About

Known credits:
42
Birthday:
1943-07-23
Place of birth:
New York City, New York
Website:
N/A

David Giler

Overview

David Giler (July 23, 1943 – December 19, 2020) was an American filmmaker who has been active in the motion picture industry since the early 1960s.

He started his career as a writer, providing scripts for television programs such as Kraft Suspense Theatre and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.. He then moved to screenplays in the 70's, helping to write films such as The Parallax View and the original version of Fun With Dick and Jane. He produced his first film in 1970, the critically reviled Myra Breckinridge, an adaptation of Gore Vidal's controversial novel (he also co-wrote the film with director Michael Sarne). He helped Walter Hill produce the legendary horror thriller Alien in 1979, and it is for this film that he is probably best remembered. He and Hill became embroiled in a much-publicized behind-the-scenes fight with Alien's original writer, Dan O'Bannon, over who was to receive screenplay credit. Giler and Hill claim that they completely rewrote the script from top to bottom, and therefore they wanted to relegate O'Bannon to a "story by" credit only. O'Bannon claims that they did little more than change the names of the characters and dialogue, and felt that the two were trying to bully him out of the more prestigious screenplay credit. As evidenced by the interviews on the supplemental DVD features, the two parties were extremely antagonistic when it comes to this topic (O'Bannon has since died), though O'Bannon was the only one to receive credit for the screenplay in the final film. The various drafts can be found online, allowing audiences to decide for themselves.

Giler worked with Hill on several more projects, including the continuation of the Alien franchise. The two were responsible for the final and very controversial rewrite of the Alien 3 story which killed off the Bishop, Hicks and Newt characters from Aliens. Some of the films that he wrote during this period include The Money Pit, Southern Comfort, and an uncredited rewrite for Beverly Hills Cop II.

He also directed one film, The Black Bird (1975).

Description above from the Wikipedia article David Giler, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.    

Known for

Acting
2003 Superior Firepower: Making 'Aliens' Actor Self 59
Average
2003 Wreckage and Rage: Making 'Alien³' Actor Self 59
Average
2003 One Step Beyond: The Making of Alien Resurrection Actor Self 59
Average
2003 The Beast Within: Making Alien Actor Self 59
Average
2002 The Alien Saga Actor Self 59
Average

Directing
1975 The Black Bird Directing Director 58
Average

Writing
2002 Undisputed Writing Writer 62
Fair
1997 Alien Resurrection Writing Characters 61
Fair
1992 Alien³ Writing Screenplay 63
Fair
1986 Aliens Writing Story 78
Good
1986 The Money Pit Writing Screenplay 63
Fair
1981 Southern Comfort Writing Screenplay 62
Fair
1977 Fun with Dick and Jane Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1975 The Black Bird Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1974 The Parallax View Writing Screenplay 62
Fair
1970 Myra Breckinridge Writing Screenplay 57
Average

Production
2017 Alien: Covenant Production Producer 61
Fair
2017 Alien: Covenant - Prologue: The Crossing Production Producer 59
Average
2012 Prometheus Production Producer 65
Fair
2007 Aliens vs Predator: Requiem Production Producer 52
Average
2004 AVP: Alien vs. Predator Production Producer 58
Average
2002 Ritual Production Producer 57
Average
2002 Undisputed Production Producer 62
Fair
1997 Alien Resurrection Production Producer 61
Fair
1997 Perversions of Science Production Executive Producer 68
Fair
1996 Bordello of Blood Production Executive Producer 58
Average
1995 W.E.I.R.D. World Production Executive Producer 58
Average
1995 Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight Production Executive Producer 63
Fair
1994 Dragstrip Girl Production Producer 58
Average
1994 Girls in Prison Production Producer 58
Average
1994 Runaway Daughters Production Producer 58
Average
1994 Roadracers Production Producer 58
Average
1992 Alien³ Production Producer 63
Fair
1992 Two-Fisted Tales Production Executive Producer 58
Average
1989 Let It Ride Production Producer 59
Average
1989 Tales from the Crypt Production Executive Producer 79
Good
1986 Aliens Production Executive Producer 78
Good
1986 The Money Pit Production Executive Producer 63
Fair
1985 Rustlers' Rhapsody Production Producer 58
Average
1981 Southern Comfort Production Producer 62
Fair
1979 Alien Production Producer 81
Very good
1970 Myra Breckinridge Production Producer 57
Average