This article is about the screenwriter. For the professional wrestler see Ronald Herd.Ronald Bass (born March 26, 1942), sometimes credited as Ron Bass, is an American screenwriter. Also a film producer, Bass's work is characterized as being highly in demand, and he is thought to be among the most highly paid writers in Hollywood. He is often called the "King of the Pitches". In 1988, he received the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Rain Man, and films that Bass is associated with are regularly nominated for multiple motion picture awards.
One of the earliest deals Ronald Bass made as a screenwriter, was a two-script deal at 20th Century Fox in the early 1980's. The deal paid Bass $125,000 per script, but neither script got produced.
2
Along with writing partner Jen Smolka, Ron Bass did some uncredited additional writing on Soul Surfer (2011). Bass and Smolka did end up with a 'co-producer' credit each.
3
Did an uncredited rewrite of the Arthur Penn thriller Target (1985).
4
Wrote an early draft of the screenplay for Just Like Heaven (2005), when it was in development under its original title, "If Only It Were True". At the time, Steven Spielberg was attached to direct it. However, upon reading Bass' draft of the script, Spielberg passed and went on to another project. This was one of several projects that Spielberg and Bass nearly collaborated on.
5
Did a set of early revisions to the script for The Lion King (1994) with screenwriter T.J. Allen in 1990. Bass was one of dozens of screenwriters to work on the script over the course of development, but did not receive any credit and it is uncertain if any of his work made it on the screen. He was hired to help T.J. Allen punch up Allen's original draft.
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In the early 2000's, Ronald Bass was one of more than a dozen screenwriters who worked on the script for Bad Boys II (2003), however in the end, he did not receive any credit. His script doctoring was a part of his overall deal with Sony.
7
Wrote an adaptation of the screenplay for the film Monte Carlo (2011), but was rewritten by multiple writers and did not receive any credit when it was release.
8
Started writing at the age of six but gave it up in his late teens after a teacher criticized a novel he had written. He did not start again until he was age 32. He didn't begin his Hollywood screenwriting career until he was 42 years old, after having spent 17 years as an entertainment lawyer.
Member of the jury at the Venice Film Festival in 1997.
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A prolific Oscar-winning screenwriter. He is in such demand, that he employs a staff to help him research his material.
14
Carolco Pictures paid him $2 million for an adaptation of T.R. Wright's supernatural thriller, "Manhattan Ghost Story", in 1990. During the development of the project, Julia Roberts and Richard Gere were attached to star, as a possible follow-up project to their hit Pretty Woman (1990).
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
The King's Daughter
2017
screenplay completed
Eleven Percent
screenplay announced
Untitled My Best Friend's Wedding TV Follow-Up
TV Series announced
Ice
2017
TV Series creator - 1 episode
Before We Go
2014/I
screenplay - as Ron Bass / story - as Ron Bass
Space Warriors
2013
screenplay - as Ron Bass / story - as Ron Bass
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
2011
screenplay - as Ron Bass
Monologues Volume 1
2010
Short
Amelia
2009
written by - as Ron Bass
Mozart and the Whale
2005
written by - as Ron Bass
The Lazarus Child
2005
screenplay
Passion of Mind
2000
written by - as Ron Bass
Snow Falling on Cedars
1999
screenplay - as Ron Bass
Entrapment
1999
screenplay - as Ron Bass / story - as Ron Bass
Swing Vote
1999
TV Movie written by - as Ron Bass
Invisible Child
1999
TV Movie story - as Ron Bass
Border Line
1999
TV Movie story - as Ron Bass / teleplay - as Ron Bass
Stepmom
1998
screenplay - as Ron Bass
What Dreams May Come
1998
screenplay - as Ron Bass
How Stella Got Her Groove Back
1998
screenplay - as Ron Bass
My Best Friend's Wedding
1997
written by
Moloney
TV Series creator - 21 episodes, 1996 - 1997 writer - 1 episode, 1996
Dangerous Minds
1996-1997
TV Series creator - 17 episodes
Waiting to Exhale
1995
screenplay
Dangerous Minds
1995
screenplay
Reunion
1994
TV Movie teleplay
The Enemy Within
1994
TV Movie teleplay - as Ron Bass
When a Man Loves a Woman
1994
written by
The Joy Luck Club
1993
screenplay
Sleeping with the Enemy
1991
screenplay
Rain Man
1988
screenplay
Gardens of Stone
1987
screenplay
Black Widow
1987
written by
Code Name: Emerald
1985
novel "The Emerald Illusion" / screenplay
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Untitled My Best Friend's Wedding TV Follow-Up
TV Series executive producer announced
Ice
2016
TV Series executive producer
Spare Parts
2015/I
co-producer - as Ron Bass
Soul Surfer
2011
co-producer - as Ron Bass
Amelia
2009
executive producer - as Ron Bass
Mozart and the Whale
2005
producer - as Ron Bass
The Lazarus Child
2005
executive producer
Passion of Mind
2000
producer - as Ron Bass
Snow Falling on Cedars
1999
producer - as Ron Bass
Entrapment
1999
executive producer - as Ron Bass
Stepmom
1998
executive producer - as Ron Bass
What Dreams May Come
1998
executive producer
How Stella Got Her Groove Back
1998
executive producer
My Best Friend's Wedding
1997
producer
Dangerous Minds
1996-1997
TV Series executive producer - 17 episodes
Moloney
1996
TV Series executive producer - 1 episode
Waiting to Exhale
1995
executive producer
When a Man Loves a Woman
1994
executive producer
The Joy Luck Club
1993
producer
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
When a Man Loves a Woman
1994
AA Man #1
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Journey of Rain Man
2004
Video documentary short
Himself
Spotlight on Location: Snow Falling on Cedars
2000
TV Movie documentary
Himself / Interviewee
HBO First Look
1997
TV Series documentary
Himself
The 61st Annual Academy Awards
1989
TV Special
Himself - Winner: Best Original Screenplay
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Once in a Lew Moon
2015
Documentary
Himself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2003
Hollywood Film Award
Hollywood Film Awards
Outstanding Achievement in Screenwriting
2003
Lifetime Achievement Award
Ojai Film Festival
1998
ShoWest Award
ShoWest Convention, USA
Screenwriter of the Year
1989
Oscar
Academy Awards, USA
Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
Rain Man (1988)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1998
OFTA Film Award
Online Film & Television Association
Best Comedy/Musical Picture
My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)
1998
Golden Satellite Award
Satellite Awards
Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical
My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)
1995
BAFTA Film Award
BAFTA Awards
Best Screenplay - Adapted
The Joy Luck Club (1993)
1994
USC Scripter Award
USC Scripter Award
The Joy Luck Club (1993)
1994
WGA Award (Screen)
Writers Guild of America, USA
Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
The Joy Luck Club (1993)
1990
BAFTA Film Award
BAFTA Awards
Best Screenplay - Original
Rain Man (1988)
1989
Golden Globe
Golden Globes, USA
Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
Rain Man (1988)
1989
David
David di Donatello Awards
Best Foreign Screenplay (Migliore Sceneggiatura Straniera)
$200,000
