September 14 – BLACK MASS

(registration deadline: Friday, September 11)

Meet on the 20th Century Fox studio lot for an in-depth analysis and discussion of the screenplay BLACK MASS.

Johnny Depp heads an all-star cast in the true story of infamous mob boss Whitey Bulger, second on the FBI’s most-wanted list for 12 years (behind only Osama bin Laden), who became an FBI informant to take down the Mafia family invading his turf.

The 2001 book Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob by Dick Lehr and Gerard O’Neill was adapted by screenwriter Jez Butterworth (Edge of Tomorrow, Fair Game) and executive producer Mark Mallouk (Rush, A Walk Among the Tombstones).

Cast includes: Joe Edgerton (The Gift), Benedict Cumberbatch (12 Years a Slave, The Imitation Game), Dakota Johnson (Fifty Shades of Grey), Kevin Bacon (The Following), Jesse Plemons (Breaking Bad), Peter Sarsgaard (An Education), Corey Stoll (House of Cards), Sienna Miller (American Sniper), Adam Scott (Sleeping with Other People), and Juno Temple (Maleficent).

Directed by Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart, Out of the Furnace), the film premieres September 4 at the Venice Film Festival.

Release date: September 18 (Warner Bros.).

Rated R. 122 minutes. 113 pages. Crime Drama.

DAVID KOHNER ZUCKERMAN will provide in-depth analysis and lead our discussion. David began his producing career as a production associate on Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles before heading his own production company, DKZ Films, where he produced the comedy Strictly Sexual, which found unexpected popularity on the fledgling streaming service Hulu in 2010, spawning a limited six-episode series. His other producing credits include All I Want for Christmas (Hallmark), Chump Change (Miramax), Caught in the Act (Lifetime), and the just-completed The Fourth Noble Truth starring Harry Hamlin. David is also the president of ScriptCoach.com and CEO and co-founder of VirtualPitchFest.com.