Steven Zaillian

A veteran go-to script doctor in the industry, Steven Zaillian has contributed uncredited to screenplays on a number of projects over the years. They include Die Stunde der Patrioten (1992), Crimson Tide - In tiefster Gefahr (1995), Twister (1996), Zwielicht (1996), Amistad - Das Sklavenschiff (1997), Der Soldat James Ryan (1998), Black Hawk Down (2001), Road to Perdition (2002) and Der Mann, der niemals lebte (2008). He was also called upon in post-production to rewrite some scenes for re-shoots of Salt (2010).

The similarity between the big directors I've worked with is that they allow the writer to find a way of doing what they want done without saying 'do it this way.' They describe what they want, then let the writer figure out a way to do it.