Paul Weitz (filmmaker)

Early life

Weitz was born in New York City, the son of actress Susan Kohner and Berlin-born novelist/menswear designer John Weitz. His brother is filmmaker Chris Weitz. Weitz is the grandson of Czech-born agent and producer Paul Kohner and actress Lupita Tovar on his maternal side. Tovar, who was from Oaxaca City, Mexico, starred in Santa, Mexico's first talkie, in 1932, as well as a Mexican version of Drácula. Weitz' paternal grandparents, who were Jewish, escaped Nazi Germany, where his grandfather had been a successful textile manufacturer, and family intimates of Christopher Isherwood and Marlene Dietrich.

Weitz's father and maternal grandfather were Jewish, whereas his maternal grandmother was Catholic. He was raised in a nonreligious household.

Weitz attended the Allen-Stevenson School with his brother and Collegiate. In 1988, he graduated from Wesleyan University. While at Wesleyan, Weitz studied under film instructor Jeanine Basinger.

Career

Early career

Weitz' early career involved many collaborations with his brother. Some of the work they have done as screenwriters has been both credited and uncredited.

Weitz began his film career as a co-writer on the 1998 animated film Antz. He followed this with work on various sitcoms such as Off Centre and the 1998 revival of the 1977 series Fantasy Island. In 1999, he and Chris directed and produced American Pie, which was written by Adam Herz, and became a major box office success. Weitz returned as executive producer on the film's two theatrical sequels.

In 2002, the Weitz brothers co-wrote and co-directed About a Boy, the Hugh Grant film based on the book by Nick Hornby. The film was originally set up at New Line Cinema with Robert De Niro producing, and the main character as an American. The brothers felt that it was important that the character is British. Inspiration came from the film The Apartment (1960). They were nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Weitz has written and directed the well-received romantic comedy In Good Company and the political satire American Dreamz, which faced mixed reviews. Additional writing credits include the television show Cracking Up.

He has also directed an adaptation of Darren Shan's young adult novel Cirque du Freak called The Vampire's Assistant. He directed the film Little Fockers (2010), the sequel to Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers.

Subsequently he wrote and directed Being Flynn, an adaptation of Nick Flynn's memoir Another Bullshit Night in Suck City, starring Robert De Niro. Weitz said he worked collaboratively with Flynn to translate the dense original source material into its film adaptation.

Weitz also directed the movie Admission, starring Tina Fey.

''Grandma''

In 2015, Weitz directed the film, Grandma, which starred Lily Tomlin. The film premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival on January 30, as the closing night film. The film was Tomlin's first leading role in 27 years, after co-starring with Bette Midler in the comedy film Big Business (1988). It is the second collaboration between Tomlin and Weitz, who previously directed her in his film Admission (2013). The film was released on August 21, 2015, by Sony Pictures Classics.{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129021130/http://deadline.com/2015/01/grandma-sony-pictures-classics-sundance-1201361263/ | archive-date=January 29, 2015 | url-status=dead

Weitz had the story idea for many years, but it never fully formed until he met and worked with Tomlin on Admission, saying that "After meeting Lily, the voice and the character really clicked, I had thought about it for years, so I had a lot of it worked out in my head, and then I just went to a coffee shop and wrote it longhand."

Weitz said the film cost under $600,000 to make. It was well received.

In development

Weitz has a production company with his brother Chris Weitz and producer Andrew Miano called Depth of Field. In March 2016, Weitz and his brother signed a two-year first look deal with Amazon Studios.

• A live-action adaptation of Michael Moorcock's Elric saga, which his brother Chris said he enjoyed as a child. Weitz's Depth of Field production company was meant to create the films as a potential trilogy for Universal Pictures. In a May 2007 interview with Empire magazine Weitz's brother announced that he had met with Moorcock, who trusted him with the films, and described his wish for Paul to direct the film.
• Shield of Straw – producing an English remake of the 2013 Japanese action thriller, Shield of Straw
• Ghost Train – producing a remake of the 2006 Japanese horror film, Soul Reviver
• Birthright – producing a remake of the 2010 Japanese thriller
• Sinatoro – producing a TV series with Grant Morrison for Universal Television

Playwright

While in college at Wesleyan, Weitz wrote the play Mango Tea, which was performed Off-Broadway.

Weitz has written a number of plays, including Roulette, Privilege, Show People and Trust, all of which have been produced Off-Broadway in New York City. Trust starred Zach Braff, Bobby Cannavale, Sutton Foster, and Ari Graynor, and was directed by Peter DuBois at Second Stage Theatre. It will be produced in Brazil, Germany and Greece in 2013. Second Stage previously produced Privilege and Show People and produced Lonely, I'm Not, starring Topher Grace and Olivia Thirlby a new comedy by Weitz in 2012. Lonely, I'm Not was a New York Times critics pick.

As a writer, Weitz has discussed semi-jokingly the fact that he avoids the discomfort in his life by turning to the act of writing. He sees a good play structure as being very different from a good film structure, and thinks that it is rare for plays as source material to be easily adapted into film.

Personal life

In 2001, Weitz married novelist Patricia Brown, with whom he has three children.

Filmography

Films

Acting roles

Television

Works and publications

• Weitz, Paul. All for One: A Play in Two Acts. New York: Samuel French, 1995.
  • Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York City, opened December 2, 1993. With John Speredakos, Calista Flockhart, Liev Schreiber, Michael Louis Wells, Noelle Parker
• Weitz, Paul. Roulette. New York: Dramatists Play Service, Inc, 2004.
  • Ensemble Studio Theatre at John Houseman Theatre in New York City, opened February 18, 2004. With Larry Bryggman, Ana Gasteyer, Shawn Hatosy, Leslie Lyles, Anna Paquin, Mark Setlock, Grant Shaud
• Weitz, Paul. Privilege. New York: Dramatists Play Service, Inc, 2006.
  • Second Stage Theatre in New York City, opened April 25, 2005. With Harry Zittel, Conor Donovan, Carolyn McCormick, Florencia Lozano, Bob Saget
  • 2006: Nominated for Lucille Lortel Award - Conor Donovan, Outstanding Lead Actor
  • 2005: Won the Theatre World Award - Conor Donovan
• Weitz, Paul. Show People. New York: Dramatists Play Service, 2007.
  • Second Stage Theatre in New York City, opened April 6, 2006. With Ty Burrell, Judy Greer, Debra Monk, Lawrence Pressman
• Weitz, Paul. Trust. New York: Dramatists Play Service, 2011.
  • Second Stage Theatre in New York City, opened August 12, 2010. With Zach Braff, Sutton Foster, Ari Graynor, Bobby Cannavale
  • 2011: Won, Artios Award - Best New York Theatre, Comedy/Musical (Mele Nagler)
• Weitz, Paul. Lonely, I'm Not. New York: Dramatists Play Service, 2013.
  • Second Stage Theatre in New York City, opened May 7, 2012. With Mark Blum, Lisa Emery, Topher Grace, Christopher Jackson, Maureen Sebastian, Olivia Thirlby
  • 2012: Nominated for Henry Hewes Design Award - Mark Wendland for Scenic Design, Emily Rebholz for Costume Design

References

References

1. Holson, Laura M.. (August 6, 2015). "The Weitz Brothers Help Each Other Through Hollywood Hits and Misses". [[The New York Times]].
2. Kelley, Tina. (4 October 2002). "John Weitz, 79, Fashion Designer Turned Historian, Dies". [[The New York Times]].
3. Horn, John. (21 June 2011). "Chris Weitz's 'Better Life' shines light on illegal immigrant issues". [[Los Angeles Times]].
4. Horyn, Cathy. (20 February 2000). "Legacy; Growing up Weitz". [[The New York Times]].
5. Cieply, Michael. (1 June 2010). "Another Los Angeles in 'Gardener'". [[The New York Times]].
6. Gross, Terry. (5 June 2002). "Directors Chris and Paul Weitz". [[NPR]].
7. Pfefferman, Naomi. (13 March 2003). "About Two Boys: Late fashion designer John Weitz inspires his Academy Award-nominated sons, Paul and Chris.". [[Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles.
8. Pauley, Gay. (January 4, 1983). "Many facets of John Weitz". United Press International.
9. Chin, Paula. (October 26, 1992). "John Weitz". People Magazine.
10. Pfefferman, Naomi. (June 1, 2011). "An Immigrant Struggles for a 'Better Life' for His Son". Jewish Journal.
11. Pfefferman, Naomi. (March 5, 2012). "Paul Weitz on dads, De Niro and "Being Flynn"". Jewish Journal.
12. Bloom, Nate. (1 September 2009). "Interfaith Celebrities: Inglourious Basterds' Surprises and Connections".
13. "Notable Alumni - Paul Weitz '88".
14. Weir, William. (30 December 2002). "'Wesleyan Mafia' Racks Up Credits". [[Hartford Courant]].
15. Weitz, Chris. (12 July 2011). "The WGAW Latino Writers Committee present Chris & Paul Weitz: Chris & Paul Weitz on their career choices and how they got started - 1 of 3". [[WGA West]].
16. Weitz, Chris. (12 July 2011). "The WGAW Latino Writers Committee present Chris & Paul Weitz: Chris & Paul Weitz on Twilight, A Better Life and Suck City - 2 of 3". [[WGA West]].
17. Weitz, Chris. (12 July 2011). "The WGAW Latino Writers Committee present Chris & Paul Weitz: Chris & Paul Weitz offer advice for surviving the film industry - 3 of 3". [[WGA West]].
18. Tobias, Scott. (15 May 2002). "The Weitz Brothers". [[The A.V. Club]].
19. Malanowski, Jamie. (19 May 2002). "Film; Filmmaking as a Family Affair". [[The New York Times]].
20. Leibowitz, Ed. (May 2002). "Book Fellows: In the Stacks with Filmmakers Chris and Paul Weitz". [[Los Angeles (magazine).
21. Murphy, Mekado. (19 August 2015). "'Grandma' (With Movie Trailer): Paul Weitz Narrates a Scene". [[The New York Times]].
22. Scott, A. O.. (19 August 2015). "Review: In 'Grandma,' Lily Tomlin Energizes an Intergenerational Road Trip". [[The New York Times]].
23. Olsen, Mark. (January 28, 2015). "Sundance 2015: Lily Tomlin has an easy ride steering 'Grandma'". [[Los Angeles Times]].
24. Patten, Dominic. (January 22, 2015). "Paul Weitz's 'Grandma' With Lily Tomlin – Hot Sundance Clip". [[Deadline Hollywood]].
25. Rose, Charlie. (16 August 2015). "Grandma: A look at the film "Grandma" with director Paul Weitz and actor Lily Tomlin.". [[Charlie Rose]].
26. Rooney, David. (January 26, 2015). "'Grandma': Film Review". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
27. Moylan, Brian. (January 27, 2015). "Sundance 2015 review: Grandma - Lily Tomlin cranks it up to the max as a ranting poet on the road". [[The Guardian]].
28. Foundas, Scott. (January 27, 2015). "Sundance Film Review: 'Grandma'". [[Variety (magazine).
29. Nakamura, Reid. (29 March 2016). "Paul and Chris Weitz Sign First-Look Deal With Amazon Studios TV". [[TheWrap]].
30. (29 May 2007). "Exclusive: Weitz Brothers Making Elric - Paul to direct fantasy adaptation?". [[Empire (magazine).
31. McNary, Dave. (25 August 2015). "'Shield of Straw' English-Language Remake in the Works With Chris Weitz". [[Variety (magazine).
32. Hipes, Patrick. (25 August 2015). "Takashi Miike's Cannes Pic 'Shield Of Straw' Getting English-Language Redo". [[Deadline Hollywood]].
33. Schilling, Mark. (12 December 2014). "Chris and Paul Weitz to Remake Japan's 'Birthright' with ANEW". [[Variety (magazine).
34. Kit, Borys. (22 July 2016). "Comic-Con: Chris and Paul Weitz Team With Grant Morrison for 'Sinatoro' TV Series (Exclusive)". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
35. "Paul Weitz - Playwrigtht". [[Lortel Archives]].
36. "Roulette - Ensemble Studio Theatre".
37. Ryzik, Melena Z.. (29 February 2004). "Theater; An American Pie With Different Fruit". [[The New York Times]].
38. "Past Shows - Season 27, 2005-2006. Show People By Paul Weitz".
39. "Privilege - Second Stage Theatre".
40. "Past Shows - Season 26, 2004-2005. Privilege By Paul Weitz".
41. "Show People - Second Stage Theatre".
42. "Past Shows - Season 31, 2009-2010. Trust By Paul Weitz".
43. "Trust - Second Stage Theatre".
44. "Past Shows - Season 33, 2011-2012. Lonely, I'm Not By Paul Weitz".
45. "Lonely I'm Not - Second Stage Theatre".