BONUS EPISODE: Creating a Billion Dollar Horror Franchise with Screenwriter Jeffrey Reddick

Today on the show we have screenwriter and director Jeffrey
Reddick, who is best known for creating the highly
successful Final Destination horror film franchise. The
franchise has grossed over $650 Million world-wide. Not bad for an
idea that was first conceived for an X-Files episode.

Jeffrey also co-wrote the story for, and executive produced, Final
Destination 2 (2003). Jeffrey made his first connection to the film
industry at age 14 when he wrote a prequel to Nightmare On Elm
Street (1984) and mailed it to Bob Shaye, the President of New
Line Cinema. Bob returned the material for being unsolicited. But
the young man wrote Bob an aggressive reply, which won him
over.

Bob read the treatment and got back to Jeffrey. Bob, and his
assistant, Joy Mann, stayed in contact with Jeffrey for over five
years. When he went to The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New
York at age 19, Bob offered him an internship at New Line Cinema.
This internship turned into an 11-year stint at the studio.

Aside from Final Destination (2000), which spawned four successful
sequels, Jeffrey's other credits include Lions Gate's thriller,
Tamara (2005), and the remake of George Romero's classic, Day of
the Dead (2008). Jeffrey's directorial debut is Don't Look
Back.

When a young woman overcoming her traumatic past is among several
witnesses who see a man fatally assaulted and don't intervene, they
find themselves targeted by someone, or something, out for
revenge.

Jeffrey has had an amazing career so far and I can't wait to see
what he comes up with next.

Enjoy my spooky conversation with Jeffrey Reddick.

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