Piano Prodigy Jude Kofie to Headline Project Harmony’s 30th Anniversary Gala
4 days ago
United States Michael Arndt is an Academy Award-winning screenwriter known for his contributions to critically acclaimed films and popular franchises, transitioning from script reader to celebrated writer and consultant for major studios.
Michael Arndt worked as part of the Senior Creative Team for Pixar on films such as "Toy Story 3," "WALL-E," and "Cars 2," and collaborated on the screenplay for "Toy Story 3."
Michael Arndt has discussed screenwriting and offered advice as an Oscar winner with The Script Lab.
Michael Arndt contributed insights on screenwriting, particularly on achieving 'insanely great' endings, which was referenced by No Film School.
Michael Arndt was featured on the WGA East's 'OnWriting' podcast to discuss his video-lecture 'Endings.'
Michael Arndt maintains a YouTube channel and has been featured on other YouTube channels to discuss story and screenwriting, sharing expert advice, techniques, and insights from his experience.
Michael Arndt was born on November 11, 1965, in Harris County, Texas, USA. His early life involved living in various countries due to his father’s role in the Foreign Service, including Sri Lanka and India. Arndt attended The Potomac School and graduated from Langley High School in McLean, Virginia, before earning his degree from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. His career in the film industry began as a script reader, and he later worked as a personal assistant to actor Matthew Broderick until late 1999. It was at this point that he made the decision to dedicate his efforts to full-time screenwriting.
His breakthrough came with the screenplay for “Little Miss Sunshine,” which he drafted in three days between May 23-26, 2000. This script, which underwent approximately 100 revisions over a year with input from friends and family, was initially considered by Arndt for a no-budget feature due to its independent nature. However, after the Endeavor Talent Agency read the script in July 2001, producers Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa acquired it. The project eventually landed at Focus Features, where it spent three years in pre-production. Arndt was briefly let go when he disagreed with story changes but was rehired. The film, released on August 18, 2006, earned him an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, a BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay, and a Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay. This achievement led to his invitation to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Following his success with “Little Miss Sunshine,” Arndt collaborated with Pixar personnel on “Toy Story 3” starting in 2006, receiving a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. He became the first screenwriter to be nominated for both Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay for his initial two screenplays. Arndt’s extensive filmography includes writing for “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens” (2015), “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” (2013), and “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” (2023). He has also contributed as an additional story material writer for “Inside Out” (2015) and a story consultant for “Incredibles 2” (2018), and has used the pseudonyms Michael deBruyn and Rick Kerb for script revisions on projects like “Oblivion” (2013) and “A Walk in the Woods” (2015).
Curious about our offerings or have inquiries? We're eager to assist!
Just complete the form, and we'll respond promptly.
