DZ-07: On Rewriting - How much Bull is left in the Hustle?

Listen to learn how impactful rewriting can be.

Stu and Chas look at AMERICAN BULLSHIT (the 2010 Black List spec script by Eric Warren Singer) and the film it became… AMERICAN HUSTLE (co-written and directed by David O'Russell), which garnered 10 Oscar nominations in 2014.

With both Singer and O'Russell credited on HUSTLE, Stu and Chas explore what O'Russell changed and what stayed the same from BULLSHIT. By comparing the spec with the eventual on-screen product, Stu and Chas gain valuable insights into the re-writing process: character, theme, voice over, back story and more.

As always: SPOILERS ABOUND and all copyright material used under fair use for educational purposes.

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FILMS

• AMERICAN HUSTLE (2013) — (w) David O Russell, Eric Warren Singer (d) David O Russell

SCRIPTS

• Study the script: AMERICAN HUSTLE (2013) — David O Russell, Eric Warren Singer

LINKS

• Script: AMERICAN BULLSHIT by Eric Warren Singer
• Read: The Q&A with Jeff Goldsmith: 7th Annual Screenwriting Nominees Q&A
• Read: The 2010 BLACK LIST - AMERICAN BULLSHIT is 8th, in between MARGIN CALL and ARGO
• YouTube: American Hustle - Science Oven*
• Read: Line by Line: No passive verbs! by Khrob Edmonds
• Read: DGA Quarterly: Picturing Life with David O Russell

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Full show notes at: https://draft-zero.com/2014/dz-07/