W. D. Richter
Encyclopedia
W. D. Richter is a screenwriter
and has occasionally directed
and produced
. He is best known for adapting Invasion of the Body Snatchers
(1978), directing The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
, and helping write Big Trouble in Little China
.
and attended USC film school. He began script writing for Hollywood in the 1970s. He wrote the hit comedy Slither
(1973), followed by two similarly styled comedies, Peeper
(1975) and Nickelodeon
(1976). He branched into other genres starting with the Invasion of the Body Snatchers remake in 1978. He continued writing scripts throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In the early 1980s Richter formed his own production company (with producer Neil Canton
), Canton/Richter, and directed the sci-fi cult classic The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
. The film did poorly at the box-office and the company broke-up. Richter continued to write screenplays however, and has since written Home For The Holidays
and Stealth
.
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
and has occasionally directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and produced
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
. He is best known for adapting Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978 film)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a 1978 science fiction film based on the novel The Body Snatchers by Jack Finney. It is a remake of the 1956 film of the same name. It was directed by Philip Kaufman and starred Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams and Leonard Nimoy.A San Francisco health inspector and...
(1978), directing The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension!, often shortened to Buckaroo Banzai, is an American spoof science fiction film that was released in 1984. It was directed and produced by W. D. Richter, and concerns the efforts of the multi-talented Dr...
, and helping write Big Trouble in Little China
Big Trouble in Little China
Big Trouble in Little China is a 1986 American martial arts comedy film directed by John Carpenter. It stars Kurt Russell as truck driver Jack Burton, who helps his friend Wang Chi rescue Wang's green-eyed fiancee from bandits in San Francisco's Chinatown...
.
Biography
Richter graduated from Dartmouth CollegeDartmouth 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 attended USC film school. He began script writing for Hollywood in the 1970s. He wrote the hit comedy Slither
Slither (1973 film)
Slither is a 1973 comedy film starring James Caan. It was directed by Howard Zieff.This was the first screenplay by W. D. Richter, who went on to adapt stories like Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Big Trouble in Little China for the screen and directed the cult film The Adventures of Buckaroo...
(1973), followed by two similarly styled comedies, Peeper
Peeper (film)
Peeper is a 1975 comedy-mystery film directed by Peter Hyams that starred Michael Caine as Leslie C. Tucker, a bungling private investigator...
(1975) and Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (film)
Nickelodeon is a 1976 comedy film directed by Peter Bogdanovich and starring Ryan O'Neal, Burt Reynolds, and Tatum O'Neal. According to Bogdanovich, the film was based on true stories told to him by silent movie directors Alan Dwan and Raoul Walsh...
(1976). He branched into other genres starting with the Invasion of the Body Snatchers remake in 1978. He continued writing scripts throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In the early 1980s Richter formed his own production company (with producer Neil Canton
Neil Canton
Neil Canton is an American film producer from New York City. The film Caddyshack II was nominated for the unsolicited Razzie Award for Worst Picture...
), Canton/Richter, and directed the sci-fi cult classic The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension!, often shortened to Buckaroo Banzai, is an American spoof science fiction film that was released in 1984. It was directed and produced by W. D. Richter, and concerns the efforts of the multi-talented Dr...
. The film did poorly at the box-office and the company broke-up. Richter continued to write screenplays however, and has since written Home For The Holidays
Home for the Holidays
Home for the Holidays may refer to:* Home for the Holidays , tour done by heavy metal band Dream Theater in the winter of 1995.* ""Home for the Holidays" , a song popularized by Perry Como...
and Stealth
Stealth (film)
Stealth is a 2005 American science fiction action film starring Jessica Biel, Josh Lucas, Jamie Foxx, and Sam Shepard. The film was directed by Rob Cohen, director of The Fast and the Furious and xXx....
.
Filmography
- SlitherSlither (1973 film)Slither is a 1973 comedy film starring James Caan. It was directed by Howard Zieff.This was the first screenplay by W. D. Richter, who went on to adapt stories like Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Big Trouble in Little China for the screen and directed the cult film The Adventures of Buckaroo...
(1973) - PeeperPeeper (film)Peeper is a 1975 comedy-mystery film directed by Peter Hyams that starred Michael Caine as Leslie C. Tucker, a bungling private investigator...
(1975) - NickelodeonNickelodeon (film)Nickelodeon is a 1976 comedy film directed by Peter Bogdanovich and starring Ryan O'Neal, Burt Reynolds, and Tatum O'Neal. According to Bogdanovich, the film was based on true stories told to him by silent movie directors Alan Dwan and Raoul Walsh...
(1976) (with Peter BogdanovichPeter BogdanovichPeter Bogdanovich is an American film historian, director, writer, actor, producer, and critic. He was part of the wave of "New Hollywood" directors, which included William Friedkin, Brian De Palma, George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, Michael Cimino, and Francis Ford Coppola...
) - Invasion of the Body SnatchersInvasion of the Body Snatchers (1978 film)Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a 1978 science fiction film based on the novel The Body Snatchers by Jack Finney. It is a remake of the 1956 film of the same name. It was directed by Philip Kaufman and starred Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams and Leonard Nimoy.A San Francisco health inspector and...
(1979) (adaptation) - Dracula (1979)
- BrubakerBrubakerBrubaker is an American 1980 film about a prison in distress and the Warden Henry Brubaker who attempts to reform the system....
(1980) - All Night LongAll Night Long (1981 film)All Night Long is a 1981 comedy film starring Barbra Streisand, Gene Hackman, Diane Ladd, Dennis Quaid, Kevin Dobson, and William Daniels, written by W. D...
(1981) - Hard Feelings (1982)
- The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th DimensionThe Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th DimensionThe Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension!, often shortened to Buckaroo Banzai, is an American spoof science fiction film that was released in 1984. It was directed and produced by W. D. Richter, and concerns the efforts of the multi-talented Dr...
(1984) (Director Only) - Big Trouble in Little ChinaBig Trouble in Little ChinaBig Trouble in Little China is a 1986 American martial arts comedy film directed by John Carpenter. It stars Kurt Russell as truck driver Jack Burton, who helps his friend Wang Chi rescue Wang's green-eyed fiancee from bandits in San Francisco's Chinatown...
(with Gary GoldmanGary GoldmanGary Wayne Goldman is an American Film Producer, Director, Animator, Writer and voice actor, he is well known for working on films with Don Bluth like Anastasia, An American Tail and The Land Before Time...
and David Z. Weinstein) (1986) - Late For Dinner (1991) (Director Only)
- Needful ThingsNeedful ThingsNeedful Things is a 1991 horror novel by American author Stephen King. According to the cover, it is "The Last Castle Rock Story." However, the town later served as the setting for the short story "It Grows on You," published in King's 1993 collection Nightmares and Dreamscapes which, according to...
(1993) - Home for the HolidaysHome for the Holidays (film)Home for the Holidays is a 1995 comedy-drama film directed by Jodie Foster and produced by Peggy Rajski and Jodie Foster. The screenplay was by W. D. Richter based on the short story by Chris Radant...
(1995) - StealthStealth (film)Stealth is a 2005 American science fiction action film starring Jessica Biel, Josh Lucas, Jamie Foxx, and Sam Shepard. The film was directed by Rob Cohen, director of The Fast and the Furious and xXx....
(2005)