Gregory Widen, a true Renaissance man of American creative expression, embodies a remarkable duality as both a gifted screenwriter and a visionary film director, his artistic trajectory commencing within the hallowed halls of the University of California, Los Angeles' (UCLA) esteemed screenwriting program, where his undergraduate tenure was marked by the impressive feat of selling his script for the iconic Highlander, a testament to his innate talent and dedication to his craft.
Widen's academic journey began at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California, a prominent institution of higher learning located in the heart of Orange County, prior to his eventual enrollment in the prestigious UCLA program.
Widely regarded as a pivotal moment in his life, Widen's tenure as a firefighter was marked by a profoundly impactful event that would go on to inform his writing of the screenplay for the iconic motion picture, Backdraft. This traumatic incident, which involved a person meeting a tragic demise at the hands of an explosive backdraft, left an indelible mark on Widen's psyche and, in time, found its way onto the silver screen.
Christopher Walken starred in the 1995 supernatural thriller "The Prophecy", a film written and directed by Widen, which marked a significant turning point in his career, demonstrating his capacity to excel in diverse roles and solidifying his reputation as a skilled and accomplished filmmaker, thereby establishing himself as a prominent figure in the film industry.
