Education
Rice University.
Rice University.
Skaaren was appointed by Governor Preston Smith as executive director of the newly formed Texas Film Commission on December 9, 1970. His first success was getting the film The Getaway shot in Texas. Nearly 40 more feature films were shot in Texas while Skaaren headed the Film Commission.
He was a driving force behind the distribution of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, a film in which he took a personal financial stake.
The success of the film enabled Skaaren to leave the Film Commission and begin his career in the film industry. His notable writing includes: Fire with Fire (1986), Beverly Hills Cop II (1987), Beetlejuice (1988), and Batman (1989).
He had also written unproduced sequels to The Jewel of the Nile (1985) called The Crimson Eagle and Beetlejuice (1989) called Beetlejuice in Love. According to its draft date, Beetlejuice in Love is believed to be the last screenplay he wrote before his death.
Skaaren"s archive resides at the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin.
(Good reading copy. Some wear from normal use and age.)