Biography
Writer Joel Silverman, nominated for both Writers Guild and Humanitas awards for Best Screenplay, has scripted projects for major studios such as Disney, Universal, Paramount, Fox, Fox 2000, Sony, CBS Films, Screen Gems, and MGM.
Silverman earned the Bruce Geller Screenwriting Award for his screenplay "American Name," which tells the story of Barney Ross.
Over the past three years, Silverman has sold five projects to major studios and had one film produced.
In 2017, he sold the screenplay GIRL AT SEA, adapted from the book Maiden Voyage, in a preemptive deal with CMG.
Silverman's film "AFTER WORDS," for which he received sole screenplay credit, was released theatrically on August 21, 2016, starring Academy Award-winner Marcia Gay Harden. Critic Rex Reed praised the script as "touching." The story follows a depressed middle-aged woman who discovers a new life during an ecotour in Costa Rica.
In June 2016, Silverman sold the spy thriller LIBERTY to Fox 2000 in a seven-figure deal. The project originally began as a book sold to HarperCollins in a preemptive bid.
In 2015, Silverman sold the HarperCollins YA novel "ANATOMY OF A MISFIT" to Paramount after a bidding war that resulted in another seven-figure agreement.
Earlier that year, Screen Gems hired Silverman to write the inspirational drama "WIL." He also sold "LADY IN THE LOCKER ROOM," based on a pioneering female sportswriter, to CBS Films in a preemptive deal.
In 2012, Digital Domain acquired Silverman's inspirational sports drama "Brian Stokes," based on the true story of a Marine sergeant who returns from Iraq at age 27, pursuing his dream of playing college football while battling Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
In 2010, Disney preemptively purchased Silverman's sports film "Garo," with Jerry Bruckheimer producing. That same year, F/X bought his TV series "March to Madness," with Peter Segal attached to direct and Academy Award-nominated actor Don Cheadle producing.
Also in 2010, Universal acquired his inspirational sports drama script "Undefeated," with Scott Stuber producing and Peter Segal attached to direct.
Previously, Disney hired Silverman to write the sports drama "Hell on Wheels" for producer Rachel Pfeffer and the film "Full Court Miracle," which earned him Writers Guild and Humanitas nominations.
Silverman has written biographies of Mario Andretti and boxer "Boom-Boom" Mancini for Fox. Producers Bonnie Bruckheimer and Bette Midler hired him to write "Girl Ball," a film about women's basketball for Lifetime. Fox 2000 outbid Universal, Disney, and Warner Bros. to acquire Silverman's sports drama "Fly," a biopic about Olympic gold medalist Mel Stewart, with Ed Zwick attached to produce. MGM purchased his comedy "Curve," with Jonathan Krane and John Travolta set to produce.
Silverman's directorial debut, "Nailed" (2001), starring Academy Award-nominee Harvey Keitel, was originally sold as a script to Disney. The film placed second at the Los Angeles Film Festival and won the Long Island Film Festival.
Silverman began his career as a journalist, covering topics ranging from the police beat to ACC basketball for publications including The Washington Post and Newsday. During his journalism tenure, he received an Associated Press award for feature writing.
