Brian Duffield

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Brian Duffield
Born (1985-11-05) November 5, 1985 (age 35)
Education
OccupationScreenwriter
Years active2010–present
Notable work
Websitebrianduffield.com Edit this at Wikidata

Brian Duffield (born November 5, 1985)[1] is an American screenwriter known for his frequent feature script sales in the 2010s, which include the screenplays for The Babysitter (2017), Underwater (2020), and his 2011 Black List scripts Jane Got a Gun (2015) and Your Bridesmaid is a Bitch.[2][3]

Early life[]

Duffield grew up in the suburbs of Pennsylvania with his parents, Brian and Brenda Duffield, and two sisters.[4] In 1995, at nine years old, he moved to Ireland when his parents decided to become missionaries.[5][4][6] He described the surroundings as completely remote and lagging in popular culture.[4] Duffield attended school where in one classroom, three grades were being taught by one teacher, which he described as very "Little House on the Prairie-esque".[4] He moved back to the US when he graduated high school in 2004.[4]

Duffield graduated from both Temple University and Messiah College in 2008.[7][6] After graduation, he moved to Universal City, California for a summer internship through Temple University at the Oakwoods apartments prior to the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike and at the beginning of the Great Recession.[7][8]

From there, Duffield worked various jobs before becoming a professional screenwriter. His first job in Los Angeles was at the now defunct Storyopolis, a children's book store/art gallery, in Studio City, where he worked with writer Blake Harris.[7] He has also worked as an assistant and script reader within the film industry for several years.[5] Prior to selling his first spec screenplay, Duffield was temping at the Lucky Brand Jeans factory in nearby Vernon, California.[9]

Career[]

Duffield first spec sale was for Your Bridesmaid is a Bitch to Skydance Media.[2] The story is partially based on his personal experience with his friends' weddings and a slew of failed relationships.[5] His friend from college had sent a copy to a contact at Circle of Confusion management company, who later offered to be Duffield's manager.[5][2][10] Several days later, they got a meeting with Skydance, who bought the script.[2][5] Eli Craig was last attached to direct and rewrite the film in May 2015.[11] Black List Live!, a live monthly stage reading of scripts featured on the Black List, did a performance of Your Bridesmaid is a Bitch in 2014.[12]

Duffield sold his script for Monster Problems to Paramount Pictures in 2012.[13] Matthew Robinson was later brought on for rewrites and Michael Matthews directed the retitled film, Love and Monsters. The film was released on October 2020.[14][15]

Duffield's first writing assignment was for the film adaptation of the second book in the Divergent trilogy, Insurgent (2015), in 2013.[16][7]

The script for The Babysitter (2017) was sold to McG's company, Wonderland Sound and Vision, at auction.[2] McG also directed the film, which later premiered on Netflix in October 2017.[17]

His film Underwater, starring Kristen Stewart, premiered in 2020.

Personal life[]

Duffield is married.[2] His parents still reside in Ireland.[5]

Filmography[]

Year Title Director Writer Producer
2015 The Divergent Series: Insurgent No Yes No
Jane Got a Gun No Yes No
2017 The Babysitter No Yes Executive
2020 Underwater No Yes No
The Babysitter: Killer Queen No No Executive
Spontaneous Yes Yes Yes
Love and Monsters No Yes No
2022 Cocaine Bear No No Yes

References[]

  1. ^ Iannazzo, Lonnie II (November 5, 2014). "Birthday boy! @BrianDuffield". @movieguy34. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "How I Broke In: Brian Duffield". Final Draft. June 1, 2015. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
  3. ^ Lyttelton, Oliver (March 20, 2013). "On The Rise: 10 Screenwriters To Watch In 2013". IndieWire. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Myers, Scott (October 27, 2016). "Interview [Part 1]: Brian Duffield". Medium. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "Screenwriter Interview - Brian Duffield". ScriptShadow. February 9, 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "The Inferior Bio I Went With". Your Spontaneous Screenwriter. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Amanda (February 27, 2014). "The Aspiring TV Writer & Screenwriter Blog: LA FIRSTS: Brian Duffield". The Aspiring TV Writer & Screenwriter Blog. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  8. ^ "10 Questions with INSURGENT & JANE GOT A GUN Screenwriter Brian Duffield". Screenwriter's Utopia. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  9. ^ Myers, Scott (October 27, 2016). "Interview [Part 3]: Brian Duffield". Medium. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  10. ^ Myers, Scott (October 27, 2016). "Interview [Part 6]: Brian Duffield". Medium. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  11. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (May 11, 2012). "'Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil' Helmer Eli Craig Takes On 'Your Bridesmaid's A Bitch'". Deadline. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
  12. ^ Gluck, Marissa (November 13, 2014). "In L.A., Unproduced Film Scripts Find New Life Onstage". T Magazine. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  13. ^ "Paramount Developing Post-Apocalyptic Road Movie with Shawn Levy (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  14. ^ Pedersen, Erik (October 23, 2019). "'Monster Problems': Paramount Moves Dylan O'Brien Pic To Pre-Summer Slot". Deadline. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  15. ^ DeFore, John (October 15, 2020). "'Love and Monsters': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  16. ^ Trumbore, Dave (May 7, 2013). "Summit Sets Brian Duffield to Pen DIVERGENT Sequel, INSURGENT". Collider. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
  17. ^ The Babysitter Review - IGN, retrieved December 29, 2019
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