Ep224 - Mark Bomback, Screenwriter ‘Defending Jacob' & ‘Planet of the Apes’ Prequels

Mark Bomback’s screenwriting education came from reading hundreds of screenplays. While working in the mailroom, he volunteered to read and provide coverage on submitted scripts, which taught him how to write, but also how not to write. These days, he’s known for Live Free or Die Hard, Unstoppable, Total Recall, The Wolverine, The Art of Racing in the Rain, the recent Planet of the Apes prequels, and Apple’s new series, Defending Jacob, starring Chris Evans. The 8-episode story behind Defending Jacob started with a 13-page treatment based on the novel. The story is a character-driven thriller about an assistant DA who’s world is shattered when his son is charged with murder. In this interview, Bomback discusses how writers can self-educate, how he uses something called the “silent partner,” why writing is a craft not an art, why writers need to occasionally just write the bad version of the scene, and how to improve bulletproof drafts. If you enjoyed this interview, look for the print version on Creative Screenwriting’s website, and join millions of viewers for the new YouTube video essay series, Creative Principles, which dissects new films, series, and more: bit.ly/2FARJz5