Paul Weitz (filmmaker)

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Paul John Weitz (Template:IPAc-en; born November 19, 1965) is an American screenwriter, director and producer. He is the older brother of filmmaker Chris Weitz. Together they worked on the comedy films American Pie and About a Boy; for the latter, they were both nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.<ref name=NYTimes-WeitzBros-2015>Template:Cite news</ref> Weitz is also a writer, executive producer, and director of the Amazon Prime Video dramedy series Mozart in the Jungle.

Early life

Weitz was born in New York City, the son of actress Susan Kohner and Berlin-born novelist/menswear designer John Weitz.<ref name=NYTimes-JohnWeitz-Obit-2002>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref name=LATimes-ABetterLife-2011>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=NYTimes-GrowingUpWeitz-2000>Template:Cite news</ref> Tovar, who was from Oaxaca City, Mexico,<ref name="NYTimes-ABetterLife-2010">Template:Cite news</ref> starred in Santa, Mexico's first talkie, in 1932, as well as a Mexican version of Drácula.<ref name=NPR-FreshAir-DirectorsWeitz-2002>Template:Cite news</ref> Weitz' paternal grandparents escaped Nazi Germany, where his grandfather had been a successful textile manufacturer, and family intimates of Christopher Isherwood and Marlene Dietrich.<ref name=NYTimes-GrowingUpWeitz-2000 />

Weitz's father and maternal grandfather were Jewish,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> whereas his maternal grandmother was Catholic. He was raised in a nonreligious household.<ref name=JewishJournal-PaulChrisWeitz-2003>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=InterfaithFamily-Inglourious-2009>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Weitz attended the Allen-Stevenson School with his brother and Collegiate. In 1988, he graduated from Wesleyan University.<ref name=Wesleyan-NotableAlumni>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> While at Wesleyan, Weitz studied under film instructor Jeanine Basinger.<ref name=HartfordCourant-Basinger-2002>Template:Cite news</ref>

Career

Early career

Weitz' early career involved many collaborations with his brother.<ref name=WGAw-WeitzBros-1of3-2011>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref name=WGAw-WeitzBros-2of3-2011>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref name=WGAw-WeitzBros-3of3-2011>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> Some of the work they have done as screenwriters has been both credited and uncredited.<ref name=AVClub-AboutABoy-Interview-2002>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref name=NYTimes-FamilyAffair-AboutABoy-2002>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=LosAngeles-AAB-2002>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref name=NPR-FreshAir-DirectorsWeitz-2002 />

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.<ref name=WGAw-WeitzBros-2of3-2011 /> Weitz said he worked collaboratively with Flynn to translate the dense original source material into its film adaptation.<ref name=WGAw-WeitzBros-3of3-2011 />

Weitz also directed the movie Admission, starring Tina Fey.

Grandma

In 2015, Weitz directed the film, Grandma, which starred Lily Tomlin.<ref name=NYTimes-Gma-AnatomyScene-2015>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=NYTimes-GrandmaReview-2015>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=LATimes-Grandma-Sundance-2015>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The film premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival on January 30, as the closing night film.<ref name=Deadline-Grandma-Sundance-2015>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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).<ref name=LATimes-Grandma-Sundance-2015 /> The film was released on August 21, 2015, by Sony Pictures Classics.<ref name=Deadline-SPC-Aquires-2015>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Weitz had the story idea for many years, but it never fully formed until he met and worked with Tomlin on Admission,<ref name=NYTimes-Gma-AnatomyScene-2015 /> 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."<ref name=LATimes-Grandma-Sundance-2015 />

Weitz said the film cost under $600,000 to make.<ref name=CharlieRose-Grandma-2015>Template:Cite news</ref> It was well received.<ref name=HReporter-Grandma-Sundance-2015>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=Guardian-Grandma-Sundance-2015>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=Variety-Grandma-Sundance-2015>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref name=Wrap-AmazonDeal-2016>Template:Cite news</ref>

  • 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.<ref name=Empire-Moorcock-Elric-2007>Template:Cite news</ref>
  • Shield of Straw – producing an English remake of the 2013 Japanese action thriller, Shield of Straw<ref name=Variety-ShieldofStraw-2015>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=Deadline-ShieldofStraw-2015>Template:Cite news</ref>
  • Ghost Train – producing a remake of the 2006 Japanese horror film, Soul Reviver<ref name=Variety-ShieldofStraw-2015 />
  • Birthright – producing a remake of the 2010 Japanese thriller<ref name=Variety-ShieldofStraw-2015 /><ref name=Variety-Birthright-2014>Template:Cite news</ref>
  • Sinatoro – producing a TV series with Grant Morrison for Universal Television<ref name=HReporter-Sinatoro-2016>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref name=LortelArchives>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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 2013Template:When. 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.<ref name=WGAw-WeitzBros-2of3-2011 /> 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.<ref name=WGAw-WeitzBros-3of3-2011 />

Personal life

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

Filmography

Films

Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes
1992 Ribs Template:No Template:Yes Template:No Short film
1998 Antz Template:No Template:Yes Template:No
1999 American Pie Template:Yes Template:No Template:Partial Co-director with his brother, Chris Weitz
2000 Nutty Professor II: The Klumps Template:No Template:Yes Template:No
2001 Down to Earth Template:Yes Template:No Template:No Co-director with his brother, Chris Weitz
2002 About a Boy Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:No Co-director with his brother, Chris Weitz;
Nominated- Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
Nominated- BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
2004 In Good Company Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
2006 American Dreamz Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
2009 Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
2010 Little Fockers Template:Yes Template:No Template:No
2012 Being Flynn Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
2013 Admission Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes
2015 Grandma Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
2018 Bel Canto Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
2021 Fatherhood Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
2022 Moving On Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes

Executive producer

Producer only

Acting roles

Year Title Role
2000 Chuck & Buck Sam
The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy Assistant Director
2004 See This Movie Filmmaker Who Isn't Wim Wenders
2014 Life After Beth Mr. Levin
2016 Joshy Private Investigator
2017 The Little Hours Lucro

Television

Year Title Director Writer Executive
Producer 		Notes
1998–1999 Fantasy Island Template:No Template:Yes Template:Yes 3 episodes
2000–2001 Off Centre Template:No Template:Yes Template:Yes Also creator
2004–2006 Cracking Up Template:Yes Template:No Template:Yes Pilot episode; also consultant (2 episodes)
2010 Lone Star Template:No Template:No Template:Yes 2 episodes
2014–2018 Mozart in the Jungle Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Also developer
2025 Murderbot Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes

Works and publications

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    • 2006: Nominated for Lucille Lortel Award - Conor Donovan, Outstanding Lead Actor
    • 2005: Won the Theatre World Award - Conor Donovan<ref name=LortelArchives-Privilege-2005>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=LortelArchives-ShowPeople-2006>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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    • 2011: Won, Artios Award - Best New York Theatre, Comedy/Musical (Mele Nagler)<ref name=LortelArchives-Trust-2010>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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    • 2012: Nominated for Henry Hewes Design Award - Mark Wendland for Scenic Design, Emily Rebholz for Costume Design<ref name=LortelArchives-LonelyImNot-2012>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

References

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