Mentors


	WFP fellows are paired with mentors who provide advice throughout the year.



	SCREENWRITING MENTORS

	This year’s mentors include Steve Zaillian (Gangs of New York), Tom Schulman (Dead Poets Society), Scott Alexander & Larry Karazewski (People Vs.Larry Flynt), Wesley Strick (Cape Fear), Robin Swicord (Matilda), Sam Harper (Cheaper By The Dozen), and Larry Levin (Dr. Dolitlle). The following is a partial list of professional screenwriters who have participated as mentors for The Writer´s Film Project:

	David Koepp (Spider-Man) Stephen Gaghan (Traffic) David Arata ((Spy Game) Nicholas Kazan (Enough) Scott Frank (Get Shorty, Minority Report) Scott Alexander & Larry Karazewski (People Vs. Larry Flynt) Ed Solomon (Men In Black) Peter Iliff (Patriot Games) Barbara Benedek (Big Chill, Men Don't Leave) Pen Densham (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves) Don Roos (Opposite of Sex) Wesley Strick (Cape Fear, Arachnophobia) Robin Swicord (Little Women) Michael Berry (Blue Streak) Andy Walker (Sleepy Hollow, Seven) Roger Towne (The Natural) Tom Benedek (Cocoon) E. Max Frye (SomethingWild) Julian Barry (Lenny) John Romano (The Third Miracle) Michael Bortman (The Good Mother) Tony Bill (Five Corners) Randy Jahnson (Mask of Zorro, The Doors) Tony Drazen (Zebrahead) Deanna Oliver (Casper)



	EXECUTIVE MENTORS



	Fellows are paired with Paramount Pictures executive mentors, who provide an industry perspective on the development process and offer a rare opportunity for new writers to gain experience and build contacts within the industry. This year’s mentors are Dede Gardner (Senior Vice President, Production); Chip Diggins (Senior Vice President, Production), Tom Boland (Vice President, Creative Affairs), Brad Kessell (Vice President, Creative Affairs). Past mentors have ranged from Story Editors to Executive Vice Presidents. Many of these executives have since moved from their original posts to other positions throughout the industry. They include:

		Jonathan Zimbert, President, Morgan Creek Productions Hal Lieberman, President of Production, Universal Pictures Jim Jacks, Producer, The Sean Daniels Company Debra Newmeyer, President, Arnold Kopelson Productions Jason Hoffs, Vice President, DreamWorks SKG Julie Becket, Creative Executive Walt Disney Pictures Lenny Kornberg, Vice President, Universal Pictures Doug Wood, VP Animation, Turner Pictures Cary Granat, President of Production, Dimension Films

	MENTOR COMMENTS ON THIS YEAR’S FELLOWS

	Ed Solomon (“Men In Black”): “This is a real writer. I think he’s extremely talented and I’m really happy that he wants to write movies.” Stephen Gaghan (“Traffic”): “Here’s a voice. This is a real page-turner. I picked it up thinking I would just read a few pages and found that I couldn’t put it down. The writer has a real sense of how to craft a narrative and move the exposition along. I can easily see him having a writing career.” Nicholas Kazan (“Reversal of Fortune”): “This is a very talented and accomplished writer. He is a gifted writer whose work exhibits precision and style. He could definitely write screenplays as a professional career.” Wesley Strick (“Cape Fear”) “The writing in both scripts is exceptional. The world is vivid and densely imagined. I’ve read many scripts for other programs (Sundance) and would put this among the very top.” Peter Iliff (“Varsity Blues”) “I was just knocked out by this script. I couldn’t put it down. The pacing, the characters, the plot twists are all exceptionally well done. This is very accomplished work.”

	Please contact Chesterfield with questions or comments.