David Giler.
David Giler is an American filmmaker who produced the films Alien, Aliens, Alien3, Alien Resurrection, Alien vs. Predator and Prometheus. He is also set to produce the upcoming sequel to Prometheus, Alien: Covenant. He also co-wrote the film Alien3 with Vincent Ward, Walter Hill and Larry Ferguson, and performed rewrites on Alien, although he was not credited for this role.
Biography
Giler started his career as a writer, providing scripts for television programs such as Kraft Suspense Theatre and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.. He then moved to screenplays in the 70's, helping to write films such as The Parallax View and the original version of Fun With Dick and Jane. He produced his first film in 1970, the critically-reviled Myra Breckinridge, an adaptation of Gore Vidal's controversial novel (he also co-wrote the film with director Michael Sarne). He helped Walter Hill produce the legendary horror thriller Alien in 1979, and it is for this film that he is probably best remembered. He and Hill became embroiled in a much-publicized behind-the-scenes fight with Alien's original writer, Dan O'Bannon, over who was to receive screenplay credit. Giler and Hill claim that they completely rewrote the script from top to bottom, and therefore they wanted to relegate O'Bannon to a "story by" credit only. O'Bannon claims that they did little more than change the names of the characters and dialogue, and felt that the two were trying to bully him out of the more prestigious screenplay credit. As evidenced by the interviews on the supplemental DVD features, the two parties are still extremely antagonistic when it comes to this topic, though O'Bannon was the only one to receive credit for the screenplay in the final film. The various drafts can be found online, allowing audiences to decide for themselves.
Giler worked with Hill on several more projects, including the continuation of the Alien franchise. Some of the films that he wrote during this period include The Money Pit, Southern Comfort, and an uncredited rewrite for Beverly Hills Cop II.
He has also directed one film, 1975's The Black Bird.
External links
- David Giler at the Internet Movie Database