Jack Epps, Jr.
Jack Epps, Jr. is a professional screenwriter, and Professor and Chair of the Writing for Screen and Television Division at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. Epps is best known for co-authoring the screenplays for Top Gun, Dick Tracy, and The Secret of My Success. In addition, he has recently authored, Screenwriting is Rewriting, published by Bloomsbury Books.
Epps became involved in motion pictures while an undergraduate at Michigan State University. He wrote and directed award winning films including, Throwing Off, From Dusk and The Pigs vs. The Freaks. Upon arriving in California, Epps co-wrote an episode of Hawaii Five-O and Kojak. While continuing to pursue his writing, Epps worked as a cinematographer and assistant cameraman on local productions. Epps also had the good fortune to work as an assistant cameraman for Orson Welles on his last film, The Other Side of the Wind.
Epps became involved in motion pictures while an undergraduate at Michigan State University. He wrote and directed award winning films including, Throwing Off, From Dusk and The Pigs vs. The Freaks. Upon arriving in California, Epps co-wrote an episode of Hawaii Five-O and Kojak. While continuing to pursue his writing, Epps worked as a cinematographer and assistant cameraman on local productions. Epps also had the good fortune to work as an assistant cameraman for Orson Welles on his last film, The Other Side of the Wind.
When Epps united with his screenwriting professor from Michigan State University, Jim Cash, they began their screenwriting career. After seven unproduced screenplays, their first produced screenplay was Top Gun which went on to become the #1 world wide box office hit of 1986. Within eleven months, the writing team of Cash & Epps had three produced screenplays in the theaters: Top Gun, Legal Eagles, and The Secret of My Success. Over his career, Epps co-authored over 25 screenplays and eight produced motion pictures including Dick Tracy, Turner & Hooch, and Anaconda. Epps also did extensive revisions on Sister Act and Die Hard With A Vengeance.
Epps had the pleasure to write for some of the most successful actors in the motion picture industry including Robert Redford, Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Warren Beatty, Michael J. Fox, Debra Winger, Al Pacino, Anthony Edwards, Bruce Willis, Meg Ryan, and John Voight. He also worked with such motion picture giants as Ivan Reitman, Jerry Breckheimer, Joel Silver, Herb Ross, Tony Scott and Dick Donner.
Motion pictures Epps has co-written have been nominated for eleven Academy Awards®, and have won four Academy Awards®. Epps was honored as the recipient of the Victoria and Jack Oakie Endowed Chair in Comedy at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, and in 2008, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Michigan State University. The team of Cash & Epps was honored by the American Film Institute for one of the Top 100 Greatest Quotes in American Cinema for their line: "I feel the need… the need for speed." Epps was named one of fifteen “Noteworthy Art Professors” in Los Angeles by the Art Career Project. In 2015 his film, Top Gun, was one of twenty five films added to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. Epps is a member of the Writer's Guild of America, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Epps had the pleasure to write for some of the most successful actors in the motion picture industry including Robert Redford, Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Warren Beatty, Michael J. Fox, Debra Winger, Al Pacino, Anthony Edwards, Bruce Willis, Meg Ryan, and John Voight. He also worked with such motion picture giants as Ivan Reitman, Jerry Breckheimer, Joel Silver, Herb Ross, Tony Scott and Dick Donner.
Motion pictures Epps has co-written have been nominated for eleven Academy Awards®, and have won four Academy Awards®. Epps was honored as the recipient of the Victoria and Jack Oakie Endowed Chair in Comedy at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, and in 2008, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Michigan State University. The team of Cash & Epps was honored by the American Film Institute for one of the Top 100 Greatest Quotes in American Cinema for their line: "I feel the need… the need for speed." Epps was named one of fifteen “Noteworthy Art Professors” in Los Angeles by the Art Career Project. In 2015 his film, Top Gun, was one of twenty five films added to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. Epps is a member of the Writer's Guild of America, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.