Thirty years ago Carl Gottlieb wrote what is thought of as the world's first blockbuster, Jaws. How did the film, based on the novel by Peter Benchley, become such a hit?

Nick Ward will pick Gottlieb's brain about the Jaws phenomenon during this special Script to Screen Writer's Room, in assoiciation with the New Zealand Writers' Guild, on Tuesday November 11 at The Basement in Auckland.Thirty years ago Carl Gottlieb wrote what is thought of as the world's first blockbuster, Jaws. How did the film, based on the novel by Peter Benchley, become such a hit?

Nick Ward will pick Gottlieb's brain about the Jaws phenomenon during this special Script to Screen Writer's Room, in assoiciation with the New Zealand Writers' Guild, on Tuesday November 11 at The Basement in Auckland.Gottlieb is a screenwriter, director, producer and actor. Best known for Jaws and The Jerk, he has won and been nominated for screenwriting awards in both comedy and drama throughout his career. Gottlieb is also a key figure in the American Writers Guild.

Gottlieb was brought on to script the screenplay for Jaws by Director, Stephen Spielberg, and he also had a supporting role onscreen. This was the first film to be simultaneously released on hundreds of screens across the US - a strategy that paid off when it became the first film to net more than $100 million at the box office.

The opening scene of Jaws has been voted one of the most terrifying of all time and the film had such an impact on its audiences that it was thought to be responsible for keeping away from the beaches the summer it was released.

Gottlieb is the past Vice President of the Writers Guild of America - West and can offer an insight into the reality of life as a Hollywood Scriptwriter.

Jaws scared those with the steeliest nerves and has since been labelled the first "high concept film". Was this a case of film tapping deep, primal, archetypal fears?

Chewing the Fat with Carl Gottlieb

Script to Screen Special Writers Room
In Association with the New Zealand Writers' Guild

When: Tuesday the 11th of November
Where: The Basement, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland
Drinks at 5.30 and a 6pm start
$5 donation at the door

Stephen Cleary on the Writer/Producer Relationship

In Association with SPADA

Stephen Cleary, Creative Producer and internationally renowned Development Consultant and founder of Arista, an organisation dedicated to teaching script development, will join us at the 2008 SPADA conference for a Script to Screen event.

Hot on the heels of Cleary's two day Business of Development Summit, Shuchi Kothari (Apron Strings, Firaaq) will talk to him about how writers can forge relationships with producers and how these relationships can best benefit, rather than stifle, a script's development.

In the usual style of Script to Screen this event is open to the public but numbers are limited so please RSVP if you want to attend.

When: Thursday the 20th of November at 3pm
Where: Skycity Auckland Convention Centre, Marlborough Rooms 1 & 2
Federal Street, Auckland City
RSVP: info@script-to-screen.co.nz

For more info on the Stephen Cleary Business of Development Summitt visit SPADA

Script to Screen's end of year Quiz Night

Film geeks come hither to celebrate

Nick Ward and Kathryn Burnett will lead us in an uproarious night of quizzing with loads of spot prizes to be won and Stella Artois to be drunk...So gather together your team of up to six or come along to join one of our Writer's Room teams.

Tuesday 25th of November, The Classic, 7.30pm

Script to Screen is an independent, industry-wide initiative, established to develop the culture of screenwriting in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Script to Screen's programme of talks and workshops provide opportunities for both established and emerging screenwriters to meet, share knowledge, and develop their craft.

The Writer's Room is made possible through the generous support of Creative Communities NZ Auckland City, ASB Communities Trust and Stella Artois.

Script to Screen is supported by funding from the New Zealand Film Commission.

See previous transcripts from the Script to Screen Writer's Room

11/11/08

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