Screenwriter Profile: David Peoples

The Writer:

David Webb Peoples is the writer behind three of my favorite films of all time: Blade Runner, 12 Monkeys, and Unforgiven. His resume is on the short side compared to some, but his scripts are absolute masterpieces. Blade Runner is considered one of the best sci-fi films of all time, and Unforgiven is at the top of most people’s lists of westerns (if you haven’t seen it or read it, I highly recommend it — it’s an excellent character study for screenwriters.)

Credits:

Soldier (written by) – 1998

Twelve Monkeys (screenplay – as David Peoples) – 1995

Hero (screenplay) / (story) – 1992

Unforgiven (written by) – 1992

Fatal Sky (screenplay – as Anthony Able) / (story – as Anthony Able) – 1990

The Salute of the Jugger (written by – as David Peoples) – 1989

Leviathan (screenplay – as David Peoples) / (story – as David Peoples) – 1989

Ladyhawke (screenplay – as David Peoples) – 1985

Blade Runner (screenplay – as David Peoples) – 1982

The Day After Trinity (Documentary) – 1981

Quotes:

Quite an experience to live in fear, isn’t it? That’s what it is to be a slave. (Blade Runner)

Just because we let them smelly fools ride us like horses don’t mean we gotta let them brand us like horses. Maybe we ain’t nothin’ but whores, but we, by God, we ain’t horses. (Unforgiven)

It’s a hell of a thing, killing a man. You take away all he’s got and all he’s ever gonna have. (Unforgiven)