BONUS EPISODE: Inside Secrets to Blockbuster Screenwriting with Boaz Yakin

We have for you on the show today screenwriter and director, Boaz
Yakin, The writer behind The Punisher, Dirty Dancing: Havana
Nights, The Rookie, & Safe and directing, The Fresh, Remember
the Titans and the comedy-drama, Uptown Girl among others.

Growing up in a talented theatrical family, it was only natural for
Yakin to pursue a life in film or some sort of performing arts. His
dad, who was a teacher at Juilliard and a theater director enrolled
Boaz into the famous Stell Adler script analysis class when he was
only 17 years old. Thereafter, he tried out film school at US City
college, later transferred to NYU, before quitting school after his
first script was auctioned and got him in the door at 19 years
old.

At age 22, Yakin wrote his first produced film, Marvel's The
Punisher. When Frank Castle's family is murdered by criminals, he
wages war on crime as a vigilante assassin known only as The
Punisher.

In 1990, Yakin co-wrote one of the action films of the times, The
Rookie, starring star boy Charlie Sheen, and Clint Eastwood who
also directed the film.

But his big hit came right after, FRESH, Yakin’s directorial debut
is an emotional coming of age story, that offers a realistic
glimpse of the dangerous life in New York City's projects during
the crack epidemic.

Michael, nicknamed Fresh, a 12-year-old kid running drugs for
gangsters, notably Esteban, inspired by the chess lessons of his
father, an alcoholic speed-chess master played by Samuel L.
Jackson. Fresh devises and executes a brilliant plan to extricate
himself and his drug-addicted sister from their hopeless
lives.

Next up for Boaz was directing the box-office smash REMEMBER THE
TITANS.

Academy Award winner Denzel Washington shines in REMEMBER THE
TITANS. Based on real events, this remarkable story celebrates how
a town torn apart by friction and mistrust comes together in
triumphant harmony. After leading his team to fifteen winning
seasons, beloved football coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton) is demoted
and replaced by tough, opinionated Herman Boone (Washington).

How these two men overcome their differences and turn a group of
hostile young men into champions is a remarkable portrait of
courage and perseverance. You and your family will never forget the
Titans!

His blockbuster smash, Now You See Me featured big industry names
like Morgan Freeman, Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco,
Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Michael Caine, etc. The $75 million
budget film grossed $351.7 dollars.

The plot follows an FBI agent and an Interpol detective who track
and attempt to bring to justice a team of magicians who pull off
bank heists and robberies during their performances and reward
their audiences with the money.

Boaz continued his blockbuster ways by working on the $200 million
tentpole film Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, starring Jake
Gyllenhaal.

A young fugitive Prince and Princess must stop a villain who
unknowingly threatens to destroy the world with a special dagger
that enables the magic sand inside to reverse time.

Boaz and I chatted about his creative process, the business side
and political side of screenwriting and directing in Hollywood
during this conversation. He was extremely raw and honest about
what it really is like working inside the Hollywood machine.

Enjoy this conversation with Boaz Yakin.


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