Deric Washburn Explained

Deric Washburn is an American screenwriter.

Washburn graduated from Harvard College in 1959.^[1] He began his career as a playwright, penning the off-Broadway plays Ginger Anne^[2] and The Love Nest.^[3]

He is best known for having written the original screenplay of The Deer Hunter after having co-written the story with Michael Cimino, with whom he had previously worked on scripting the science fiction film, Silent Running in 1971.^[4] The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1978.

Washburn and Cimino spent three days writing the story, and then Washburn spent a month writing the script. Cimino then tried to deny him screenwriting credit. Washburn went to arbitration and was given full credit.^[5]

Filmography

• Silent Running (1971)
• The Deer Hunter (1978)
• The Border (1982)
• Extreme Prejudice (1987)

Unproduced scripts

• Heavy Dust, adapted from Manhunt by Peter Maas
• Gun for Sale, adapted from the book of the same name by Graham Greene
• Warrior, based on a screenplay by Dale Herd and Winston Jones^[6]
• The Murder of Napoleon, adapted from the book of the same name by Ben Weider and David Hapgood^[7]
• Yamashita's Gold, based on the alleged war loot stolen by the Japanese during World War II^[8]

Awards

As a member of the Actors Studio playwriting project, he received a $1500.00 award from the Edward Albee Foundation in 1964.^[9]

As a writer, Washburn was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay) and a WGA Award for "Best Drama Written Directly for the Screen" for The Deer Hunter, along with Quinn Redeker, Louis A. Garfinkle and Michael Cimino.^{[4] [10]}

Notes and References

1. New York Beat . Jet . February 21, 1963 . 63 . Google Books.
2. Book: Corrigan. Robert Willoughby. Hoffman . William M. . New American Plays: Volume 1 . . 1965 . 9780809007349.
3. News: Taubman . Howard . Theater: Lost Evening - 'The Love Nest' has Leueen McGrath . . January 28, 1963 . September 11, 2021.
4. News: The 51st Academy Awards (1979) Nominees and Winners. August 27, 2013. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).
5. News: Staff. Peter Biskind on Michael Cimino's Twisted, Tortured Legacy: "A Mystery in Death as He Was in Life". Hollywood Reporter. July 13, 2016 . September 11, 2021.
6. Web site: UNPUBLISHED UNFILMED 1986 SCREENPLAY "WARRIOR" DERIC WASHBURN WRITER DEER HUNTER. WorthPoint. September 4, 2023.
7. News: Honeycutt. Kirk. Jack Nicholson has the title role in.... Los Angeles Times. October 22, 1989. September 4, 2023.
8. Frook, John Evan. Williams, Michael. Pleskow, Spikings partner for pix. Variety. October 14, 1992. June 15, 2024.
9. News: Zolotow . Sam . 2 Kopit Plays Go To Actors Studio; Rockefeller Foundation Aids Experimental Staging . . February 3, 1964 . September 11, 2021.
10. Web site: Writers Guild of America, USA (1979). IMDb. 2019-05-18.