This week on On Story we’ll join veteran screenwriters Shane Black and Ric Roman Waugh as they discuss what it takes to write and direct a big-budget blockbuster.

Considered one of the pioneer screenwriters of the action genre, Shane Black made his mark with his 1987 screenplay, Lethal Weapon. Black went on to pen the screenplays for such films as Nice Guys, Iron Man 3, Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, and the latest addition to the Alien vs. Predator franchise: Predator.

Ric Roman Waugh is a former stuntman, director, writer, and producer, known for his work in Felon, Snitch, and Shot Caller. He wrote and directed the third installment of the Has Fallen series, Angel Has Fallen in 2019, and is currently in production of Night Has Fallen, the fourth installment in the series.

Moderator Harrison Glaser spoke with Shane and Ric at the Austin Film Festival

Writing to Direct Big Budget Blockbusters