Mark Rosenthal

Mark Rosenthal
Born Mark David Rosenthal
United States
Occupation Screenwriter, film director
Spouse(s) Kim Rosenthal
Children 2

Mark David Rosenthal is an American screenwriter and film director and long-time writing partner of Lawrence Konner.

Early life and education

Rosenthal was born to a Jewish family in Philadelphia.[1] He holds a doctor of arts degree from the University of the Pacific.[1]

Screenwriting career

Rosenthal sold the first screenplay he wrote, which came out theatrically as The Legend of Billie Jean. This was followed by such films as The Jewel of the Nile, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace,[2] Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, The Beverly Hillbillies, Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes, Mona Lisa Smile, Flicka, Mercury Rising, Mighty Joe Young and The Sorcerer's Apprentice. He also did uncredited work on I, Robot and Eragon. Rosenthal co-wrote (with Konner) and directed The In Crowd for Orion Studios.

Other appearances and contributions

Rosenthal is a voting member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences. He was featured in Tales From The Script: 50 Hollywood Screenwriters Share Their Stories [3] and in Why We Write: 25 Top Screenwriters Share Their Stories (Sillman-James Press). Rosenthal, working with Konner, did non-credited work on I, Robot as well. In the original draft, the Bridget Moynahan character was the "hidden robot-human hybrid". Realizing that this dilemma would explain Will Smith's antipathy towards robots, Rosenthal created a central character who had been maimed by robots. Rosenthal and Konner also wrote the sequence where Smith uncovers the escaped robot in the factory by shooting into the lines of robots.

Superman IV: The Quest for Peace

Rosenthal recorded a DVD commentary for Superman IV: The Quest for Peace for the Deluxe Edition of the film in 2006. He discussed the film's original intentions and deleted scenes. Rosenthal has also described the final film as producer Cannon Films stabbing star Christopher Reeve in the back. According to Rosenthal, Reeve and director Sidney J. Furie begged Cannon Films to film a sequence in New York City, in front of the real United Nations Building, because filmgoers were very familiar with that location, but the Milton Keynes setting looked more like a municipal auditorium. However, Cannon refused because they were "pinching pennies at every step". Rosenthal also revealed that he and writer Lawrence Konner wanted Reeve to play Nuclear Man as well as his dual roles of Superman and Clark Kent in the film. They imagined the villain being a darker version of the hero in the cloning process. The effect would have been costly to achieve and the idea had already been explored in Superman III. Therefore, Cannon hired actor Mark Pillow for the part of Nuclear Man. Also according to Rosenthal, there are approximately 45 minutes of the film that have not been seen by the public after they were deleted, following a failed Southern California test screening.

Personal life

Rosenthal is married to Kim Rosenthal; they have two children, Hayley and Harry.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 New Jersey Jewish News: "A patch of Hollywood blossoms in Lower Bucks" by Marilyn Silverstein February 6, 2007
  2. ↑ Maslin, Janet (July 25, 1987). "Superman IV: the Quest for Peace (1987) Movie: 'Superman IV: Quest for Peace'". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  3. ↑ "Tales from the Script". Talesfromthescript.com.
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