Screenwriter David Franzoni's first produced script was "Jumpin' Jack Flash" (1986), but he really opened the industry's eyes with his screen adaptation of "Citizen Cohn" (HBO, 1992), a biopic of famed attorney Roy Cohn, earning CableACE, Peabody and PEN West Literary awards as well as an Emmy nomination. While working on the screenplay for Steven Spielberg's "Amistad" (1997), about a slave ship mutiny, Franzoni signed a first-look deal with DreamWorks involving three projects, two of which he would write and produce, and a third he would write, produce and direct. Before the release of
First produced screenplay, "Jumpin' Jack Flash"; credited as David H Franzoni; provided the story and was one of four credited writers on the script
1992
Breaskthrough script, the teleplay for the HBO biopic "Citizen Cohn"; earned a 1993 Emmy nomination
1996
Signed a first look deal with DreamWorks SKG to write, produce and direct features
1997
Served as screenwriter for Steven Spielberg's "Amistad"; reportedly Steve Zallian rewrote his script, but Franzoni ended up with sole screen credit
1997
Named (along with Spielberg and others) in a plagiarism suit brought by author Barabra Chase-Riboud who claimed "Amistad" was based on her novel "Echo of Lions"; suit settled out of court
