John Gerald Collee (born 1955) is a Scottish novelist, journalist and screenwriter whose film scripts include Master and Commander (2003), Happy Feet (2006), Creation (2009), and Walking with Dinosaurs (2013). Collee practised medicine and wrote several novels before he became a full-time screenwriter. He is married to Deborah Snow, with whom he has three children. He occasionally lectures on creative writing.
I think to be successful stories have to operate on the level of parable. They have to be a sort of philosophical discourse in disguise. To put it another way: if you don't have a theme you're sunk. Once you know the theme, you know exactly what you're doing. Sometimes you don't get it till the second or third draft, but once you know it changes everything.
2
Less dialogue is generally more. Oddly, what people pay money to see at the cinema is the process of thought -- or rather their own thoughts and emotions reflected in the face of an actor.
3
You know, this whole thing about the solitary tortured artist is nonsense I think. All the great creative people I know have become great precisely because they know how to get along with people and swim around in the communal unconscious.
4
Being a screenwriter is like being a furniture maker. Every piece you make is different but there are only a few structures which work. You get to know at a glance if it will stand up or fall over.
5
Clearly anyone can write a great story if they have sufficiently vivid experiences to write about. My advice to young writers is get a life. Find out what fear, pain, exhaustion love and hunger really feel like. Then work out how to put that feeling in pictures.
6
Most directors are egomaniacs. Thats why they're directors. And most successful writers are masters of adaptation, so they can get along with pretty much anyone.
7
If you're holding out to see your name in lights you're always going to be disappointed. The journey is two years minimum and you're names up there for two weeks at the very end ... if at all.
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Hotel Mumbai
2017
filming
Mahana
2016
screenplay
Tanna
2015
Frackman
2015
Documentary co-writer
Le dernier loup
2015
screenplay
Son of a Gun
2014
additional material
Tango Underpants
2014
Short written by
Walking with Dinosaurs 3D
2013
screenplay
Happy Feet Two
2011
characters - uncredited
Creation
2009/I
screen story / screenplay
Happy Feet
2006
written by
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
2003
screenplay
The Man Who Sued God
2001
uncredited
The Heart Surgeon
1997
TV Movie written by
Paper Mask
1990
novel / screenplay
Bergerac
1988-1990
TV Series by - 4 episodes
Star Cops
1987
TV Mini-Series written by - 3 episodes
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Hotel Mumbai
2017
executive producer filming
The Guests
2015
Short executive producer
The Water Diviner
2014
executive producer
Son of a Gun
2014
executive producer
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Son of a Gun
2014
script consultant
The View from Greenhaven
2008
script editor
Candy
2006
script editor
Do or Die
2001
TV Mini-Series script consultant - 2 episodes
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Paper Mask
1990
"LITTLE BLUE PILLS"
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Fish with Legs
2016
Short special thanks
Out in the Line-up
2014
Documentary thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
First Tuesday Book Club
2009
TV Series
Himself - Guest Panellist
Conquistadors
2000
TV Series documentary
Himself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2004
ALFS Award
London Critics Circle Film Awards
Screenwriter of the Year
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2007
Annie
Annie Awards
Best Writing in an Animated Feature Production
Happy Feet (2006)
2004
OFTA Film Award
Online Film & Television Association
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
2004
PFCS Award
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
Best Screenplay, Adapted
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
2004
USC Scripter Award
USC Scripter Award
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
2003
WAFCA Award
Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards
Best Screenplay, Adapted
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
Known for movies
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) as Writer
$1.5 Million
