Peter Hedges
Raised in West Des Moines, Iowa, Peter Hedges is an award-winning novelist, screenwriter, playwright, and director. He studied drama at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. His first novel, <i>What’ s Eating Gilbert Grape</i>, was made into a classic movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio in his breakout role. Afterward, Hedges went on to write and direct numerous critically-acclaimed films, including <i>Pieces of April</i>, <i>Dan in Real Life</i>, and <i>The Odd Life of Timothy Green</i>. His screenplay for <i>About a Boy</i> was nominated for an Academy Award in 2002.