“Benjamin Button” Scribe Discusses the Writing Life

Most writers are fortunate to have a biggish hit once or twice in their career; Eric Roth has hit the heights several times along the way, most notably with a little film called "Forrest Gump" (is there anyone who can't quote the "box of chocolates" line?). Now the writer behind "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (an adaptation of an F. Scott Fitzgerald short story) stops by the Writers Guild to chat with F.X. Feeney about his work, his motivations and what goes into a really fantastic screenplay.

Besides moving portraits of men moving through the arc of long lives -- a trait shared by both "Forrest Gump" and "Benjamin Button" -- Roth knows his thrillers, too, having worked on "The Good Shepherd" and "The Insider." We'd like to hear how one approaches a movie that puts laser-like focus on a man's emotions, as in "Gump," versus something that has more of an edge-of-the-seat, nab-the-baddie plot. Whatever territory is covered, though, expect it to be interesting...

Writers on Writing: Eric Roth
Thursday, January 8, 7:30-9:30PM
$20; $15 WGA member
Writers Guild of America, 7000 W. Third Street, Los Angeles
323-782-4692

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