IFH 565: Inside Creating Top Gun & Writing in Hollywood with Jack Epps Jr.
Indie Film Hustle® - A Filmmaking Podcast17 Mar 2022

IFH 565: Inside Creating Top Gun & Writing in Hollywood with Jack Epps Jr.

It is an absolute thrill to have Jack Epps Jr. on the show today. The award-winning writer, USC Cinematic Arts professor and filmmaker is a member of the Writer's Guild of America and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He’s best known for writing Top Gun, The Secret of My Success, Turner & Hooch, and Anaconda 1997 screenplay.

Jack first became involved in making films while doing his undergraduate at Michigan State University. Inspired by a student film festival, Epps made his first film the following semester which became Pig vs. Freaks that was later titled Off Sides.

Top Gun was Epps’ big break. He partnered with Jim Cash who was his screenwriting professor at Michigan State University, to write several projects and Top Gun was one of those screenplays. Top Gun’s success was seismic. It became a box office number one grossing $ 357.1 million on a $ 15 million budget while also stacking several accolades including an Academy Award, Golden Globes, and a number of other international film awards.

As students at the United States Navy's elite fighter weapons school compete to be the best in the class, one daring young pilot (Tom Cruise) learns a few things from a civilian instructor that are not taught in the classroom.

Epps is credited for the original screenplay in the sequel, Top Gun: Maverick which will be released this November.

Epps shares co-writing credits with Jim Cash and Hans Bauer for the screenplay of the Anaconda adventure horror film series of 1997 and 2004. The first story follows a National Geographic film crew in the Amazon Rainforest that is taken hostage by an insane hunter, who forces them along on his quest to capture the world's largest - and deadliest - snake.

While the first film did not receive critical acclamation, it grossed $136.8 million worldwide against a budget of $45 million.

In the second film, Anaconda: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid, the premise is quite similar. A scientific expedition team of researchers set for an expedition into the Southeast Asian tropical island of Borneo, to search for a sacred flower for which they believe will bring humans to a longer and healthier life, but soon become stalked and hunted by the deadly giant anacondas inhabiting the island.

Here is a clip of Gordon (Morris Chestnut) after being paralyzed from a spider bite, who comes face to face with death.

These are some classics and I couldn’t wait to chat with Jack about his creative journey---from his work as a cinematographer and an assistant cameraman on various local productions, to his love for writing or reviewing romantic comedies films like Viva Rock Vegas, and Sister Act.

Let's dig in, shall we? Enjoy this conversation with Jack Epps.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

Episoder(967)

IFH 006: Indie Film VFX Master Class with VFX Artist Dan Cregan

IFH 006: Indie Film VFX Master Class with VFX Artist Dan Cregan

In this episode we tackle visual effects in indie film. Visual Effects in Indie Film is really hit or miss, mostly miss. Many indie filmmakers don't any idea what to do when it comes to visual effects.Uber visual effects artist Dan Cregan takes you through a master class on indie film visual effects and tells us how he went from indie visual effects to huge studio films like Guaridans of the Galaxy and The Hobbit.Get Social with Indie Film Hustle:Facebook: Indie Film HustleTwitter: @indiefilmhustle Instagram: @ifilmhustleYouTube: Indie Film Hustle TVPodcast: IFH PodcastBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

2 Sep 20151h 29min

IFH 005: Do I Need to Move to Los Angeles to Make it in Hollywood?

IFH 005: Do I Need to Move to Los Angeles to Make it in Hollywood?

So you want to move to Los Angeles and make it big in Hollywood. The question is should you? Do you need to? When should you if you do? What kind of plan should I have in place? What should I do if I live in another country? All will be answered in this episode.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

26 Aug 201517min

IFH 004: What's a Producer's Rep and How Not to be Ripped off!

IFH 004: What's a Producer's Rep and How Not to be Ripped off!

On this week's episode we discuss a dirty indie film distribution secret, Producer's Reps. Like all things in life not all producer's reps are evil, scam artists or scumbags. Many do a great job and are more than fair with the filmmakers they work for.I'm hear to warn you about the other kind of producer's rep, the predatory, conman that loves to promise the world and deliver nothing to the already broke filmmaker. I was burned by one of these grifters early in my journey as a indie filmmaker and producer.Get Social with Indie Film Hustle:Facebook: Indie Film HustleTwitter: @indiefilmhustle Instagram: @ifilmhustleYouTube: Indie Film Hustle TVPodcast: IFH PodcastBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

19 Aug 20157min

IFH 003: Are you a Indie Film Marketing Spammer?

IFH 003: Are you a Indie Film Marketing Spammer?

This week we ask, are you a  Indie Film Marketing Spammer? Do you ask people you just met on-line to support your film or kickstarter campaign without taking the time to build a relationship? Do you blast your latest reel or trailer on every you can post it? Then you might be a filmmaking spammer. We are here to help you get what you want without pissing everyone off in the process. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

13 Aug 201512min

IFH 002: The Hollywood Game - Be Prepared to Play

IFH 002: The Hollywood Game - Be Prepared to Play

This week we discuss my misadventures in Hollywood with my film BROKEN. I talk about how to be ready if and when the spotlight of Hollywood is on you and your project. What to do in those meetings and how NOT to waste the opportunity. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

13 Aug 201516min

IFH 001: Oscar Nominee & Legendary Actor Robert Forster

IFH 001: Oscar Nominee & Legendary Actor Robert Forster

This week we are joined by Oscar nominee & legendary actor Robert Forster. He dishes out amazing advice to actors, directors and human beings a like. He even tell us his favorite Quentin Tarantino direction he got on the set of Jackie Brown.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

30 Jul 201516min

IFH 000: Introduction | Show Formalities | What to Expect

IFH 000: Introduction | Show Formalities | What to Expect

Here it is! The first episode of the Indie Film Hustle Podcast. I'm going to go over what to expect from the show and from me. I'm here to help you survive and thrive in the film business and get your film hustle on! Take a listen!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

6 Jul 20156min

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