Eric Max Frye (born 1956) is an American screenwriter, film director, and television producer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for his work on the film Foxcatcher (2015).
Early life and education Frye was born in Oregon and raised in Eugene. His parents were Helen (Jackson) Frye, a federal judge, and William Frye.Turnquist, Kristi. "Judge files an appeal on behalf of 'Amos and Andrew' screenings ", The Oregonian, March 11, 1993. He attended Lewis & Clark College in Portland for one year before moving to Europe. He lived in Paris and worked as a model in Austria.
After returning to the United States, Frye considered becoming a painter and moved to New York's East Village in 1981 before attending New York University Film School a few years later. Talking a mandatory writing class, he discovered an affinity for screenwriting. "I pursued it hard," he recalled, "and got lucky."
Career While still in film school, Frye wrote the early drafts of what would become the screenplay for Something Wild (1986). That same year, Frye appeared in the music video for Bizarre Love Triangle directed by Robert Longo in which Frye argues about reincarnation with actress Jodi Long.
Other early writing credits included the 1993 comedy film Amos & Andrew, which he also directed, and the third episode in the 2001 HBO miniseries Band of Brothers.
Frye was a co-screenwriter for Foxcatcher (2014), a film about John du Pont and his 1996 murder of World and Olympic champion wrestler, Dave Schultz. Director Bennett Miller came to Frye with the project, who was intrigued by the reverse direction of the story arc: instead of an athlete working his or her way to the top, this story began with an Olympic champion who finds himself back at the bottom.
Frye taught screenwriting for many years, emphasizing conflict as an essential ingredient. "You want to have mean people, bullies, cheaters, criminals as part of your story. They are much more interesting characters than people who follow the rules." Billy Wilder is an influence; his portrait hangs in Frye's kitchen.
Filmography Film Writer Something Wild (1986) Amos & Andrew (1993) (Also director) Palmetto (1998) Where the Money Is (2000) Ten Minutes Older: The Cello (2002) (Segment "The Enlightenment") Foxcatcher (2014)
Script consultant Dogville (2003)
Uncredited writing contributions Kangaroo Jack (2003) Fracture (2007)
Television + Year TitleWriterExecutiveProducer Notes2001Band of Brothers Episode "Carentan"2003Second NatureTV movie2018The AlienistWrote 3 episode
Awards and nominations Award Year Category Title Result Academy Award2015 Best Original Screenplay Foxcatcher Christopher Award2002Television & CableBand of Brothers Edgar Award1987 Best Motion Picture Screenplay Something Wild Independent Spirit Award2015Special Distinction AwardFoxcatcherPrimetime Emmy Award2002Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series or MovieBand of Brothers2018Outstanding Limited SeriesThe Alienist Writers Guild of America Award2015 Best Original ScreenplayFoxcatcher
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