5 Screenwriters You Need to Know: Part IV

By Jameson Brown · December 28, 2014

Welcome to Part IV of Screenwriters You Need to Know. This round we are including screenwriters from across the board, and ones who you probably don’t know too well. Some are large scale, commercial screenwriters; while others are making their name with some solid screenwriting. Either way, these writers deserve their glory. So, let’s begin.

Photo: Miramax

5. Roger Avery

Avery is a silent killer of a talent. He is known for his expertise in creating well structured stories that have multiple connecting pieces. Tarantino does deserve the majority of recognition for Pulp Fiction (the dialogue especially), but Avery penned the Butch story (the pulpiest of them all), which was by far the most creative of the stories featured in the film.

4. James Gunn

Gunn is an all out wacky guy. But a talented one. His portfolio has a wide range, from Slither to Dawn of the Dead to Guardians of the Galaxy. In each of these screenplays Gunn successfully hones in on the human aspects of each relationship and brings them front and center. That’s his bread and butter. Then, he injects his brand of zany, playful comedy into these characters and relationships and we are left with a mosh pit of good development.

3. Linda Woolverton

A veteran screenwriter (to say the least), Linda Woolverton gave us The Lion King and is ramping up her writing again with Maleficent and Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass. I will defend Maleficent because the screenplay is decent. In fact, the alterations are creative; the only problem I have with the story is the fairy godmothers were dumbed down to be idiots (real Three Stooges humor) to help elevate the new story and relationship between Aurora and Maleficent. But, on a whole it was well thought out and well written. Awesome work, Linda.

2. Wes Anderson

Another longtime talent, Anderson has the most unique writing (and directing) style around. Like a much more comedic version of Sorkin, Anderson’s dialogue is fast-paced, shifty and hilarious. His characters have amazing backstories with characteristics that always form into the root of the problems at hand. Anderson’s newest work is The Grand Budapest Hotel which we have a [big] hunch will be getting an Oscar nod soon.

1. Jennifer Kent

Jennifer Kent actually started out on the acting train, but has since made a huge impression with her film The Babadook, an articulate psychological thriller that scares via realism (vs. setups). We don’t know what she has coming up next, but we are excited to now be following her and her creative work.