Screenwriter Topper Lilien has a lens shaped with extraordinary life experiences, which have a symbiotic relationship with his diverse array of film projects. In other words, the two feed off of each other, and push forward the creation of something truly unique. The New York native has seen it all when it comes to the development, production, release, and perhaps most importantly, the collaborative aspects of film. He wrote one of the seminal jazz films about the colorful life and career of jazz pianist Joe Albany, Low Down, told through the perspective of his daughter, Amy-Jo, who served as co-writer. Directed by Jeff Preiss, the Sundance release surveyed their experiences in Los Angeles in the 1970s, and starred John Hawkes, Elle Fanning, Lena Headey, Glenn Close and Flea; the latter of whom served as executive producer along with bandmate Anthony Kiedis. In the late 90s, Topper wrote Paul Newman’s second to last live action film, Where the Money Is, with E. Max Frye (Something Wild; Foxcatcher) and Carroll Cartwright. Produced by Ridley Scott, the film co-starred Dermot Mulroney and Linda Fiorentino, and journeyed the plight of a professional thief who experiences a stroke and is “forced” into a nursing home. Topper’s other notable collaborators include James Cameron, Michael Bay, Quincy Jones, Steve Golin and Robin Williams. In our conversation, we discussed the process of writing on a typewriter; trial by fire in Hollywood; working on the ill-fated Dungeons and Dragons, which starred Jeremy Irons and Marlon Wayans; and collaborating with Fisher Stevens, Elmore Leonard the late Willie Garson.

Opening Credits: 1st Contact - Wohin I Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0); So Cow - Off Out I Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). Closing Credits: Miss Derringer - He Hung On A Sunday I Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)