Screenwriter Randi Mayem Singer shares ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ development stories with The Road to Cinema Podcast. In the hit 1993 comedy, which earned close to half a billion dollars in worldwide box office receipts, Williams plays a divorced dad in the midst of a bitter custody battle with his ex-wife played by Sally Field. In a desperate move to spend quality time with his children, Williams disguises himself as a female housekeeper in an elaborate costume, make-up, and accent as he tries to avoid getting caught in drag by the many antagonistic forces in his orbit including a pre James Bond Pierce Brosnan as his ex-wife’s new love.
The intricate and detailed ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ make-up would go on to earn an Oscar. Randi Mayem Singer’s ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ screenplay was ranked “number 99” by the WGA on their ‘101 Funniest Screenplays’ list.
Randi shares how she landed the writing assignment from Fox where she developed the script from the novel ‘Alias Madame Doutfire’ and her first lunch meeting to discuss the script with a charismatic Robin Williams. We’ll also hear some candid thoughts on how a screenwriter visits a set during production, how a screenwriting competition judged by Steven Spielberg, Michael Douglas, and James L. Brooks would help earn her first break into the business, and a frequent podcast topic, the craft of pitching.
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You can follow Randi Mayem Singer on Twitter — @rmayemsinger