REEL Ladies Presents Screenwriter Karen McCullah Lutz
“The Ugly Truth”
ABOUT THE FILM
Abby Richter (Katherine Heigl) is a
romantically challenged morning show producer whose search for Mr.
Perfect has left her hopelessly single. She’s in for a rude
awakening when her bosses team her with Mike Chadway (Gerard
Butler), a hardcore TV personality who promises to spill the ugly
truth on what makes men and women tick. Bristling at first sight,
the contentious co-workers make a bet: if his tips on how to land
and keep a guy don’t work, he’ll quit the business. But while Mike
coaches Abby through a fledgling romance, can he avoid falling for
her — and can she avoid falling for him?
PRODUCED BY
Karen McCullah Lutz (executive producer), Katherine Heigl
(executive producer), Kimberly di Bonaventura (producer), Andre
Lamal (executive producer), Gary Lucchesi (producer), Deborah Jelin
Newmyer (producer), Eric Reid (executive producer), Steven Reuther
(producer), Tom Rosenberg (producer), Kirsten Smith (producer)
CAST
Katherine Heigl, Gerard Butler, Eric Winter, John Michael Higgins,
Nick Searcy
WRITTEN BY
Karen McCullah Lutz & Nicole Eastman
Q&A WITH KAREN
RL: Tell us about the film The Ugly Truth.
KML: IT’S A RATED R ROMANTIC COMEDY. IMAGINE A HEPBURN/TRACY
MOVIE WHERE THEY HAVE FOUL MOUTHS.
RL: What was the writing process like for this film?
KML: THE ORIGINAL SCRIPT WAS WRITTEN ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO.
KIRSTEN AND I WERE BROUGHT ON TO REVAMP IT. WHEN THE PRODUCERS TOLD
US TO MAKE IT RATED R, WE HAD A BLAST.
RL: How long did it take to shop the script around?
KML:THE SCRIPT WAS SET UP AT LAKESHORE AND AFTER WE TURNED IN
OUR DRAFT, THEY SENT IT TO SONY WHO PARTNERED WITH THEM TO MAKE
IT.
RL: This is the 2nd film you came on board as the Executive
Producer on your projects, how do you juggle both roles?
KML: FOR THIS MOVIE, IT WAS MORE OF US HAVING A ROLE IN CASTING.
WE HELPED GET KATHERINE HEIGL ATTACHED BECAUSE WE KNEW HER.
RL: How is this film different from your other comedies?
KML: IT’S R RATED, SO IT’S A LOT MORE TRUTHFUL TO THE WAY WE
SPEAK AND THE THINGS WE FIND FUNNY. IT’S QUITE BAWDY AND BECAUSE OF
THAT, IT’S MORE ADULT THAN OUR OTHER MOVIES. IT’S ALSO MORE OF A
TWO HANDER. THE GERARD BUTLER ROLE IS EQUALLY AS STRONG AS THE
KATHERINE HEIGL ROLE. IT WAS A LOT OF FUN FOR US TO WRITE A MALE
CHARACTER LIKE THAT.
RL: What is your favorite scene from the movie?
KML: PROBABLY THE VIBRATING UNDERWEAR SCENE
RL: What is next for you?
KML: I HAVE A SOLO PROJECT CALLED “PERMISSION” THAT’S GOING INTO
PRODUCTION AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND KIRSTEN AND I ARE WRITING A
NEW SCRIPT FOR ANNA FARIS CALLED “GOLDDIGGING 101” AT
PARAMOUNT.
RL: What advice would you give to upcoming screenwriters?
KML: KEEP WRITING AND WRITING AND WRITING — DON’T STOP AND
OBSESS ABOUT REWRITING THE FIRST SCRIPT, JUST KEEP WRITING NEW
ONES.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKER
Karen McCullah
Lutz co-wrote the movies Legally Blonde starring Reese
Witherspoon, 10 Things I Hate About You starring Julia Stiles and
Heath Ledger and She’s the Man starring Amanda Bynes and Channing
Tatum. She currently has movie projects in development at
Paramount, Columbia, Universal, New Line and Intermedia.
Her newest film, The Ugly Truth, is set for release July 24, 2009.
Starring Katherine Heigl & Gerard Butler.
“It’s a bit more adult than my past films. I think it’s my funniest
one to date. It tested at a 92 and most romantic comedies test in
the 60s, so i have high hopes for it and if it’s a hit, I’ll get to
keep writing rated R movies, which would make me very happy as i am
a raunchy, foul-mouthed girl”! ~ Karen McCullah Lutz
Karen is a graduate of James Madison University in Virginia. Before
becoming a screenwriter and novelist, her careers included
marketing for an investment firm, public relations for
environmental non-profits, painting furniture that she sold in
galleries in New Mexico, travel writing, and teaching creative
workshops to teen gang members.
Karen has lived in the Philippines, Maryland, Japan, New Jersey,
Virginia, New Mexico, and Colorado. She moved to Los Angeles nine
years ago after the sale of her first script and currently resides
in the Hollywood Hills with her husband Walter and her dog Millie.
When not writing, she hikes, surfs and travels. She also wastes
several hours a day checking her email and watching soap
operas.
HER FILMS
10 Things I Hate About You, Legally Blonde, Ella Enchanted, She’s
the Man, House Bunny, Long Time Gone, The Ugly Truth
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