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PEN DENSHAM
I return to my favorite subject -- writing, and this program is certain to provide a very honest and revealing look at the craft, art, technique, and personal courage it takes to be a modern screenwriter.
My guest today is Pen Densham, writer, producer, director - whose work I have a tremendous respect and admiration for, and who has authored one of the finest books on the subject of writing for films I have ever had the pleasure to read.
“Riding the Alligator” is a deep and personal journeying into the heart of an artist whose passion for writing can be felt on every page. It’s a thought provoking, inspirational, and practical guide for both the established and aspiring screenwriter, beginning with where to get great story ideas all the way through to when you know you are done with the script. It is filled with a great deal of wisdom of how to handle the ‘alligator’ of the motion picture business in addition to motivational gems of how to trust your creative instincts and maintain your sanity.
In 1985, Densham, John Watson and Richard Barton Lewis formed Trilogy Entertainment Group, and the trio produced the hit films "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" with Kevin Costner (also writing the script), and "Backdraft", directed by Ron Howard. They were also employed as creative consultants on films such as “Rocky II”, and “Footloose”. Pen brought back the anthology sci-fi series “The Outer Limits” in 1995 on Showtime and “The Twilight Zone” series on UPN in 2003, and served as Executive Producer on both. He wrote and directed “Moll Flanders”, starring Robin Wright and Morgan Freeman and TNT’s “Houdini”. He also serves an adjunct professor at USC in Los Angeles.
