Guild goes 'Beyond'

Sribes gather to talk film credits

By AUSTIN MODINE

Some of Hollywood's most heralded writers discussed the merits of the "film by" credit during an annual Writers Guild of America "Beyond Words" discussion panel.

Attending the sesh Thursday at the Writers Guild Theatre were seven WGA award nominees for best original and best adapted screenplay.

The panel consisted of Paul Haggis ("Crash), Judd Apatow ("The 40-Year Old Virgin"), Grant Heslov ("Good Night, and Good Luck"), Diana Ossana ("Brokeback Mountain"), Jeffery Caine ("The Constant Gardener"), Josh Olson ("A History of Violence") and Stephen Gaghan ("Syriana"). Moderating the panel was Josh Friedman co-writer of "War of the Worlds" and "Chain Reaction."

Consisting of both scribes and scribe-directors hyphenates the group had mixed emotions about a director taking a "film by" credit for a work.

Gaghan told the panel he believes the motive for directors to take the major credit is largely "fear driven."

"I've wanted to take it," said Gaghan -- pausing to apologize that he didn't know others in the panel had done so in previous movies. "But there's an alchemy that happens that's bigger than any individual."

Gaghan gave his due, however, to the momentously crucial and expensive decisions a director must make on set every moment -- and the stress.

"You know what makes you feel better," retorted Apatow, "a 'film by' credit."

Winners of the WGA awards will be announced Feb. 4 in simultaneous ceremonies at the Hollywood Palladium and Gotham's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.