These 5 Canadian Screenwriters Prove Canada's Power In Film
Start writing a post
Entertainment

These 5 Canadian Screenwriters Prove Canada's Power In Film

Screenwriters that testify to Canada's quiet literary cinematic prowess.

102
These 5 Canadian Screenwriters Prove Canada's Power In Film
Pexels

A quiet nation unless there is a hockey game scheduled on Saturday night, Canada is seldom recognized for its prowess at the arts. Especially when it sits above a nation on a map that has gained global renown for its ability to generate literature, movies, and anything that pertains to the storytelling craft. Nevertheless, beneath all the snow that has a habit of burying the fields of the Great White North as early as October, there lingers, endures a longstanding literary tradition that has given rise to greats such as Margaret Atwood and Alice Munro. And through the ice. Through the thaw. Its roots continue to spread, finding their way into the narrative of cinema.

5. David Hayter

4. Sarah Polley

Starting her film career as an actress, Sarah Polley finally decided to step behind the camera in 1999 when she wrote and directed her first film "Don't Think Twice". However, Polley rose to acclaim in 2006 for her work in "Away From Her", a film based off a short-story published in The New Yorker by Alice Munro chronicling how a couple's marriage is tested by the onset of Alzheimer's Disease. Stealing the top spot for the Drama genre on Rotten Tomatoes, while hailed by numerous critics as one of the best films of 2007, Polley's efforts helped garner her an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.

3. Terri Tatchell

A graduate of Vancouver Film School, Terri Tacthell rose to prominence in 2009 when she teamed up with fellow VFS alumni and husband Neill Blomkamp to conceive the Science Fiction hit "District 9". Dubbed as one of the top independent films of the year by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, Tatchell's mastery of cinematic craft resulted in an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay. She is also responsible for authoring the script for "Chappie".

2. Emma Donaghue

Originally born in and raised in Ireland, Emma Donaghue moved to Canada in 1998 where she became a citizen six years later. Primarily known for her novels, Donaghue rose to literary acclaim in 2010 when her book "Room" was shortlisted for a Man Booker Prize. Attracting attention of director Lenny Abrahamson with her novelistic prowess, the former Dublin native soon find herself making waves in Hollywood when she was asked to adapt "Room" into a screenplay. A script that placed the Donaghue's name in the ballots for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and paved the way for Brie Larson to win her first Oscar.

1. Paul Haggis

A native of London, Ontario where the aforementioned Emma Donaghue currently resides, Paul Haggis garnered attention in 2004 for his tour-de-force ensemble drama "Crash". Stealing the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture. That same year, Haggis also came close to walking away with the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for his work on Clint Eastwood's "Million Dollar Baby". Other successful scripts Haggis is renown for authoring include "Letters from Iwo Jima", "Flags of Our Fathers", and "Casino Royale".

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

57210
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

36901
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

958654
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

190543
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments