David Geffen Gives $100 Million to Fund UCLA College-Prep School
Entertainment mogul David Geffen has given another $100 million to the University of California, Los Angeles, to fund a college-prep school on campus. (WSJ)
Writers Guild of America Names ‘Annie Hall’ The Funniest Screenplay Of All Time
The Writers Guild of America has put together a list of 101 features they consider to be the best comedies the movie business has ever offered. The awards for the 101 funniest screenplays were announced at Hollywood’s Arclight Cinema Dome. (IW)
Spike Scraps Jerry Bruckheimer Drama Series ‘Harvest’
The Viacom-owned cable network has reversed course on its Jerry Bruckheimer drama Harvest, opting to cancel the series after problems casting the lead. (THR)
The ‘Van Helsing’ Reboot Finds New Writers
Screenwriters Jon Spaihts (Passengers, Prometheus) and Eric Heisserer (The Thing prequel) have signed on to pen the Van Helsing reboot for Universal. (SF)
ABC Buys ‘Work Married’ Comedy From ‘Wet Hot American Summer’ Co-Creator
ABC has put in development Work Married, a multi-camera comedy from Wet Hot American Summer co-creator/star Michael Showalter and Warner Bros TV. (DH)
Zoe Kazan To Star In Lena Dunham’s HBO Pilot ‘Max’, Replacing Lisa Joyce
Zoe Kazan will star in the HBO pilot as Maxine Woodruff, a low-level magazine writer who stumbles into a fight for women’s rights that neither she nor the world may be prepared for. (EW)
Making of ‘Peanuts Movie': How Blue Sky Studios Won Over the Schulz Family
The first seed for The Peanuts Movie, which debuted to a strong $44.3 million debut this past weekend, was unknowingly planted seven years ago with a CG reel that showcased the Peanuts backgrounds and characters. (THR)
Guy Takes Out Full-Page Ad To Pitch His ‘Die Hard’ Story Idea
One man has an idea he thinks can save the Die Hard prequel and bring the franchise back to basics. Eric D. Wilkinson, producer and writer of indie films like Sparks and Mischief Night, made his pitch for Die Hard Year One known by taking out a full-page ad in The Hollywood Reporter. (COLL)
Screenwriters: The Art Of The Rewrite
Writer/filmmaker Carol Phiniotis discusses the art of rewriting. Some modifications include: replacing contrived moments, trimming in strategic places, fleshing out character, maximizing scene transitions, and making the generic specific. (SM)