Rhymer Revealed:
How a ‘Lousy English Student’ Gained Screenwriting Success
high-speed chase through a shopping mall –
ensue.
Since that first cinema success, Rhymer has
enjoyed a prolific film-writing career. His script
credits include Big Momma’s House and Big
Momma’s House 2, The Santa Clause 2, Deck the
Halls, and, most recently, the animated film Surf’s
Up.
Rhymer says the ideas for his scripts come
“from everything you read and everything you
Big Momma’s House (2000)
write and everybody you know.”
When his breakthrough in film came, Rhymer
was already an established sitcom writer. He had
spent more than 10 years building on the talent
and skills he discovered in college.
Rhymer, 47, was a double major in
Communications and English at JMU, despite
being “a lousy English student in high school.”
He had the first inkling of his career direction
when it was his turn to direct a production in a
combined class of Theater and Communications The Honeymooners (2005)
majors.
Big moment: Screenwriting alum Don Rhymer at
He wasn’t satisfied with the script he was
the premiere of Big Momma’s House 2.
Rhymer’s
given – a clear foreshadowing of his future as
a Hollywood writer– so he rewrote it over a
Writings
F
or most people, the thought of being weekend. His professor was impressed with
carjacked with your kids would be your his work and Rhymer built on that positive
worst nightmare. feedback.
For Don Rhymer, it was full of comic potential. He cites recently retired JMU Theater
Rhymer (’83) drew the inspiration for his professor Tom Arthur as one of his most
first major screenwriting success from a rash memorable teachers, but adds, “All of my
of carjackings in L.A. and his own experience professors at JMU were influential in a way,
ferrying his three because I never thought of
children and a few “All of my professors were doing this as a profession.”
neighborhood kids to
influential in a way, because
His other memorable
school. experiences at JMU include
Rhymer had once
I never thought of doing this
being a Resident Assistant
been advised by a at Garber Hall. “I was the
studio executive – in
as a profession.”
guy who wouldn’t write up
Deck the Halls (2006)
classic Hollywood- anyone,” he recalls. “I’d be
speak, “Don’t write the script until you can see saying, ‘Come on guys, don’t burn the couch.’”
the movie poster – that’s when you know you’ve Most significant, he met his future wife, Kate
got something commercial.” (’81). Today they have three children: Andrew, 22,
He played with the idea of a not-so-hardened Mollie, 20 and Carrie, 17.
crook taking him and his crew of kids hostage It was a JMU contact who lured Rhymer into
and suddenly thought, “Carpool. Wait a minute, the TV and film industry. At the time, he was a
that sounds like a movie poster.” married grad student at George Mason, working
From that unlikely moment came the 1996 for an ad agency. Alum Barbra Hall was working
feature film Carpool. The family comedy stars in television on the West Coast and urged
Tom Arnold as the carjacker who kidnaps a Rhymer to do the same.
typical busy, distracted dad and his carload of They traded scripts back and forth for about a
youngsters. Wacky adventures – including a year while Rhymer learned the fine points of TV
Surf’s Up (2007)
Continued on page 19
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