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Bill Lancaster Papers

Finding aid created by Writers Guild Foundation Archive staff using RecordEXPRESS Writers Guild Foundation Archive 7000 West Third Street , 90048 (323) 782-4680 [email protected] https://www.wgfoundation.org/archive/ 2021

Bill Lancaster Papers WGF-MS-112 1 Descriptive Summary Title: Bill Lancaster Papers Dates: 1975-1987 Collection Number: WGF-MS-112 Creator/Collector: Lancaster, Bill, 1947-1997 Extent: 10 linear feet Repository: Writers Guild Foundation Archive Los Angeles, California 90048 Abstract: The Bill Lancaster Papers, 1975-1987, consist of Lancaster’s scripts and project files, both of produced and unproduced film and TV titles, written during his screenwriting career. Well represented in the collection are The , Go To Japan, The Thing, Firestarter and Monkey King. Language of Material: English Access This collection is partially processed. Available by appointment only. Publication Rights The responsibility to secure copyright and publication permission rests with the researcher. Preferred Citation Bill Lancaster Papers. Writers Guild Foundation Archive Acquisition Information Donated by the Lancaster family on October 16, 2019. Biography/Administrative History Bill Lancaster, the son of actor and Norma Anderson, was born in Los Angeles on November 17, 1947. After a few acting roles, his first screenwriting credit was for the hit 1976 film the Bad News Bears. He went on to write its second sequel, The Bad News Bears Go To Japan (1978), and The Thing (1982). Lancaster was married to Kippie Kovacs (1949-2001) and they had one child Keigh (1966-2017). Lancaster died on January 4, 1997 in Los Angeles at age 49. Scope and Content of Collection The collection consists of multiple drafts and extensive notes for the produced films The Bad News Bears, The Bad News Bears Go To Japan, and The Thing. The collection also contains multiple drafts and extensive notes for unrealized projects including Firestarter (written for ), Monkey King (from a story by John Landis), Billy Buckner, a private detective pilot for CBS, an adaptation of the novel Creature by John Saul, a pilot titled Rapple, an adaptation of the novel Vida by Delacorta [Daniel Odier], and a project about skateboarding, with multiple titles - Lewis and Clark, Black Heat or California Rough and Tumble. The collection also contains numerous scripts, mostly feature films, by other writers, presumably sent to Lancaster for possible attachment and work. Indexing Terms Screenplays Thing (Motion picture : 1982) Bad News Bears (Motion picture) Firestarter (Motion picture) Screenwriters

Bill Lancaster Papers WGF-MS-112 2