Matthew Ross (filmmaker and journalist)

Matthew Ross

Photo by Christopher Sachs
Born Matthew Ross
(1976-07-10) July 10, 1976
New York City, New York
Other names Matthew M. Ross
Occupation film director, screenwriter, journalist
Years active 1997–present
Notable work Frank & Lola
Website www.lolafilm.net

Matthew Ross is an American film director, screenwriter, and journalist based in Brooklyn. He is best known for writing and directing the film Frank & Lola, which had its world premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival,[1] where it was acquired by Universal Studios.[2]

Early life

Born and raised in New York City, Ross attended Harvard University, where he graduated Cum Laude with Honors with a degree in Visual and Environmental Studies, concentrating in filmmaking.[3]

Journalism career

Ross began his career as a film journalist. His first position of note was covering the New York film scene as a staff writer for Variety.[4] He then moved on to a senior editor role at Indiewire, overseeing the site's editorial coverage as well as writing a regular industry column,[5] followed by a four-year stint as the managing editor of Filmmaker magazine. While at Filmmaker, Ross wrote and/or edited many of the magazine's cover stories and major features, including profiles of directors Robert Altman, Steven Soderbergh, George Clooney, Todd Solondz, Alexander Payne, Richard Linklater, Robert Towne, Michel Gondry, among others. Ross eventually expanded his focus beyond film, writing pieces that ranged from feature profiles of MMA champions for FIGHT! magazine[6] to long-form investigative journalism for Playboy.[7] As a freelancer, his work has appeared in The Village Voice,[8] Nerve,[9] The Criterion Collection, and dozens of other publications.[10]

Film career

Ross began making films in college, including the festival shorts Here Comes Your Man,[11] A Hero's Welcome,[12] Curtis and Clover,[13] Lola,[14] Red Angel,[15] and Inspired By Bret Easton Ellis,[16] commissioned by Ellis and described by critic Roger Ebert as "one terrific video!".[17] Additionally, Ross directed a nonfiction viral series about professional MMA fighters called FIGHT! Life!, which has logged over six-million YouTube views."[18]

After his first screenplay Plays Well with Others (co-written with close friend Guy Cimbalo)[19] was optioned by the production and management company Anonymous Content, Ross moved to Los Angeles], where he wrote and rewrote scripts for a number of producers and production companies. He also worked as a story consultant on Curb Your Enthusiasm, including contributing plotlines to "Palestinian Chicken,"[20] winner of the 2011 DGA Award for "Best Comedy Episode". Vanity Fair called Palestinian Chicken the "crowning achievement in the entire series."[21]

While in Los Angeles, Ross began raising money, cast, and production support on another project, Frank & Lola,[22] which would eventually become his directorial debut. In 2014, backed by Parts and Labor Films' producers Jay Van Hoy and Lars Knudsen, Killer Films' Christine Vachon and David Hinojosa, producer John Baker, Preferred Content's Kevin Iwashina and Las Vegas-based production company Lola Pictures, the film began production, with Michael Shannon (Frank) and Imogen Poots (Lola) in the lead roles. The other major parts were played by Michael Nyqvist (Alan), Justin Long (Keith), Rosanna Arquette (Patricia), and Emmanuelle Devos (Claire). Financed by Great Point Media, Frank & Lola wrapped in March, 2015.[23]

On December 7, 2015, it was announced that Frank & Lola had been accepted to the 2016 Sundance Film Festival for its world premiere.[24] During the festival, after the film opened to overwhelmingly positive reviews,[25][26] Universal Studios secured its worldwide rights (with the exception of a few minor territories) for over $2 million, with a theatrical release planned for later that year.[27]

Ross and Frank & Lola were listed on a number of "best of" Sundance 2016 wrap-up stories, including articles in Indiewire (#3 on the list of "Top 25 Filmmakers and Actors That Broke Through at Sundance 2016"),[28] The Film Stage ("The 15 Best Films at Sundance 2016"),[29] and Ioncinema ("Best of Fest: Sundance 2016's Top 10 New Voices").[30]

Filmography

Year Title Role
1997 A Hero's Welcome (short) Director, Editor, Writer
1998 Here Comes Your Man (short) Director, Editor, Writer, Cinematographer
2001 Curtis & Clover (short) Director, Writer, Producer
2006 Lola (short) Director, Writer
2006 Red Angel (short) Director, Writer (adapted from the play by Eric Bogosian)
2009-2010 FIGHT! Life (nonfiction viral series) Director, Writer, Producer
2010 Inspired By Bret Easton Ellis (short) Director, Writer, Cinematographer
2011 Curb Your Enthusiasm (TV series) Story Consultant
2016 Frank & Lola Director, Writer

References

  1. ↑ "SUNDANCE INSTITUTE COMPLETES FEATURE FILM LINEUP FOR 2016 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL". Sundance. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Sundance: Michael Shannon's 'Frank and Lola' Bought by Universal". Variety. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Matthew Ross Bio on www.lolafilm.net". Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Matthew M. Ross". Variety. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Matthew Ross – Indiewire columns". lolafilm.net. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  6. ↑ "ANDERSON SILVA / FIGHT!". lolafilm.net. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Inside El Rodeo". Playboy. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  8. ↑ "The Village Voice - "Risky Business"". Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Nerve.com - "Post-Apocalypse Now!"". Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Matthew Ross Journalism Portfolio on www.lolafilm.net". Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Here Comes Your Man -- IMDb". Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  12. ↑ "A Hero's Welcome -- IMDb". Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Curtis and Clover -- IMDb". Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Lola -- IMDb". Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Red Angel -- IMDb". Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Inspired By Bret Easton Ellis -- IMDb". Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Roger Ebert". Twitter. Retrieved February 5, 2015. 'Inspired by Bret Easton Ellis,' by Matthew Ross. This is one terrific video!
  18. ↑ "FIGHT! Life on YouTube". Retrieved February 5, 2015 – via YouTube.
  19. ↑ "Hamptons Alum Share Script; NBC Deal for "Deadline"; Philly Fest Opens & More". Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Curb Your Enthusiasm - "Palestinian Chicken" -- IMDb". Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Larry David Woefully "Regrets" His Broadway Debut in Fish in the Dark". Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Frank & Lola (IMDb)". Retrieved February 5, 2015 – via YouTube.
  23. ↑ "Berlin: Arclight Launches Robert Halmi-Backed ‘Frank And Lola’ (EXCLUSIVE)". Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Sundance Premieres Include Films From James Schamus, Spike Lee". Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  25. ↑ "Rotten Tomatoes - Frank & Lola". Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  26. ↑ "The Guardian - 4-Star Review for Frank & Lola". Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Universal Lands ‘Frank And Lola’ For $2M+ – Sundance". Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  28. ↑ "25 Filmmakers & Actors That Broke Through At The 2016 Sundance Film Festival"". Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  29. ↑ "The 15 Best Films at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival". Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  30. ↑ "Best of Fest: Sundance 2016’s Top 10 New Voices". Retrieved February 5, 2016.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Matthew Ross (filmmaker and journalist).
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Thursday, April 21, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.