Janus Cercone

Janus Cercone
Born	United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Screenwriter

Janus Cercone is an American screenwriter. She is best known for her original screenplay, Leap of Faith which was turned into a major motion picture and released by Paramount Pictures in 1992, starring Steve Martin, Debra Winger and Liam Neeson. Leap of Faith was adapted as a Broadway musical starring Raúl Esparza and opened at the St. James Theatre in New York City on April 26, 2012. The show was nominated for the Best New Musical Tony Award and for six Drama Desk Awards, including Best Book of A Musical (for Cercone and co-writer, Warren Leight).

Cercone grew up in Bronxville, New York and attended Skidmore College on a full music scholarship. After exiting Skidmore, she worked as an executive at A&M Records, handling press for artists as varied as Peter Allen, Joe Cocker, Peter Frampton and The Police.

After departing the label, Cercone worked as a studio musician and songwriter, contributing material to numerous records, series television and movies including Emmy winner, Roe vs. Wade and Golden Globe winner Dirty Pictures.

At the suggestion of her husband, producer, Michael Manheim, Cercone enrolled in Syd Field’s screenwriting class. Her first effort sold to Jerry Weintraub, launching a career that continues to the present.

In 1992, Cercone’s original spec script, Leap of Faith was purchased by Paramount Pictures. Directed by Richard Pearce, Leap starred Steve Martin, Debra Winger and Liam Neeson. The movie came from her experiences traveling with rock bands and from extensive research on con men, such as televangelist Peter Popoff. She was guided in this process by magician and author, Ricky Jay.

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