38-600: Burton Raphael Kennedy (September 3, 1922 – February 15, 2001) was an American screenwriter and director known mainly for directing Westerns . Budd Boetticher called him "the best Western writer ever." Kennedy was born in 1922 in Muskegon, Michigan . His parents were dancers in vaudeville and he joined their act, the Dancing Kennedys, when he was 4 years old. They moved to Michigan, where Kennedy attended high school. He graduated school in 1941 and enlisted in
76-674: A film studio , production company , TV network, or producer, they often have to continue networking, mainly with directors or executives, and push to have their projects "chosen" and turned into films or TV shows. If interest in a script begins to fade, a project can go dead. The International Affiliation of Writers Guilds (IAWG) is the international federation of screenwriters' and playwrights' unions, who recognize union membership across international borders. They have 14 different affiliates across various nations who collectively work to verify original authorship, fight for fair compensation, and enforce copyright. Most professional screenwriters in
114-516: A Mexican, which John Wayne read and tried to get financed as a vehicle for Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez through Wayne's Batjac Productions . Although the TV program was never produced, it led Kennedy to write Seven Men from Now (1956) for Batjac. It was written for Wayne, but having just completed John Ford 's The Searchers , he wanted to take a break from Westerns, so it was made with Randolph Scott ; Wayne later expressed regret over having passed on
152-595: A contemporary thriller, All the Kind Strangers (1974). Kennedy started directing Drum (1976), but was replaced by producer Dino De Laurentiis with Steve Carver during the shoot. He directed The Killer Inside Me (1976), based on the Jim Thompson (writer) novel. His story provided the basis for Escape from the Dark (1976). Kennedy returned to television doing episodes of Big Hawaii , How
190-610: A feature with Donald Sutherland , The Trouble with Spies (shot 1984 released 1987), the TV movies Louis L'Amour's Down the Long Hills , The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory (1987), Once Upon a Texas Train (1988), Where the Hell's That Gold? (1989), and Big Bad John (1990). Kennedy's last credits as director were the Hulk Hogan comedy Suburban Commando (1991) and the TV movie Comanche (2000). He also worked on
228-409: A first draft. Multi-step deals, where the writer is signed on for more than the first draft (typically including a rewrite) can earn a screenwriter more, with experienced WGA members earning up to $ 5,000,000 for their work. Non-union screenwriters can also work for a salary, but will typically earn less than a unionized screenwriter. Pay can vary dramatically for a non-unionized screenwriter. Some of
266-631: A long time before you could be a success as an actor, but writing, no one could stop you from writing. You're never out of work if you're a writer, you could just sit down and write." Kennedy found work writing for radio in 1948. He began to specialise in Westerns , in part due to the advice of James Edward Grant , who told him, "Why compete with all the big writers when there are hardly any good Western writers as such?" Some good writers have written Westerns, but there were very few genuine Western writers in this town that were really good writers. He said that
304-648: A position to further a project. Once the script is sold, the writer has only the rights that were agreed with the purchaser. A screenwriter becomes credible by having work that is recognized, which gives the writer the opportunity to earn a higher income. As more films are produced independently (outside the studio system), many up-and-coming screenwriters are turning to pitch fests, screenplay contests, and independent development services to gain access to established and credible independent producers. Many development executives are now working independently to incubate their own pet projects. Screenwriters are rarely involved in
342-500: A raid years earlier. The Mounties promise justice, track, capture, and begin the week-long ride to a trial at court. During the week tables turn back and forth, backstories shared, some discussion about American gun culture and violence, and the woman is killed. Eventually the men are lured to what may be their lost horses but a stampede erupts and the Sioux manage to drive the white men over the cliff like buffaloes to their death. Without
380-439: A script to suit the desires of a director or studio . For instance, studio management may have a complaint that the motivations of the characters are unclear or that the dialogue is weak. Hollywood has shifted writers onto and off projects since its earliest days, and the assignment of credits is not always straightforward or complete, which poses a problem for film study. In his book Talking Pictures , Richard Corliss discussed
418-672: A shot fired and the deal maintained the Sioux remain in Canada while the Mounties return to their fort where the senior will finally retire. In response the North-West Mounted Police are formed, the forerunner to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police . The film was the directorial debut of Burt Kennedy, who had established himself by the late 1950s as one of the leading writers of Westerns. It
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#1732791921271456-532: A technical product, a brief " scenario ", "treatment", or "synopsis" that is a written synopsis of what is to be filmed. Screenwriting is a contracted freelance profession, not a hired position. No education is required to be a professional screenwriter, but good storytelling abilities and imagination give aspiring screenwriters an advantage. Many screenwriters start their careers doing speculative work ("work on spec"), practicing their screenwriting with no guaranteed financial compensation. If one of these scripts
494-461: Is put out about a project that a film studio , production company , or producer wants done, they are referred to as "open" assignments. Open assignments are more competitive. If screenwriters are competing for an open assignment, more established writers usually win the assignments. A screenwriter can also be approached and personally offered a writing assignment. Many screenwriters also work as full- or part-time script doctors , attempting to better
532-412: Is sold, it is called a spec script . Amateur screenwriters will often pursue this work as "writers in training," leading these spec scripts to often go uncredited or come from unknown screenwriters. Further separating professional and amateur screenwriters is that professionals are usually represented by a talent agency . These screenwriter-specific employment agencies work to handle the business side of
570-795: The Indian wars in the United States following Custer 's last stand at the Battle of the Little Bighorn . They are given permission to remain by the Canadian government represented by three Mounties . Indian-fighters from Montana searching for 40 stolen horses discover the Sioux settlement and mistakenly assume their horses are theirs. In the white men's surprise attack they murder many Indians, steal many horses, and kidnap an integrated white young woman recognized as having been kidnapped in
608-564: The Seven (1966), a sequel to The Magnificent Seven with Yul Brynner returning and Robert Fuller replacing Steve McQueen as Vin Tanner. Kennedy directed The War Wagon (1967) with John Wayne and Kirk Douglas and Welcome to Hard Times (1967) with Henry Fonda. His story formed the basis of Return of the Gunfighter (1967), though he did not direct it and he did some work on
646-617: The U.S. are unionized and are represented by the Writers Guild of America (WGA). Although membership in the WGA is recommended, it is not required of a screenwriter to join. The WGA is the final arbiter on awarding writing credit for projects under its jurisdiction. The WGA also looks upon and verifies film copyright materials. Other notable screenwriters' unions include the Writers' Guild of Great Britain , representing screenwriters in
684-574: The UK, and La Guilde Française des Scénaristes, representing screenwriters in France. Minimum salaries for union screenwriters in the US are set by the Writers Guild of America . The median compensation for a first draft from a first time screenwriter is $ 100,000, while the most experienced members have a median compensation of $ 450,000. The most experienced WGA members have reported up to $ 4,000,0000 compensation for
722-590: The West Was Won , The Rhinemann Exchange , and Concrete Cowboys . He also did the TV movies Kate Bliss and the Ticker Tape Kid (1978), The Wild Wild West Revisited (1979), and More Wild Wild West (1980). Kennedy wrote and directed Wolf Lake (1981) with Rod Steiger and directed more episodic television: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers , Magnum, P.I. , The Yellow Rose , Simon and Simon , Rowdies , and Snoops . He did
760-595: The Western The Canadians (1961) with Robert Ryan , which he also wrote, but it did poorly at the box office. He began directing episodic TV, including Lawman , The Virginian , and Combat! . Kennedy often wrote the episodes he directed, and he also served as a producer on Combat . He wrote but did not direct the Audie Murphy Western Six Black Horses (1962). Kennedy returned to features as director with
798-509: The Western comedy Mail Order Bride (1964) with Buddy Ebsen . He followed it with comedy Western The Rounders (1965), starring Glenn Ford and Henry Fonda , which Kennedy also wrote and produced. It was a sleeper hit and led to a TV series , for which Kennedy produced and directed some episodes. Kennedy directed a contemporary film The Money Trap (1966), starring Ford and Rita Hayworth , then returned to Westerns with Return of
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#1732791921271836-760: The army the following year. Kennedy was commissioned and saw World War II service in the 1st Cavalry Division during the Liberation of the Philippines as a first lieutenant. He received the Silver Star , Bronze Star , and Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster . Kennedy studied at the Pasadena Playhouse , where he did some acting. "I'd walk out on stage and it felt like I'd been there my whole life," he recalled, but he found acting unsatisfactory. "I could see that you could be around this town for
874-413: The competition was easier that way, and if you write a good Western, you're apt to go further faster. And it turned out, he was right. Because I never stopped, from 1953-54 up until the mid-'70s, I never stopped working at all." Kennedy used his training as a cavalry officer to secure a job as a fencing trainer and fencing stunt double in films. Kennedy wrote 13 episodes for a proposed TV series about
912-708: The film. It was directed by Budd Boetticher and was the first of what became known as the "Ranown Cycle". Also for Batjac, Kennedy wrote Gun the Man Down (1956) starring James Arness , and Man in the Vault (1956), a contemporary thriller. Both were directed by Andrew V. McLaglen . Kennedy also wrote The Tall T for Batjac, based on a story by Elmore Leonard . When Wayne broke up with his partner Robert Fellows , Fellows took The Tall T script and made it with Scott and Boetticher. Boetticher, Kennedy, and Scott were reteamed on Buchanan Rides Alone (1958). Kennedy
950-445: The growing area of online web series. In the silent era , screenwriters were denoted by terms such as photoplaywright , photoplay writer , photoplay dramatist , and screen playwright . Screenwriting historian Steven Maras notes that these early writers were often understood as being the authors of the films as shown, and argues that they could not be precisely equated with present-day screenwriters because they were responsible for
988-472: The highest amounts paid to writers for spec screenplays: $ 5 million: $ 2 million: $ 1 million: The Canadians (1961 film) The Canadians is a 1961 Anglo–Canadian CinemaScope Western film written and directed by Burt Kennedy . It starred Robert Ryan , John Dehner and Torin Thatcher . It was Kennedy's directorial debut. A group of Sioux come to shelter in Canada from
1026-475: The historian's dilemma: "A writer may be given screen credit for work he didn't do (as with Sidney Buchman on Holiday ), or be denied credit for work he did do (as with Sidney Buchman on The Awful Truth )." After a screenwriter finishes a project, they pair with an industry-based representative, such as a producer, director, literary agent , entertainment lawyer, or entertainment executive. The partnerships often pitch their project to investors or others in
1064-489: The last half of [the twentieth] century, what the Great American Novel was for the first half. Closet writers who used to dream of the glory of getting into print now dream of seeing their story on the big or small screen." Every screenplay and teleplay begins with a thought or idea, and screenwriters use their ideas to write scripts, with the intention of selling them and having them produced. In some cases
1102-422: The production of a film. Sometimes they come on as advisors, or if they are established, as a producer. Some screenwriters also direct. Although many scripts are sold each year, many do not make it into production because the number of scripts that are purchased every year exceeds the number of professional directors that are working in the film and TV industry . When a screenwriter finishes a project and sells it to
1140-453: The screenwriting job, typically taking on legal, financial, and other important representative roles for the screenwriter. These professional screenwriters rarely work for free. There are a legion of would-be screenwriters who attempt to enter the film industry , but it often takes years of trial and error, failure, and gritty persistence to achieve success. In Writing Screenplays that Sell , Michael Hague writes, "Screenplays have become, for
1178-598: The script for the Clint Eastwood movie White Hunter Black Heart (1990). In 1996, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to him. Kennedy died of cancer at home on February 15, 2001, in Sherman Oaks, California . He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on March 2, 2001. His companion was Nancy Pendleton and he had two daughters. A documentary was made about
Burt Kennedy - Misplaced Pages Continue
1216-505: The script is based on an existing property, such as a book or person's life story, which is adapted by the screenwriter. In most cases, a film project is initiated by a screenwriter. The initiator of the project gets the exclusive writing assignment. They are referred to as "exclusive" assignments or "pitched" assignments. Screenwriters who often pitch new projects, whether original or an adaptation, often do not have to worry about competing for assignments and are often more successful. When word
1254-675: The script of Stay Away, Joe (1968). Kennedy had a huge success directing the comedy Western Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969) starring James Garner , though Kennedy did not write the script. Kennedy directed two films with Robert Mitchum , Young Billy Young (1969) and The Good Guys and the Bad Guys (1969), then directed Frank Sinatra in another comedy Western Dirty Dingus Magee (1970), co-written by Joseph Heller . Kennedy directed Richard Crenna in The Devil's Backbone (1970), after which Garner and he tried to repeat
1292-524: The success of Support Your Local Sheriff with Support Your Local Gunfighter (1971). Kennedy made Hannie Caulder (1971) with Raquel Welch and was reunited with John Wayne in The Train Robbers (1973). He turned to television for Shootout in a One Dog Town (1974) with Crenna, and Sidekicks (1974), the pilot for a TV series based on the film Skin Game (1971). He also directed
1330-629: The suspicious circumstances of his death, which included interviews with his children and details allegations that Nancy Pendleton and Orange County Police Chief David Snowden were involved in Burt’s death and the appropriation of his estate after his death. TV movies Screenwriter A screenwriter (also called scriptwriter , scribe , or scenarist ) is someone who practices the craft of writing for visual mass media, known as screenwriting . These can include short films, feature-length films, television programs, television commercials, video games, and
1368-467: Was beautiful country... the story was pretty good actually, because it was based on an actual event, but – I was so used to playing scenes in Randy [Randolph Scott] pictures, I thought I could get away with them. But I couldn't. You can play good scenes with bad actors and (they're going to be) bad scenes. So I trapped myself... [Robert Ryan looked] like he didn't know what he was doing. It wasn't his fault. He
1406-423: Was originally called Royal Canadian Mounted . Kennedy later recalled, "I didn't know what I was doing. I remember the first shot had like 400 horses in it, and I got the shot and the cameraman said, 'What do we do now?' And I thought, 'You mean I gotta do more?' So that's the reason I went into television [after The Canadians ] to find out how you shoot pictures." He also said "I had a wonderful cameraman... it
1444-412: Was put under contract by Warner Bros. , for whom he wrote Fort Dobbs (1958) and Yellowstone Kelly (1959). He wrote two other scripts, including an adaptation of A Distant Trumpet that was not used. Then for Boetticher and Scott again, he wrote Ride Lonesome (1959) and Comanche Station (1960). He did some uncredited work on The Alamo (1960). Kennedy made his directorial debut with
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