David Dalessandro
Encyclopedia
David Dalessandro is a University of Pittsburgh
administrator, currently serving as the associate vice chancellor of university development. Outside of his service to the Pitt
community, Dalessandro is best known as the unlikely creator of Snakes on a Plane
. Citing as inspiration an article he read about World War II
pilots having trouble in the Pacific
with snakes sneaking into cargo holds, he penned the original screenplay for the 2006 Samuel L. Jackson
thriller in 1992 and developed the script for the following years. In 1995, Dalessandro pitched the script to and was rejected by 30 studios until New Line Cinema
accepted it in 2004.
On the reason he wrote the screenplay Dalessandro has said: "People say, 'I hate snakes and I hate to fly.' These are animals that are both worshipped and feared. I don't know if it goes back to the Bible thing. Snakes and you in an enclosed area -- you can't get off the plane. You're trapped. People want to be scared, exhilarated. Being terrified is very much a part of the American movie-going public." http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06228/713732-254.stm
Although Snakes on a Plane is Dalessandro's first major big screen success, he has written several other screenplays. In 1998, he was a finalist in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
-sponsored Don and Gee Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting competition for his script Rough and Tumble, about an amateur football team in Western Pennsylvania in 1918. In 1997, Dalessandro's Bridge of Sighs was a finalist at the Austin Film Festival
. Currently, he is at work producing and directing a "no-to-low budget" mockumentary
titled The 43rd Annual Stone Lion Writer’s Conference.http://www.umc.pitt.edu/media/pcc/snakes_alive_2006AUG23.html
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
administrator, currently serving as the associate vice chancellor of university development. Outside of his service to the Pitt
University of Pittsburgh Panthers
The Pittsburgh Panthers, commonly also referred to as the Pitt Panthers, are the athletic teams of University of Pittsburgh, although the term is colloquially used to refer to other aspects of the university such as alumni, faculty, and students...
community, Dalessandro is best known as the unlikely creator of Snakes on a Plane
Snakes on a Plane
Snakes on a Plane is a 2006 American horror-action-thriller film directed by David R. Ellis and starring Samuel L. Jackson. It was released by New Line Cinema on August 18, 2006 in North America...
. Citing as inspiration an article he read about World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
pilots having trouble in the Pacific
Pacific Theater of Operations
The Pacific Theater of Operations was the World War II area of military activity in the Pacific Ocean and the countries bordering it, a geographic scope that reflected the operational and administrative command structures of the American forces during that period...
with snakes sneaking into cargo holds, he penned the original screenplay for the 2006 Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel Leroy Jackson is an American film and television actor and film producer. After becoming involved with the Civil Rights Movement, he moved on to acting in theater at Morehouse College, and then films. He had several small roles such as in the film Goodfellas before meeting his mentor,...
thriller in 1992 and developed the script for the following years. In 1995, Dalessandro pitched the script to and was rejected by 30 studios until New Line Cinema
New Line Cinema
New Line Cinema, often simply referred to as New Line, is an American film studio. It was founded in 1967 by Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne as a film distributor, later becoming an independent film studio. It became a subsidiary of Time Warner in 1996 and was merged with larger sister studio Warner...
accepted it in 2004.
On the reason he wrote the screenplay Dalessandro has said: "People say, 'I hate snakes and I hate to fly.' These are animals that are both worshipped and feared. I don't know if it goes back to the Bible thing. Snakes and you in an enclosed area -- you can't get off the plane. You're trapped. People want to be scared, exhilarated. Being terrified is very much a part of the American movie-going public." http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06228/713732-254.stm
Although Snakes on a Plane is Dalessandro's first major big screen success, he has written several other screenplays. In 1998, he was a finalist in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a professional honorary organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of motion pictures...
-sponsored Don and Gee Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting competition for his script Rough and Tumble, about an amateur football team in Western Pennsylvania in 1918. In 1997, Dalessandro's Bridge of Sighs was a finalist at the Austin Film Festival
Austin Film Festival
The Austin Film Festival was started in 1994 in Austin, Texas and is claimed to be "the first organization of its kind to focus on the writer’s unique creative contribution to the film and television industries"...
. Currently, he is at work producing and directing a "no-to-low budget" mockumentary
Mockumentary
A mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
titled The 43rd Annual Stone Lion Writer’s Conference.http://www.umc.pitt.edu/media/pcc/snakes_alive_2006AUG23.html