John C. Richards

John C. Richards began his career with a focus on short stories, which he continued to write during his years as a rock guitarist in Canada and New Orleans. One of these, "Heart Too Big," was included in "Stubborn Light," an anthology of the best published work of "The Sun." Another was the genesis of the screenplay for the film, "Nurse Betty," which captured the Best Screenplay Award at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival. The only American film to win an award that year, "Nurse Betty" was also nominated for an Edgar. Renée Zellweger won a Golden Globe for her work in the title role. Richards wrote the voiceover narration (uncredited) in "American History 'X,'" directed by Tony Kaye, and the screenplay adaptation of Clive Cussler's novel, "Sahara" which starred Matthew McConaughey and Penelope Cruz, directed by Breck Eisner. His feature-length adaptations also include "Vivo," from Louis de Berniere's novel "Señor Vivo and the Coca Lord," and Elmore Leonard's "Tishomingo Blues." In 2017 he wrote "Paterno" for HBO, the story of the fall of Penn State coaching legend Joe Paterno, which aired in 2018, with Al Pacino in the lead role, directed by Barry Levinson. In 2022 Richards directed the short film, "The Picnic Basket," based on his stage play, which was produced by the West Coast Ensemble.