University Fast Links Academic Affairs Academic Calendar Academic Community Engagement (ACE) Academic Planning and Assessment Accepted Students Admissions (Undergraduate) Admissions (Graduate) Admission Requirements Analytical Laboratory Advising (Medical/Dental Related) Advising (SAM Center) Agricultural Sciences and Engineering Technology Alumni Association Alcohol and Drug Abuse Initiative Army ROTC - Military Science Athletics Banner Banking Bearkat Camp Bearkat Express Payment Bearkat Marching Band Bearkat OneCard Bearkat Transfer Scholarship Blackboard Blinn College Transfers Bookstore Books & Supplies Budget Office Bursar's Office Business Administration Calendars Campus Map Career Services Catalogs Class Schedule Computer Account Creation Computer Labs Continuing Education Controller's Office Correspondence Course Division Counseling Center Criminal Justice Current Students Dean of Students' Office Departments Department of Dance Dining Services Directory Education Educator Preparation Services Emergency Management Employment Opportunities English Language Institute Enrollment Management Environmental, Health and Safety Office Exchange Mail Facilites Management Facilities Space Management Faculty Senate Faculty/Staff Directory Final Exam Schedule Finance and Operations Financial Aid Fine Arts and Mass Communication First-Year Experience General Information Graduate Studies Great Names Health Sciences Honors College Homecoming Human Resources Humanities and Social Sciences IT@Sam IT@Sam Service Desk Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) Institutional Effectiveness Internal Grant Program Institutional Review Board (IRB) International Programs Joint Admission Students KatFacts Library (NGL) Lone Star College Transfers Lowman Student Center Map - Campus Marketing & Communications Math CAMP Medical & Allied Health Programs McNair Program Military Science Mobile Go Center Music Music Choir News Nursing Office of Business Services Office of the President Online Information Request Organization Chart Orientation - New Student PACE Parent Relations Office Parking Payroll Office Procurement and Business Services Procurement Opportunities Project Connect Property Prospective Students Public Safety Quality Enhancement Plan Reading Center Recreational Sports Registration Registrar's Office Research and Sponsored Programs Residence Life Risk Management Sam Shuttle SACS Reaffirmation Sam Houston Memorial Museum SamMenu (Download) SamWeb Sciences Services for Students with Disabilities Schedule of Classes Scholarships SHSU Marketplace Spirit Programs Staff Council Student Activities Student Government Association Student Health Center Student Legal Services Student Money Management Center Student Services Student Services Calendar Summer Camps Technology Tutorials Testing Center Theatre and Dance Today@Sam Tour the University Transcripts Transfer Equivalency Guide Transfer Students TRIES University Advancement University Center University Hotel University Park - Northwest Houston Campus University Police Department Veterans Visitor & Alumni Center The Woodlands Center Writing Center

Today@Sam Article

'Black Swan' Scribe To Present Film, Lectures At SHSU

Nov. 17, 2011
SHSU Media Contact: Jennifer Gauntt

 

Screenwriter John McLaughlin will visit Sam Houston State University to discuss with the Bearkat and Huntsville communities his most commercially successful venture so far, “Black Swan,” on Dec. 7-8.

McLaughlin will present a free public screening of the film on Dec. 8 in the Erica Starr Theatre, located in the University Theatre Center. There will be question-and-answer sessions both before and after the screening. The question-and-answer session is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m., with the showing of the film to begin at 8 p.m.

McLaughlin, whose screen credits also include 2005’s “Man of the House” and the upcoming “Parker,” was one of three credited screenwriters for “Black Swan” but is considered a key player on the team of writers who scripted this dark drama.

Director Darren Aronofsky approached McLaughlin more than a decade ago to rewrite the project, originally entitled “The Understudy.”

McLaughlin’s major contributions to the effort included researching the notoriously secretive world of professional ballet with Aronofsky, coming up with the final title, devising to use the ballet "Swan Lake" as a basis for the overarching story, and helping Aronofsky create a skeleton for what would finally end up on screen, completing six outlines and four drafts of the film.

McLaughlin has stated that one of Aronofsky's early ideas was to have lead actress Natalie Portman play both the main character Nina and her real-or-imagined rival and tormentor Lily, played by Mila Kunis in the final version.

McLaughlin also has said he always saw "Black Swan" as largely Aronofsky's project, with the director having the final say on the script, which became a collaborative process between the two and two other writers, Mark Heyman and Andres Heinz.

The screenplay won the 2010 Austin Film Critics Award for “Best Original Screenplay” and was nominated in the same category by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and Writers Guild of America. It also earned Portman her first Academy Award.

McLauglin lives in New York City and writes for film and television.

His latest film projects include "Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho" for Paramount Pictures with actor Sir Anthony Hopkins and "Nip/Tuck" creator Ryan Murphy, "The Man Who Killed Houdini" with Brian DePalma, "Kill Yourself Bridge" with John Carpenter directing, and Tom Clancey's "Splinter Cell" for Mike Ovitz's production company. He is currently working on a mini-series remake of "Coma" for Ridley and Tony Scott to be aired on A&E, a pilot for SyFy, and a series called "River View Tower" with Aronofosky.

During his visit to campus, McLaughlin will also be inducted into the SHSU’s Mass Communication Department’s Hall of Fame and will present seminars to students in the College of Fine Arts and Mass Communication.

“For me, the movie ‘Black Swan’ really represents the new College of Fine Arts and Mass Communication,” said Jean Bodon, chair of the mass communication department, who is personal friends with McLaughlin. “This movie singularizes all the arts put together.

“Specifically for the department of mass communication, we are introducing a film track next fall and we want to emphasize the importance of writing,” he said. “Dan Rather mentioned while he was here that writing is the most important form of communication for students and that they should continually work to improve their writing skills. A celebrated screenwriter coming to SHSU is an important part of encouraging our students to write.”

“I believe that bringing successful guest artists to campus enriches the education of our students,” said Roberta Sloan, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Mass Communication. “They not only learn a great deal, but also realize that it is possible to dream and succeed as professionals in their chosen fields.”

 

- END -

 

This page maintained by SHSU's Communications Office
Assistant Director: Julia May
Writer: Jennifer Gauntt
Located in the 115 Administration Building
Telephone: 936.294.1836; Fax: 936.294.1834

Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu.