American Author Proposal

American Author Proposal

 

            For my American Author paper, I want to research Alan Ball. Alan Ball was born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA on May 13^th, 1957. He grew up in the suburb of Marietta. Even though Alan Ball was an undergraduate student from Florida State University School of Theatre, but he did not receive his diploma. Alan Ball is best know for writing his screen play for the Oscar winning film, “American Beauty” as well as for creating and writing “Six Feet Under.” He is also known for being a director, producer and occasional actor, for other plays and movies.

In total Alan Ball has written eight whole bodies of work. Two movies, five television shows, as well as five plays. The entitled movies are “American Beauty” and “Nothing is Private” also known as “Towel Head”. Out of his five television credits he is best known as the head writer for HBO’s success show “Six Feet Under.” His other television credits are “Oh Grow Up”, “Cybil”, “Grace Under Fire” and “True Blood.” One of the many thing Alan ball in know for are his comedic plays, including: "Made For a Woman", "Bachelor Holiday", "The Amazing Adventures of Tense Guy" and "Your Mother's Butt."

For all of these screenwrites Alan Ball has received An Oscar, (for “American Beauty”) as well as ten other rewards and has been nominated for sixteen awards in total. Those award shows were: WGA Award (Screen), for American Beauty; WGA Award (TV), for Six Feet Under; SEFCA Award, for American Beauty; ShoWest Award, for best screenwriter of the year; Golden Satellite Award, for best original screen play; Television Producer of the Year Award in Episodic, for both Six Feet Under as well as Grace Under Fire (in both 2003, 2004 and 2006); OFCS Award, for American Beauty; ALFS Award, for screenwriter of the year; Sierra Award, for best screenplay; Golden Globes, for best motion picture; Stephen F. Kolzak Award; DGA Award, for Six Feet Under (three years in a row); Chlotrudis Award, for best original screenplay; BAFTA Film Award, for American Beauty’s screen play. He has also been nominated for the Emmys four times, in 2002, 2003, 2005, as well as 2006; he how ever only won the 2002 Emmy award.

What draws me to research the screenwriter is ability to be morbid but also be able to use comedy and romance in the same piece of work. I also enjoy how much of himself he puts into some of his characters. Alan Ball is outspokenly gay and his work often includes gay issues or characters such as David Fisher, who is one of the main characters on "Six Feet Under." I think this would be an interesting topic to use as part of my American author paper. Another issue I wanted to discuss is the mortality issue that constantly arises on Six Feet Under. In the end of the series one of the brothers, named Nate, passes away from AVM disease. Through out the show the family business is dealing with death, which makes them seem as if they are immune to it. But with the dieing of one of the family members brings you back to the reality: “Everything Has to End Sometime.”

The three bodies of work I want to focus on, for my paper, are: “American Beauty;” “Five Women in the Same Dress;” and “Six Feet Under;” especially the pilot and the series finale to see how the show progresses. I also how ever want to read others of his plays, if I am able to find the screen writes.