Hank Nelken is an American

screenwriter A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based. ...

Biography

Nelken was born in Greenville, Mississippi and went to high school in Dallas, Texas. He started a video business as a teenager, shooting weddings and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs. He studied at USC School of Cinema-Television. While at USC, Nelken directed numerous short films, including ''Lets Do Love,'' a satire set in the future about two people who fall in love but never meet.

Career

Nelken wrote and directed ''Fifteen Minutes'', a short film that premiered at the USC First Look Festival. Afterwards, he partnered with

Greg DePaul Greg DePaul is an American playwright and screenwriter, best known for the romantic comedy ''Bride Wars''. Biography DePaul grew up in Maryland and graduated from NYU. After college, he worked as a private investigator and wrote for ''The Washing ...

. From 1998 to 2001, Nelken and DePaul wrote several screenplays, including ''

Saving Silverman ''Saving Silverman'' (internationally titled ''Evil Woman'') is a 2001 American comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan and starring Jason Biggs, Steve Zahn, Jack Black and Amanda Peet. Neil Diamond has a cameo role playing himself. In the film, Darr ...

'' released in 2001. Afterwards, Nelken and DePaul split and Nelken wrote ''Mama's Boy'', a spec screenplay that was purchased in 2003 by

Warner Brothers Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American Film studio, film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank, Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, Califo ...

. ''

Mama's Boy Mother's boy, also commonly and informally mummy's boy or mama's boy, is a term for a man seen as having an unhealthy dependence on his mother at an age at which he is expected to be self-reliant (e.g. live on his own, be economically independent) ...

'' was produced in 2007 by Warner Independent Pictures and starred

Jon Heder Jonathan Joseph Heder (; born October 26, 1977) is an American actor, best known for his role as the title character of the 2004 comedy film ''Napoleon Dynamite''. He has also appeared in the films '' Just Like Heaven'', ''The Benchwarmers'', ''S ...

Diane Keaton Diane Keaton ('' née'' Hall, born January 5, 1946) is an American actress and director. She has received various accolades throughout her career spanning over six decades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, two Golden Gl ...

, Jeff Daniels and Anna Faris. A spec project, a modern adaptation of ''

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House ''Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House'' is a 1948 American comedy film directed by H. C. Potter and starring Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, and Melvyn Douglas. Written and produced by the team of Melvin Frank and Norman Panama, it was an adaptation ...

'', got turned into ''

Are We Done Yet? ''Are We Done Yet?'' is a 2007 American family comedy film directed by Steve Carr and starring Ice Cube. The film is a remake of the 1948 Cary Grant comedy film '' Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House'', previously remade as the 1986 Tom Hanks ...

'' starring

Ice Cube An ice cube is a small piece of ice, which is typically rectangular as viewed from above and trapezoidal as viewed from the side. Ice cubes are products of mechanical refrigeration and are usually produced to cool beverages. They may be produc ...

, a sequel to '' Are We There Yet?''. In 2016 Nelken was set to write a feature film about

Speedy Gonzales Speedy Gonzales is an animated cartoon character in the Warner Bros. ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' series of cartoons. He is portrayed as "The Fastest Mouse in all Mexico" with his major traits being the ability to run extremely fast ...

for Warner Bros, with Mexican actor

Eugenio Derbez Eugenio González Derbez (; born September 2, 1961) is a Mexican actor and comedian. He has appeared in many films and television series including '' The Book of Life,The Angry Birds Movie 2 and The Secret Life of Pets.'' In the 2010s, he app ...

attached to star and produce. Nelken has sold several television projects, and also taught Screenwriting at UCLA.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Nelken, Hank Year of birth missing (living people) Living people 21st-century American screenwriters 21st-century American male writers American educators American male screenwriters Screenwriting instructors