Marc Norman

While Marc Norman received some attention for his contributions to the script for the hit romantic comedy "Shakespeare in Love" (1998), he was overshadowed by fellow writer Tom Stoppard. Many might have thought Norman was a neophyte but, in fact, he has been a successful writer and producer for three decades. He began his career during the heyday of the "Movie of the Week," a concept introduced by ABC during the late 1960s which peaked in the early 70s. Twice a week for 90 minutes, the network aired original dramas, comedies and thrillers. Norman penned "The Challenge" (1970), an off-beat allegory about a war between the USA and an Asian country that requires only one representative from each to engage in a battle. He also wrote the suspenseful thriller "Five Desperate Women" (1971) about a group of pals on holiday who find themselves stalked by an escapee from a mental institution.