If you’ve ever watched a film and found yourself captivated by a character’s depth or enticed by their memorable dialogue, chances are Scott Frank had a hand in it. Renowned script writer Scott Frank is making waves in Hollywood with his astounding $300,000 weekly fee as a script doctor. That’s right, he gets paid this jaw-dropping sum just to fine-tune and reshape existing scripts.
The Secret Life of a Script Doctor
A script doctor is a screenwriter hired to enhance a pre-existing script, be it by strengthening character development or improving dialogue. Often, their contributions go uncredited, but in the case of Scott Frank, his skill and dedication earned him official recognition for his work on Steven Spielberg’s “Minority Report.” Frank’s relentless commitment to deepening characters and their emotional journeys has become his trademark.
The Art of Character Work
According to The New Yorker, character work comprises around 90% of Frank’s script doctor requests. He has played a pivotal role in films like “Saving Private Ryan,” where he added depth to soldiers through their connections back home. In “The Ring,” he crafted the heartfelt relationship between the protagonist and her son. And in “Gravity,” Frank was tasked with giving Sandra Bullock’s astronaut a life beyond space. The list goes on, with films like “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” benefiting from his expertise.
Not every project has been a success. Frank was once hired to rewrite the screenplay for Luca Guadagnino’s “Scarface” remake, but unfortunately, the project was dropped. Nevertheless, his ability to diagnose and solve script issues has made him a go-to resource for executives and producers facing script-related challenges.
Scott Frank’s reputation as a chameleon in the industry is well-deserved. He immerses himself in every project, partnering with directors and delivering exceptional results. Nina Jacobson, producer of “The Hunger Games,” once described his role in rewriting “Catching Fire” as “laying down new train track while conducting the moving train at the same time.”
The Journey Continues
Scott Frank shows no signs of slowing down. Next on his plate is “Monsieur Spade,” a six-episode television series premiering on AMC next month. Co-created with Tom Fantana, the show stars the talented Clive Owen. Frank not only co-wrote the series but also directed all six episodes. Additionally, he is teaming up with Netflix once again to develop “Department Q,” a captivating crime series based on author Jussi Adler-Olsen’s novels.
For a deeper dive into Scott Frank’s remarkable career and the world of script doctors, head over to The New Yorker and read the full feature.
Source: Variety