Award-winning screenwriters Larry Karaszewski of South Bend and Jim Jennewein and Stephen Susco, both graduates of the University of Notre Dame, will show clips of their works and discuss the art of screen writing at 7:30p.m. Sept. 21 (Friday) in the Browning Cinema of the University’s DeBartolo Center for the Performing Arts.
The “Screenwriters Showcase,” sponsored by the Notre Dame Alumni Association’s iNDustry Alliance and the University’s Department of Film, Television, and Theatre, is a free, but ticketed event open to the public. Contact the DeBartolo Center ticket office at 574-631-2800.
“It’s amazing to know there are so many alumni currently working in the entertainment and media fields,” said Ted Mandell, who teaches film and video production at Notre Dame. “The `Screenwriters Showcase’ is a wonderful synergy of talented writers and a tremendous opportunity for our students to learn from some of the best in the business.”
Karaszewski and his writing partner Scott Alexander wrote the Academy Award-winning film “Ed Wood,” for which they also were nominated for best screenplay by the Writers Guild of America. “The People Vs. Larry Flynt” earned them the Golden Globe for best screenplay, as well as a special Writers Guild Award in recognition of work done for civil rights and liberties. They collaborated again on “Man on the Moon,” a biopic about the legendary comic genius Andy Kaufman, for which Jim Carrey received the Golden Globe for best actor.
Now in his 17th year as a Hollywood screenwriter, Jennewein has co-written and sold 20 motion picture screenplays to all of the major studios and has worked with numerous producers and directors, including Steven Spielberg, Joel Silver and animator Chuck Jones. His credits include “The Flintstones,” “Richie Rich,” “Major League II,” “Getting Even with Dad” and “Stay Tuned.” His first novel a comedy-adventure for young adults will be published in September 2008 by Harper-Collins. He was graduated from Notre Dame in 1977.
Susco, a 1995 graduate and a working screenwriter since 1996, has written and sold more than 30 scripts and pitches to the major studios. His first produced film, “The Grudge,” which was made for less than $10 million, grossed more than $100 million domestically and nearly $300 million worldwide and on video. He also penned “The Grudge 2,” released last year. Recently, he completed work on the science-fiction epic “The Forge of God,” for Warner Bros. and “Crawlspace,” a horror/thriller, for Paramount Pictures.
The iNDustry Alliance connects Notre Dame alumni in the media and entertainment industries to support networking opportunities and career development for professionals, and provides mentoring for current Notre Dame students.
*Contact: * Ted Mandell, 574-631-6953, tmandell@nd.edu , or Marc Burdell, Alumni Association, mburdell@nd.edu
Originally published by at newsinfo.nd.edu on September 14, 2007.