Revisionist History Blink with Stephen Gaghan | Development Hell
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Feb 29, 2024 Stephen Gaghan, an Academy Award-winning screenwriter celebrated for Traffic and Syriana, dives into the whirlwind of Hollywood's development scene. He recalls pitching a vampire love story, highlights the complexities of adapting Blink, and shares the emotional toll of industry pressures. Gaghan offers poignant memories from bidding wars and the heartbreak of lost collaborations, particularly reflecting on Heath Ledger's impact. Through tales of ambition and personal struggles, he captures the bittersweet journey of bringing stories to life in film.
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Vampire Love Story & Leo's Interest
- Stephen Gaghan's vampire love story idea was rejected by everyone.
- Leonardo DiCaprio overheard Gaghan discussing Blink and expressed interest in the movie.
The Appeal of a Human Lie Detector
- Gaghan was drawn to Blink's concept of a human lie detector.
- This resonated with his feeling that people often say one thing but do another.
The Story of Blink
- Gaghan and Gladwell developed a story around corporate mistreatment of retired employees.
- The story focused on a father-son dynamic within a hedge fund, with the son possessing the ability to detect lies.
