange comedy about a untalented musician and housepainter with a ridiculously high pompadour, and a love for Ricky Nelson. Docillo created the character for a one-man show he performed in New York. Before that, he was cinematographer for two of Jim Jarmusch's early films, "Stranger Than Paradise," and "Permanent Vacation."

We talk with the new crime movie's director Carl Franklin's and screenwriter Billy Bob Thornton. "One False Move"is a low-budget movie about a drug deal gone bad, a brutal murder, and the dealers' flight from the police. Despite playing in only a few cities, it's getting critical acclaim.

Film Director Katt Shea (Cat Shay). She's an alumna of the Roger Corman film factory. And has a new film out "Poison Ivy," about a sexy manipulative teenager who insinuates herself into the lives of a rich, dysfunctional L.A. family and wreaks havoc. Shea co-wrote the screenplay along with the film's producer, Andy Ruben who Terry also interviews. Reviews of the film have varied from "laughingly bad," to "brilliant and powerfully disturbing."

Novelist and screenwriter Richard Price. His screenwriting credits include "The Color of Money," "Sea of Love," and Martin Scorsese's section of "New York Stories." He's returned to novel writing with "Clockers," a murder mystery set in the world of a crack dealer in New Jersey. Christopher Lehmann-Haupt of The New York Times writes "the signal achievement of "Clockers' is to make us feel the enormous power of these giants that are drugs, alcoholism, poverty." (published by Houghton Mifflin).

Michael Tolkin, who wrote the novel and screenplay for the new Robert Altman movie, "The Player" (Fine Line Features, opening wide tomorrow), gives a screenwriter's take on the way Hollywood works -- or doesn't. Tolkin also wrote, directed and produced the film, "The Rapture," now available on home video.

Writer and Director Ron Shelton. His latest movie is a movie about basketball, "White Men Can't Jump," starring Woody Harrelson, Wesley Snipes, and Rosie Perez. SHELTON is a former professional baseball player. He also was writer and director of the films, "Blaze," and "Bull Durham." (Interview by Amy Salit)

Filmmaker and screenwriter James Toback. Toback wrote the script for Warren Beatty's new gangster movie, "Bugsy." His previous films include "The Pickup Artist" and "The Big Bang."

Novelist and screenwriter Michael Tolkin. He's just directed his first film, "The Rapture," based on his own screenplay about a woman's search for faith. Tolkin's novel, "The Player" will soon come out as a movie, directed by Robert Altman.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews the new movie by Joel and Ethan Coen, "Barton Fink," starring John Turturro and John Goodman.

Screenwriter and novelist Bruce Wagner. He wrote the screenplays for "Nightmare on Elm Street 3," and "Scenes from The Class Struggle in Beverly Hills." He's just come out with his first novel, a black comedy, "Force Majeure." It's a collection of his "Bud Wiggins" stories. Wiggins is a struggling screenwriter, actor, and some time chauffeur who is "circling the drain." (published by Random House). (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)

Comedian and filmmaker Mel Brooks. Brooks has made some of the funniest films in movie history, including "The Producers," "Young Frankenstein," and "Blazing Saddles." In his new movie, "Life Stinks," Brooks plays a billionaire who accepts a wager to spend a month living on the street.

Cooper wrote the screenplay for the new movie, "New Jack City," and coined the term, "new jack swing," that inspired the movie's title. Cooper's reporting appears in The Village Voice and Spin.

Kazan wrote the screenplay for the new movie "Reversal of Fortune." He also wrote the screenplays for "Patty Hearst" and "At Close Range."

Fisher wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation of her novel, Postcards From the Edge, directed by Mike Nichols, and starring Meryl Streep and Shirley McLaine. Best known for her role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars trilogy, Fisher also has a new novel called, Surrender the Pink. She is the daughter of Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher.