Stephen Geller
Encyclopedia
Stephen Geller is an American screenwriter and novelist. Most famous for writing the screenplay for the film adaptation
of Kurt Vonnegut
's novel Slaughterhouse-Five
, Geller has worked in the film industry in Hollywood and Europe, and recently directed his own independent feature, Mother's Little Helpers
.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Geller's father was a musician who, in the 1950s, found himself the victim of the Hollywood blacklist
. As a result, Geller spent much of his youth abroad in Europe.
Educated at Dartmouth College
and Yale University
, Geller moved to Rome, Italy in 1969-79 to work for the Italian producer, Dino De Laurentiis
, where he wrote the screenplay for The Valachi Papers, among other films. Rome became his home for the next sixteen years. He worked in the Italian, French, British and independent film industries. He also commuted to LA, and wrote for every major studio during that period. Eventually, in 1986, he returned to Hollywood, working there for a time, but leaving eventually to found screenwriting programs at Arizona State University
, and at the Boston University
College of Communication
.
His screenwriting credits, in addition to Slaughterhouse-Five, include Ashanti, The Valachi Papers
, and Warburg: A Man of Influence.
Aside from screenwriting, he has also published four novels and a book on screenwriting, has written several plays, and has directed both theater and film. He currently teaches playwriting, English and screenwriting at the Savannah College of Art and Design
.
Slaughterhouse-Five (film)
Slaughterhouse-Five is a 1972 film based on Kurt Vonnegut's novel of the same name. The screenplay is by Stephen Geller and the film was directed by George Roy Hill. It stars Michael Sacks, Ron Leibman, and Valerie Perrine, and features Eugene Roche, Sharon Gans, Holly Near, and Perry King. The...
of Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. was a 20th century American writer. His works such as Cat's Cradle , Slaughterhouse-Five and Breakfast of Champions blend satire, gallows humor and science fiction. He was known for his humanist beliefs and was honorary president of the American Humanist Association.-Early...
's novel Slaughterhouse-Five
Slaughterhouse-Five
Slaughterhouse-Five, or The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death is a satirical novel by Kurt Vonnegut about World War II experiences and journeys through time of a soldier called Billy Pilgrim...
, Geller has worked in the film industry in Hollywood and Europe, and recently directed his own independent feature, Mother's Little Helpers
Mother's Little Helpers (film)
Cougars, Inc., developed under the title Mother's Little Helpers, is a American independent comedy written and directed by Asher Levin about a college-age teenager, played by Kyle Gallner, and his and his friends' adventures as escorts to attractive older women...
.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Geller's father was a musician who, in the 1950s, found himself the victim of the Hollywood blacklist
Hollywood blacklist
The Hollywood blacklist—as the broader entertainment industry blacklist is generally known—was the mid-twentieth-century list of screenwriters, actors, directors, musicians, and other U.S. entertainment professionals who were denied employment in the field because of their political beliefs or...
. As a result, Geller spent much of his youth abroad in Europe.
Educated at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
and Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, Geller moved to Rome, Italy in 1969-79 to work for the Italian producer, Dino De Laurentiis
Dino De Laurentiis
Agostino "Dino" De Laurentiis was an Italian film producer.-Early life:He was born at Torre Annunziata in the province of Naples, and grew up selling spaghetti produced by his father...
, where he wrote the screenplay for The Valachi Papers, among other films. Rome became his home for the next sixteen years. He worked in the Italian, French, British and independent film industries. He also commuted to LA, and wrote for every major studio during that period. Eventually, in 1986, he returned to Hollywood, working there for a time, but leaving eventually to found screenwriting programs at Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
, and at the Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
College of Communication
Boston University College of Communication
Boston University's College of Communication was founded on May 27, 1947, then called the School of Public Relations. Since 1947, the college has gone through many changes in both name and location Boston University's College of Communication was founded on May 27, 1947, then called the School of...
.
His screenwriting credits, in addition to Slaughterhouse-Five, include Ashanti, The Valachi Papers
The Valachi Papers (1972 film)
The Valachi Papers is a 1972 crime movie starring Charles Bronson, Lino Ventura and directed by Terence Young.Adapted from the book The Valachi Papers by Peter Maas, it tells the true story of Joseph Valachi, who was the first Mafia informant in the early 1960s...
, and Warburg: A Man of Influence.
Aside from screenwriting, he has also published four novels and a book on screenwriting, has written several plays, and has directed both theater and film. He currently teaches playwriting, English and screenwriting at the Savannah College of Art and Design
Savannah College of Art and Design
SCAD, the Savannah College of Art and Design, is a private, accredited and degree-granting university with locations in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia, Hong Kong, and Lacoste, France.-History:...
.
Awards
- Special Jury Prize, Cannes Film Festival, Slaughterhouse-FiveSlaughterhouse-Five (film)Slaughterhouse-Five is a 1972 film based on Kurt Vonnegut's novel of the same name. The screenplay is by Stephen Geller and the film was directed by George Roy Hill. It stars Michael Sacks, Ron Leibman, and Valerie Perrine, and features Eugene Roche, Sharon Gans, Holly Near, and Perry King. The...
- European Silver Award for best miniseries, Warburg: A Man of Influence
- Zoetrope International Internet Film Festival, Cuppa Cabby, Piece O' Pie