The Creative Journey: A Sit Down with Screenwriter & Author David McKenna. (Online)
The road an artist travels is often a long and winding one. Though there are many similarities, no two experiences are the same. The Creative Journey all artists go through is as unique as the individual itself but still has a common thread that we can all learn from. It is from these journeys that we grow as artists and individuals and come out the other side stronger and more aware.
Join us September 6th at SCC as screenwriter and author David McKenna (American History X, S.W.A.T., Get Carter, Blow) sits down with screenwriter and Head of Dramatic Writing at Scottsdale School of Film+Theatre Bill True for a candid conversation about his career, screenwriting craft, his new book and take questions from the attendees. We will get a rare opportunity to learn from one of Hollywood’s premier screenwriters and discuss the business of writing while discussing his journey to get to the top of the industry.
About David McKenna:
David McKenna sold his first screenplay, American History X to New Line Cinema at the young age of 26. The film, which received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, stars Edward Norton in a vivid portrayal of the consequences of prejudice as a family is torn apart by hate. It follows one man’s struggle to reform himself and save his family after living a life consumed by violence and bigotry.
McKenna’s next work, Get Carter, was a remake of the 1971 cult film that starred
Michael Caine. This updated version stars Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, Miranda Richardson, Rachel Leigh Cooke, Mickey Rourke, and Alan Cumming. The Warner Bros. film was produced by Mark Canton.
McKenna’s next assignment was to adapt the Bruce Porter book, Blow. Starring Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Ray Liotta and directed by the late Ted Demme, Blow is a true story that chronicles the life of George Jung, an enterprising drug smuggler who partnered with Pablo Escobar and the Medellin Cartel to bring cocaine to America during the late 70’s and 80’s.
S.W.A.T. was a big hit for McKenna, earning over $300 million worldwide. Based on the 1970’s TV show, McKenna co-wrote the script with David Ayer. It starred Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell, Michelle Rodriguez, and LL Cool J.
McKenna next made the jump into television, creating the Pentagon drama E-Ring for NBC. Starring Benjamin Bratt and Dennis Hopper, McKenna served as executive producer along with Jerry Bruckheimer. Embattled is McKenna’s 8th film and currently holds a 76% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Set in the world of Mixed Martial Arts, the Nick Sarkisov directed film stars Stephen Dorff, Darren Mann, Elizabeth Reaser, Karrueche Tran, and his special needs son Colin.
McKenna’s numerous other projects include The 12th Man, a high school football script he recently sold to Stampede Ventures, in which he will make his directorial debut; The Downing of TWA Flight 800, based on the book by James Sanders; Cabo, a thriller set in Mexico; Twist, a hip hop remake of the musical Oliver Twist; National Office, a script McKenna penned for Warner Brothers about a 28-year-old man who challenges the Constitution and runs for President; University Drive, a murder mystery thriller set on a college campus; Teddy, a limited series at Showtime based on the life of America’s 26th President Theodore Roosevelt; His Brother’s Keeper, also for Warner’s, based on a book by Pulitzer Prize winner Jonathan Weiner; Above and Beyond, based on the true life of Colonel David H. Hackworth, the most decorated soldier in U.S. military history; Kings of The City, a TV show at Sony based on the life of Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis; and most recently, McKenna wrote his first novel The Republic, a dystopian cautionary tale about a dictator in America.
McKenna graduated San Diego State University and now resides in Newport Beach, CA, with his wife Marcy, sons Jack and Colin, and daughter Courtney.
About Bill True:
Bill True’s debut feature, Runaway, was hailed by cri?cs as “Brilliant” and “Hitchcockian” as it premiered to universal accolades at Tribeca and Toronto. It went on to screen worldwide at Avignon, Woodstock, Vail, Palm Springs, and other top festivals. Bill took the top prize at the Austin Film Festival for his work on Runaway, which was subsequently released by eOne Films.
Since then, Bill has developed feature and television projects with The Film Collective, NBA Entertainment, Warner Horizon Television, Veritas Entertainment, More/Medavoy Productions, Echo Lake Entertainment, eOne Television, and more. He was honored as a Bush Artists Fellowship for writing grant recipient and, most recently, was selected to participate in the acclaimed Yale Writers Workshop
Bill has been a featured panelist and jurist at the Austin Film Festival, Scriptfest/The Great American Pitchfest and Screencraft’s Writers Summit. He’s been a featured speaker for industry organizations including the Independent Feature Project, Women in Film, the Tribeca Film Festival, the Phoenix Screenwriters Association, and the Northwest Screenwriters Guild.
Earlier this year, he launched a new podcast called Get Your Story Straight with fellow screenwriter and screenwriting professor Karl Williams. In the vein of NPR’s Car Talk, Bill and Karl chat with feature and TV writers, and help them fix vexing story problems with their works in progress.
In addition to his work in Hollywood, Bill was Faculty-in-Residence for Dramatic Writing and Department Chair at the esteemed Scottsdale School of Film+Theatre (currently Head of Dramatic Writing), which, under Bill’s leadership, was named one of the “Top Film Schools in North America” for 2023 by Variety.