Patrick Melton

{{short description|American dramatist}} {{autobiography|date=December 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Patrick Melton | image = Patrick Melton2.png | birth_date =  | birth_place = Champaign, Illinois, United States | occupation = Screenwriter<br />Producer<br />Novelist | years_active = 2004–present }}

'''Patrick Melton''' is an American screenwriter, producer and novelist.

==Film career== In 2004, Melton won the third season of Project Greenlight, along with Marcus Dunstan and John Gulager. The television show premiered on Bravo and resulted in the horror/comedy film ''Feast'' and two sequels followed, ''Feast II: Sloppy Seconds'' and ''Feast III: The Happy Finish''. However, it was Melton's involvement with the ''Saw series'', that brought him worldwide recognition and international box office success.<ref>{{cite magazine| url=https://newsfeed.time.com/2010/07/25/saw-the-most-successful-horror-film-of-all-time/ | magazine=Time | date=July 25, 2010 | title=Saw: The Most Successful Horror Franchise of All Time}}</ref> He wrote ''Saw IV'', ''Saw V'', ''Saw VI'', and ''Saw 3D'' for a worldwide take of nearly $500,000,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/franchises/chart/?id=saw.htm |title=Saw Movies at the Box Office |publisher=Box Office Mojo |date= |accessdate=2016-06-29}}</ref> Additionally, Melton wrote the home invasion thriller ''The Collector'', which was directed by Dunstan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/36388/exclusive-patrick-melton-talks-the-collector-2-saw-vii-3d-and-more|title=Cockneys vs. Zombies TV Spot Arrives via Walker - Dread Central|website=www.dreadcentral.com|date=13 August 2012 }}</ref>

Melton and Dunstan adapted the graphic novel ''Smoke and Guns'' by Kirsten Baldock and Fabio Moon.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/451245/Smoke-and-Guns/details | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710184153/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/451245/Smoke-and-Guns/details | url-status=dead | archive-date=2012-07-10 | department=Movies & TV Dept. | work=The New York Times | title=Error}}</ref>

In the fall of 2006, Dimension Films preemptively acquired a dark and edgy horror/thriller spec script from Melton and Dunstan titled ''The Neighbor'' for a six-figures.<ref name="dreadcentral1">{{cite web|last=Decker |first=Sean |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/40966/exclusive-patrick-melton-talks-piranha-3dd-collection-outer-limits-and-more |title=Exclusive: Patrick Melton talks Piranha 3DD, The Collection, The Outer Limits and More! |publisher=Dread Central |date=2010-11-16 |accessdate=2016-06-29}}</ref>

Additionally, the writing team of Melton and Dunstan have performed writing duties on Lionsgate's ''My Bloody Valentine 3D'', ''Piranha 3D'' by Alexandre Aja, a remake of Clive Barker's Hellraiser, a remake of William Castle's classic horror film ''The Tingler'' at Columbia Pictures for producer Neal Moritz, a remake of ''Scanners'' by David Cronenberg, a film adaptation of the classic sci-fi TV anthology ''The Outer Limits'' for MGM, and the action/adventure tentpole ''Pacific Rim'' by Guillermo del Toro for Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fearnet.com/news/interviews/b25461_exclusive_screenwriters_marcus_dunstan.html |title=Chiller | Scary Good |publisher=Fearnet.com |date= |accessdate=2016-06-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.moviefone.com/2008/02/17/feast-writers-team-up-with-inside-directors-for-hellraiser/ |title=Movie News - Moviefone.com |publisher=Blog.moviefone.com |date= |accessdate=2016-06-29 |archive-date=2012-07-08 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708104751/http://blog.moviefone.com/2008/02/17/feast-writers-team-up-with-inside-directors-for-hellraiser/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.movieweb.com/news/patrick-melton-and-marcus-dunstan-feeling-the-tingler |title=Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan Feeling The Tingler |publisher=Movieweb.com |date= |accessdate=2016-06-29 |archive-date=2014-05-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140515084359/http://www.movieweb.com/news/patrick-melton-and-marcus-dunstan-feeling-the-tingler |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.killerreviews.com/dispinterview.php?intid=1862 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110315010410/http://www.killerreviews.com/dispinterview.php?intid=1862 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=March 15, 2011 |title=Interview - Patrick Melton Talks Saw 7 3D, Scanners Remake and More! |publisher=Killerreviews.com |date= |accessdate=2016-06-29}}</ref><ref name="worstpreviews1">{{cite web|url=http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=18705 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514023340/http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=18705 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=May 14, 2014 |title=Patrick Melton on "The Outer Limits" Movie |publisher=WorstPreviews.com |date= |accessdate=2016-06-29}}</ref>

The sequel to Melton and Dunstan's horror film ''The Collector'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3331724/exclusive-halloween-details/|title=Halloween Is Returning to Haddonfield|website=bloody-disgusting.com|date=9 February 2015}}</ref> titled ''The Collection'', and again directed by Dunstan, started filming in Atlanta, GA during the spring of 2011. It was theatrically released in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|author=<%- movieName %> |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=85068 |title=Liddell Entertainment Launches LD Distribution |publisher=ComingSoon.net |date=2011-12-12 |accessdate=2016-06-29}}</ref>

In November 2011, it was announced that Melton's debut horror/thriller novel, ''Black Light'', would be adapted into a film with producer Michael De Luca.<ref name="worstpreviews1"/>

In December 2011, Melton sold a sci-fi pitch titled ''Rise'' to Warner Bros. along with his writing partner Marcus Dunstan. David Karlak was attached to direct and Roy Lee was attached to produce.<ref>{{cite web|last=Barton |first=Steve |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/49332/warner-brothers-ready-rise |title=Warner Brothers Ready to Rise |publisher=Dread Central |date=2011-12-14 |accessdate=2016-06-29}}</ref>

In July 2012, ''The Hollywood Reporter'' reported that Melton and Dunstan were hired to adapt the ''God of War'' film.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/pacific-rim-writers-god-war-game-adaptation-347251|title='Pacific Rim' Writers Tapped for 'God of War' Adaptation (Exclusive)|date=2012-07-10|last=Kit|first=Borys|work=The Hollywood Reporter|accessdate=2012-07-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Lesnick |first=Silas |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=92395 |title=God of War Back on Track With New Writer Duo |publisher=ComingSoon.net |date=2012-07-11 |accessdate=2016-06-29}}</ref>

In September 2012, ''Deadline Hollywood'' reported that Melton and Dunstan were hired to rewrite the fantasy project ''Waterproof'' for Legendary Pictures.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fleming |first=Mike |url=https://deadline.com/2012/09/legendary-pictures-fantasy-waterproof-getting-rewrite-from-melton-dunstan-343173/ |title=Legendary Pictures Fantasy 'Waterproof' Getting Rewrite From Melton & Dunstan |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=2012-09-25 |access-date=2016-06-29}}</ref>

In June 2013, Melton sold a sci-fi pitch titled ''Outliers'' to 20th Century Fox along with his writing partner Marcus Dunstan. David Karlak is attached to direct and Peter Chernin is attached to produce.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/fox-acquires-outliers-pitch-peter-571737 | work=The Hollywood Reporter | first=Tatiana | last=Siegel | title=Fox Acquires 'Outliers' Pitch for Peter Chernin to Produce (Exclusive) | date=June 19, 2013}}</ref> In 2015 they co-wrote a screenplay for the 11th ''Halloween'' installment, titled ''Halloween Returns''<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/89255/finally-new-halloween-news/ | work=BD | first=Tatiana | last=Siegel | title=Finally – New Halloween News! | date=June 19, 2013}}</ref> which was originally planned with a release in 2015 under the direction of Dunstan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3331715/halloween-hire-saw-writers-recalibration/|title=Halloween Brings Michael Myers Back|website=bloody-disgusting.com|date=9 February 2015}}</ref>

In October 2016, Melton, along with partner Dunstan, were selected to write for the adaptation of Brandon Sanderson's ''The Way of Kings''.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}

== Filmography == thumb|right|Marcus Dunstan & Patrick Melton

===Film=== {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Title ! Writer ! Producer ! Notes |- |2005 | ''Feast'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- |2007 | ''Saw IV'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- |2008 |''Feast II: Sloppy Seconds'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- |2008 |''Saw V'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- |rowspan="3"|2009 |''Feast III: The Happy Finish'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- |''The Collector'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- |''Saw VI'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- |rowspan="2"|2010 |''Saw 3D'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- |''The Candidate'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} |Short film |- |rowspan="2"|2012 |''Piranha 3DD'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- |''The Collection'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | |- |rowspan="2"|2016 |''The Neighbor'' | {{yes}} | {{partial|Executive}} | |- |''Rise'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} |rowspan="2"|Short film |- |2017 |''Naked Fury'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} |- |rowspan="2"|2019 |''Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark'' | {{partial|Story}} | {{no}} | |- |''Into the Dark'' | {{yes}} | {{partial|Executive}} |Episode: "Pilgrim" |- |2022 |''Unhuman'' | {{yes}} | {{partial|Executive}} | |}

==Television== In October 2006, the duo sold their first television idea to FOX titled ''The Vineyard''. It was a raunchy half-hour horror/comedy with Family Guy show runner Chris Sheridan attached as executive producer.<ref name="dreadcentral1"/>

In 2008, Melton and Dunstan sold an hourlong drama to CBS titled ''The Good Neighbor''.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}

Melton and Dunstan collaborated with Clive Barker in 2009 and sold an hourlong drama titled Clive Barker's Hotel to ABC. McG was attached to produce.<ref>{{cite web|last=Moore |first=Debi |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/33103/abc-checks-into-clive-barkers-hotel |title=ABC Checks Into Clive Barker's Hotel |publisher=Dread Central |date=2009-08-19 |accessdate=2016-06-29}}</ref>

== Novels == On October 5, 2011, Melton's debut novel, ''Black Light'', co-written with Marcus Dunstan and Stephen Romano, was released by Mulholland Books, an imprint of Little, Brown and Company, and in the UK by Mulholland Books, an imprint of Hodder & Stoughton.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mulhollandbooks.com/books/black-light/ |title=Black Light {{!}} Mulholland Books |website=www.mulhollandbooks.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514080518/http://www.mulhollandbooks.com/books/black-light/ |archive-date=2011-05-14}}</ref> It is currently being adapted into a film for producer Michael De Luca.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fleming |first=Mike |url=https://deadline.com/2011/11/scribe-team-melton-dunstan-plot-screen-version-of-black-light-190049/ |title=Scribe Team Melton & Dunstan Plot Screen Version Of 'Black Light' |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=2011-11-02 |access-date=2016-06-29}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== *{{IMDb name|1733317}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Melton, Patrick}} Category:21st-century American dramatists and playwrights Category:Living people Category:Loyola Marymount University alumni Category:People from Champaign, Illinois Category:University of Iowa alumni Category:Year of birth missing (living people)