Randall Frakes
Encyclopedia
Randall Frakes is a film and science fiction writer primarily known for his work with long-time friends, Bill Wisher
, and James Cameron
on The Terminator
and Terminator 2: Judgment Day
.
While Frakes was in the U.S. Army, he was stationed in Europe, where he edited the newspaper for the 16th Signal Battalion. While editor, he won a Stars and Stripes
award for investigative journalism.
After the Army, he earned a degree in Film Writing and Production from Columbia College
, while also writing for Analog
, Fantastic
, and Fantasy & Science Fiction
.
His first film work was as a special effects cameraman for Roger Corman
, and a number of unproduced screenplays, before his collaborations with Wisher and Cameron, kicked off his professional film-writing career.
William Wisher Jr.
William H. Wisher Jr. is an American screenwriter. He is best known for his work with long-time friend James Cameron on The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day...
, and James Cameron
James Cameron
James Francis Cameron is a Canadian-American film director, film producer, screenwriter, editor, environmentalist and inventor...
on The Terminator
The Terminator
The Terminator is a 1984 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron, co-written by Cameron and William Wisher Jr., and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, and Linda Hamilton. The film was produced by Hemdale Film Corporation and distributed by Orion Pictures, and filmed in Los...
and Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Terminator 2: Judgment Day is a 1991 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron and written by Cameron and William Wisher Jr.. It stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Robert Patrick, and Edward Furlong...
.
While Frakes was in the U.S. Army, he was stationed in Europe, where he edited the newspaper for the 16th Signal Battalion. While editor, he won a Stars and Stripes
Stars and Stripes (newspaper)
Stars and Stripes is a news source that operates from inside the United States Department of Defense but is editorially separate from it. The First Amendment protection which Stars and Stripes enjoys is safeguarded by Congress to whom an independent ombudsman, who serves the readers' interests,...
award for investigative journalism.
After the Army, he earned a degree in Film Writing and Production from Columbia College
Columbia College
Columbia College may refer to one of several institutions of higher education in North America:In Canada* Columbia College , in Calgary* Columbia College , a two-year liberal arts institution in Vancouver...
, while also writing for Analog
Analog Science Fiction and Fact
Analog Science Fiction and Fact is an American science fiction magazine. As of 2011, it is the longest running continuously published magazine of that genre...
, Fantastic
Fantastic (magazine)
Fantastic was an American digest-size fantasy and science fiction magazine, published from 1952 to 1980. It was founded by Ziff-Davis as a fantasy companion to Amazing Stories. Early sales were good, and Ziff-Davis quickly decided to switch Amazing from pulp format to digest, and to cease...
, and Fantasy & Science Fiction
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction is a digest-size American fantasy and science fiction magazine first published in 1949 by Mystery House and then by Fantasy House. Both were subsidiaries of Lawrence Spivak's Mercury Publications, which took over as publisher in 1958. Spilogale, Inc...
.
His first film work was as a special effects cameraman for Roger Corman
Roger Corman
Roger William Corman is an American film producer, director and actor. He has mostly worked on low-budget B movies. Some of Corman's work has an established critical reputation, such as his cycle of films adapted from the tales of Edgar Allan Poe, and in 2009 he won an Honorary Academy Award for...
, and a number of unproduced screenplays, before his collaborations with Wisher and Cameron, kicked off his professional film-writing career.
Body of Work
- XenogenesisXenogenesis (film)Xenogenesis is a 1978 science fiction short film directed by Canadian director James Cameron.-Plot:A woman and an engineered man are sent in a gigantic sentient starship to search space for a place to start a new life cycle. Raj decides to take a look around the ship. He comes across a gigantic...
(1978 short), writer, director, and producer (with James CameronJames CameronJames Francis Cameron is a Canadian-American film director, film producer, screenwriter, editor, environmentalist and inventor...
) - Battle Beyond the StarsBattle Beyond the StarsBattle Beyond the Stars is a Roger Corman-produced science fiction film, directed by Jimmy T. Murakami and released in 1980. The film, intended as a "Magnificent Seven in outer space," is a pastiche of The Magnificent Seven, the Western remake of Akira Kurosawa's film Seven Samurai...
(1980), additional photographer - Escape from New YorkEscape from New YorkEscape from New York is a 1981 American science fiction action film directed and scored by John Carpenter. He co-wrote the screenplay with Nick Castle. The film is set in the near future in a crime-ridden United States that has converted Manhattan Island in New York City into a maximum security...
(1981), photographic effects - Galaxy of TerrorGalaxy of TerrorGalaxy of Terror is a 1981 science fiction/horror film produced by Roger Corman and directed by Bruce D. Clark. It stars Edward Albert, Erin Moran, Robert Englund, Ray Walston, Zalman King, Grace Zabriskie and Sid Haig...
(1981), photographic effects - Last Thirty Days of Liberty, unproduced screenplay
- DeathlokDeathlokDeathlok is a fictional cyborg published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in Astonishing Tales #25 , and was created by Rich Buckler and Doug Moench...
, unproduced screenplay - The TerminatorThe TerminatorThe Terminator is a 1984 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron, co-written by Cameron and William Wisher Jr., and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, and Linda Hamilton. The film was produced by Hemdale Film Corporation and distributed by Orion Pictures, and filmed in Los...
(1984, ISBN 0-553-25317-4), novelization - Roller Blade (1986), screenplay
- AliensAliens (film)Aliens is a 1986 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron and starring Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen, William Hope, and Bill Paxton...
(1986), synthesizer effects - Hell Comes to FrogtownHell Comes to FrogtownHell Comes to Frogtown is a 1988 cult film that was created by Donald G. Jackson. The screenplay for this film was written by Jackson and Randall Frakes. The film was directed by Jackson and R. J...
(1987), story, screenplay, and producer - Roller Blade Warriors: Taken by Force (1989), screenplay (as Lloyd Strathern) and lyrics
- Diplomatic Immunity (1991), screenplay
- Terminator 2: Judgment DayTerminator 2: Judgment DayTerminator 2: Judgment Day is a 1991 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron and written by Cameron and William Wisher Jr.. It stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Robert Patrick, and Edward Furlong...
(1991, ISBN 0-553-29169-6), novelization - The Divine Enforcer (1992), ghostwriter
- Twisted Fate (1993/II), writer and producer
- The ForceThe Force (film)The Force is a 1994 thriller film with Yasmine Bleeth and Jason Gedrick.-Plot:Cal Warner is a rookie cop who has frightening nightmares after his friend and fellow police officer, Des Flynn , is killed under suspicious circumstances: the soul of Des enters into the body of Cal in order to seek...
(1994), writer - Titanic: James Cameron's Illustrated ScreenplayTitanic (1997 film)Titanic is a 1997 American epic romance and disaster film directed, written, co-produced, and co-edited by James Cameron. A fictionalized account of the sinking of the RMS Titanic, it stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson, Kate Winslet as Rose DeWitt Bukater and Billy Zane as Rose's fiancé, Cal...
(1999, ISBN 0-0609-5307-1) author - BlowbackBlowback (film)Blowback is a 2000 film directed by Mark L. Lester. It follows detective Morrell as he investigates whether a series of murders, identical to those by Wittman , executed years ago, are copycat or if they could be Wittman himself...
(2000), screenplay - Sacrifice (2000), written by
- Devil's Prey (2001), writer
- Instinct to Kill (2001), writer
- Stealing CandyStealing CandyStealing Candy is a 2002 thriller film directed by Mark L. Lester and starring Daniel Baldwin.-Plot:The film revolves around three ex-cons who kidnap a famous Hollywood actress known for refusing to do nude scenes and persuade her to have sex on camera for a pay-per-view website....
(2002), screenplay - Bad KarmaBad Karma (2002 film)Bad Karma is a 2002 film directed by John Hough. Patsy Kensit stars as a mental patient who believes she is the reincarnated lover of Jack the Ripper and believes her psychiatrist is the reincarnated mass murderer...
(2002), writer - Empires of the DeepEmpires of the DeepEmpires of the Deep is a colossal 3D action-adventure fantasy motion picture. It is said to be the biggest US-China co-production in the history with its production budget reaching $100 million and is currently in production in Beijing under the working title Mermaid Island USA.-Plot:The story...
(2011), screenplay