41-732: Jonathan A. Levine ( / l ə ˈ v iː n / lə- VEEN ; born June 18, 1976) is an American film director and screenwriter . Levine was born and raised in New York City to a Jewish family. He attended St. Bernard's School , in Manhattan , and Phillips Academy , in Andover, Massachusetts. He received his bachelor's degree from Brown University , where he majored in Art Semiotics. He earned his Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) in Film Directing from
82-674: A film studio , production company , TV network, or producer, they often have to continue networking, mainly with directors or executives, and push to have their projects "chosen" and turned into films or TV shows. If interest in a script begins to fade, a project can go dead. The International Affiliation of Writers Guilds (IAWG) is the international federation of screenwriters' and playwrights' unions, who recognize union membership across international borders. They have 14 different affiliates across various nations who collectively work to verify original authorship, fight for fair compensation, and enforce copyright. Most professional screenwriters in
123-465: A baby on the way, worry that Ethan, a struggling musician working dead-end jobs, is not ready for the tradition to end. At work, Ethan steals tickets to the Nutcracker Ball. Before embarking on their last Christmas Eve together, the friends meet at Isaac's house, where his pregnant wife Betsy gives him various recreational drugs , including magic mushrooms and cocaine . The friends stop first at
164-484: A cameo role. Levine filmed a pilot for a Showtime comedy series created by executive producer Jim Carrey titled I'm Dying Up Here , based in part on the 2010 non-fiction book of the same name by William Knoedelseder about the stand-up comedy scene in LA during the 1970s. It has been announced that Levine will direct Brooklyn Castle , a feature adaptation of the 2012 documentary of the same name . The storyline tells about
205-417: A car accident. His best friends Isaac Greenberg and Chris Roberts resolve to spend every Christmas Eve with him so that he will not be alone. The three learn about the exclusive Nutcracker Ball party but are unable to find it. The trio continue their collective holiday tradition every year until 2015, when they finally decide to end the tradition. Chris, now a famous football player, and Isaac, married with
246-508: A documentary short entitled Love Bytes (2005), where he sets out on a cross country roadtrip to find love in major cities with the assistance of a laptop and an Audi A3 . His feature directorial debut was the 2006 dramatic horror film All the Boys Love Mandy Lane , starring Amber Heard with the screenplay written by Jacob Forman. The film had its premiere at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival , followed by screenings at
287-409: A first draft. Multi-step deals, where the writer is signed on for more than the first draft (typically including a rewrite) can earn a screenwriter more, with experienced WGA members earning up to $ 5,000,000 for their work. Non-union screenwriters can also work for a salary, but will typically earn less than a unionized screenwriter. Pay can vary dramatically for a non-unionized screenwriter. Some of
328-447: A group of New York's inner city, junior high school kids who wanted to compete in a highly prestigious, highly selective national chess tournament. In addition to writing or co-writing the screenplays for many of the feature or short films that he directed, Levine has written an episode of the TV series The Screen Junkies Show entitled "Zombie Acting Tips" (2013). He wrote the screenplay for
369-648: A position to further a project. Once the script is sold, the writer has only the rights that were agreed with the purchaser. A screenwriter becomes credible by having work that is recognized, which gives the writer the opportunity to earn a higher income. As more films are produced independently (outside the studio system), many up-and-coming screenwriters are turning to pitch fests, screenplay contests, and independent development services to gain access to established and credible independent producers. Many development executives are now working independently to incubate their own pet projects. Screenwriters are rarely involved in
410-439: A script to suit the desires of a director or studio . For instance, studio management may have a complaint that the motivations of the characters are unclear or that the dialogue is weak. Hollywood has shifted writers onto and off projects since its earliest days, and the assignment of credits is not always straightforward or complete, which poses a problem for film study. In his book Talking Pictures , Richard Corliss discussed
451-429: A video shot earlier with his friends. Isaac retrieves his phone, learning Sarah never revealed his video message. Ethan finds Diana and spontaneously proposes to her in front of the entire party due to Miley Cyrus ' encouragement. While she accepts publicly, she declines in private, saying that he only proposed out of fear of losing his friends. Ashamed, Ethan goes to the roof where he finds Mr. Green, who reveals that he
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#1733085863829492-661: A worldwide total of $ 52.4 million, against a budget of $ 25 million. In the United States, The Night Before opened alongside The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 and Secret in Their Eyes on November 20, 2015. The film made $ 550,000 from its Thursday preview screenings and $ 3.6 million on its first day. In its opening weekend, the film grossed $ 9.9 million, and finished fourth at the box office behind Mockingjay – Part 2 ($ 102.7 million), Spectre ($ 15 million) and The Peanuts Movie ($ 13.2 million). During its second week,
533-698: A zombie who slowly begins to return to normal, and forces a girl played by Teresa Palmer to stay with him. In 2014, Levine directed the pilot episode of the TV series he created with Gina Matthews and Grant Scharbo, Rush , for the USA Network . A medical drama series revolving around a hard-partying doctor named William P. Rush played by Tom Ellis , it was cancelled after one season. The next year he re-teamed with his 50/50 stars Rogen and Gordon-Levitt for Christmas comedy The Night Before , which he directed and co-wrote. It also stars Anthony Mackie , Lizzy Caplan , Mindy Kaling , Jillian Bell and Miley Cyrus in
574-461: Is put out about a project that a film studio , production company , or producer wants done, they are referred to as "open" assignments. Open assignments are more competitive. If screenwriters are competing for an open assignment, more established writers usually win the assignments. A screenwriter can also be approached and personally offered a writing assignment. Many screenwriters also work as full- or part-time script doctors , attempting to better
615-484: Is revealed to be an angel , helping the friends in order to earn his wings . Isaac shows his wife the video, and she admits she is also scared about becoming a parent. The trio spend Christmas at Isaac's, after which Chris has dinner with his mother and admits to his steroid use. Ethan goes to Diana's, where he apologizes for his behavior and not being ready to commit. Admitting that she has missed him, Diana accepts his request to finally meet her parents. One year later,
656-412: Is sold, it is called a spec script . Amateur screenwriters will often pursue this work as "writers in training," leading these spec scripts to often go uncredited or come from unknown screenwriters. Further separating professional and amateur screenwriters is that professionals are usually represented by a talent agency . These screenwriter-specific employment agencies work to handle the business side of
697-503: Is someone who practices the craft of writing for visual mass media, known as screenwriting . These can include short films, feature-length films, television programs, television commercials, video games, and the growing area of online web series. In the silent era , screenwriters were denoted by terms such as photoplaywright , photoplay writer , photoplay dramatist , and screen playwright . Screenwriting historian Steven Maras notes that these early writers were often understood as being
738-456: Is the creator and host of the Nutcracker Ball. After experiencing a memory of his friends initiating their yearly ritual, Ethan rejoins Chris and Isaac, who have been thrown out after an altercation with Chris' teammates. As morning dawns, the friends reconcile just as Isaac receives a message that Betsy is in labor. Rushing to the hospital in Mr. Green's car, they discover it was a false alarm. Mr. Green
779-643: The American Film Institute , in Los Angeles , at its AFI Conservatory. Levine was the assistant to film director Paul Schrader prior to his own directorial career taking-off. In 2006, he was nominated for a Best Independent Mini-Feature Award at the Black Reel Awards for his AFI Thesis short film Shards (2004), which also won a Certificate of Excellence at the 2005 Brooklyn Film Festival for Best Cinematography by Petra Korner. He wrote and directed
820-483: The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree , where Ethan reveals the tickets to the ball. In an attempt to impress his teammates, Chris purchases marijuana from their former high school dealer Mr. Green. At a karaoke bar , the friends run into Diana, who recently broke up with Ethan due to his failure to commit, and her friend Sarah, both of whom are also attending the Nutcracker Ball. Isaac, affected by
861-759: The Sitges Film Festival , South by Southwest , London FrightFest Film Festival , and the IFI Horrorthon, at the French Cinemathèque . In 2008, he wrote and directed The Wackness , starring Josh Peck . It won the Audience Award at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize (Dramatic) as well. The Wackness also won Best Narrative Feature at the 2008 Los Angeles Film Festival , The Most Popular Feature Film Award at
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#1733085863829902-419: The 2008 Melbourne International Film Festival , and was nominated for a Best First Screenplay award at the 2008 Independent Spirit Awards . In addition, the film won Best International Feature Film at the 2008 Zurich Film Festival . Next, Levine directed the 2011 film 50/50 starring Seth Rogen , Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Anna Kendrick , about a young man being treated for cancer. It was loosely based on
943-602: The U.S. are unionized and are represented by the Writers Guild of America (WGA). Although membership in the WGA is recommended, it is not required of a screenwriter to join. The WGA is the final arbiter on awarding writing credit for projects under its jurisdiction. The WGA also looks upon and verifies film copyright materials. Other notable screenwriters' unions include the Writers' Guild of Great Britain , representing screenwriters in
984-564: The UK, and La Guilde Française des Scénaristes, representing screenwriters in France. Minimum salaries for union screenwriters in the US are set by the Writers Guild of America . The median compensation for a first draft from a first time screenwriter is $ 100,000, while the most experienced members have a median compensation of $ 450,000. The most experienced WGA members have reported up to $ 4,000,0000 compensation for
1025-684: The authors of the films as shown, and argues that they could not be precisely equated with present-day screenwriters because they were responsible for a technical product, a brief " scenario ", "treatment", or "synopsis" that is a written synopsis of what is to be filmed. Screenwriting is a contracted freelance profession, not a hired position. No education is required to be a professional screenwriter, but good storytelling abilities and imagination give aspiring screenwriters an advantage. Many screenwriters start their careers doing speculative work ("work on spec"), practicing their screenwriting with no guaranteed financial compensation. If one of these scripts
1066-566: The best party in New York City . Lizzy Caplan , Jillian Bell , Mindy Kaling , and Michael Shannon also star. Principal photography began on August 11, 2014, in New York City. Good Universe and Point Grey Pictures produced the film, which Columbia Pictures released in North America on November 20, 2015. The film received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $ 52 million worldwide. In December 2001, Ethan Miller loses his parents in
1107-440: The drugs he took, records a video phone message confessing that he is terrified of having a child. Chris hooks up with a supposed fan who steals his marijuana. The friends contact Mr. Green again, who meets them at Chris' mother's, where they have dinner. She encourages Ethan to make up with Diana, and Isaac realizes he has accidentally switched phones with Sarah when he begins to receive sexts . While they search for Isaac's phone,
1148-486: The experience of screenwriter Will Reiser , a friend of Rogen's. 50/50 won the Audience Award at the 2011 Aspen Filmfest , the Audience Award at the 2011 Stockholm Film Festival and the Achille Valdata Award at the 2011 Torino International Film Festival /Torino International Festival of Young Cinema. In 2013, Levine directed Warm Bodies , based on the novel by Isaac Marion . It stars Nicholas Hoult as
1189-412: The film grossed $ 8.4 million (a drop of 15.2%), finishing 6th at the box office. On Rotten Tomatoes , the film has an approval rating of 69% based on 161 reviews, and an average rating of 6/10. The site's critical consensus reads, " The Night Before provokes enough belly laughs to qualify as a worthwhile addition to the list of Christmas comedies worth revisiting, even if it isn't quite as consistent as
1230-442: The film, which Sony's Columbia Pictures distributed. On August 7, Jillian Bell was cast to play Betsy, the wife of Rogen's character. On August 8, Lizzy Caplan joined the cast to play Diana, a love interest of Gordon-Levitt's character. Principal photography on the film began on August 11, 2014, in New York City . On August 14, filming took place around 112th street and Broadway in New York City. On August 22, Rogen
1271-458: The friends and their loved ones spend Christmas together. Isaac's baby cannot sleep, so the trio serenade her. On February 10, 2014, it was announced that Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt would reunite in the film, following 50/50 , in which they co-starred. On May 13, Anthony Mackie joined the cast. Jonathan Levine , director of 50/50 , directed The Night Before from his own script. Good Universe and Point Grey Pictures produced
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1312-486: The highest amounts paid to writers for spec screenplays: $ 5 million: $ 2 million: $ 1 million: The Night Before (2015 film) The Night Before is a 2015 American Christmas comedy stoner film directed by Jonathan Levine and written by Levine, Evan Goldberg , Kyle Hunter, and Ariel Shaffir. The film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt , Seth Rogen , and Anthony Mackie as three childhood friends who annually reunite on Christmas Eve in search of
1353-475: The historian's dilemma: "A writer may be given screen credit for work he didn't do (as with Sidney Buchman on Holiday ), or be denied credit for work he did do (as with Sidney Buchman on The Awful Truth )." After a screenwriter finishes a project, they pair with an industry-based representative, such as a producer, director, literary agent , entertainment lawyer, or entertainment executive. The partnerships often pitch their project to investors or others in
1394-480: The last half of [the twentieth] century, what the Great American Novel was for the first half. Closet writers who used to dream of the glory of getting into print now dream of seeing their story on the big or small screen." Every screenplay and teleplay begins with a thought or idea, and screenwriters use their ideas to write scripts, with the intention of selling them and having them produced. In some cases
1435-422: The production of a film. Sometimes they come on as advisors, or if they are established, as a producer. Some screenwriters also direct. Although many scripts are sold each year, many do not make it into production because the number of scripts that are purchased every year exceeds the number of professional directors that are working in the film and TV industry . When a screenwriter finishes a project and sells it to
1476-453: The screenwriting job, typically taking on legal, financial, and other important representative roles for the screenwriter. These professional screenwriters rarely work for free. There are a legion of would-be screenwriters who attempt to enter the film industry , but it often takes years of trial and error, failure, and gritty persistence to achieve success. In Writing Screenplays that Sell , Michael Hague writes, "Screenplays have become, for
1517-505: The script is based on an existing property, such as a book or person's life story, which is adapted by the screenwriter. In most cases, a film project is initiated by a screenwriter. The initiator of the project gets the exclusive writing assignment. They are referred to as "exclusive" assignments or "pitched" assignments. Screenwriters who often pitch new projects, whether original or an adaptation, often do not have to worry about competing for assignments and are often more successful. When word
1558-494: The short film The Weight (2009), directed by Nicholas Jarecki . He wrote two episodes of Rush , the pilot (which he also directed) and "Don't Ask Me Why". Levine produced the 2016 film Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates , directed by Jake Szymanski and starring Zac Efron , Adam Devine , Anna Kendrick , and Aubrey Plaza . He served as an executive producer on Rush . Producer Screenwriter A screenwriter (also called scriptwriter , scribe , or scenarist )
1599-415: The spirit of Christmas. Meeting back at a subway station, the tension between the friends explodes as Ethan reveals that he and Isaac know Chris' sudden success is due to steroids , and Chris reveals that he and Isaac think Ethan is lost. Despite their revelations, the friends go to the Nutcracker Ball. Chris learns that his teammates did not need the marijuana he struggled to obtain, and they mock him for
1640-449: The thief steals Chris' marijuana again. The friends split up, as Chris wants his marijuana back, Isaac wants his phone, and Ethan wants to go to the party. Chris fails to recover the marijuana but through the thief learns the true value of his friends. Isaac, hallucinating from a mixture of drugs, meets his wife and her family and vomits during Midnight Mass . Ethan is beaten by two drunk pub crawling men dressed as Santa after defending
1681-480: Was spotted filming scenes outside a church in Manhattan . On January 5, 2015, filming took place in and around Rockefeller Center , where the crews were taking some shots of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree . The film was originally scheduled to be released on December 11, 2015, but Sony moved the release date to November 25, 2015, and later to November 20, 2015. The Night Before grossed $ 43 million in North America and $ 9.3 million in other territories for