Paul Schiff
Paul Schiff began his career as a documentary cameraman in his hometown of New York City before segueing into directing for MTV, where he was on staff for four years during the early days of the fledgling and groundbreaking cable channel.
His success at the upstart network led to an introduction to film executive Joe Roth, who would go on to become his mentor while introducing him to the world of feature films. Roth hired Schiff (a film studies graduate of Wesleyan University) as associate producer on the boxing drama, Streets of Gold (film), before moving up to produce his 1988 drama, Coupe de Ville (film). Schiff then became a Vice President of Production under Roth at Morgan Creek Productions, where he developed and supervised numerous projects, and produced the westerns Young Guns (film) and its sequel, Young Guns II.
After Roth assumed the post of Chairman of 20th Century Fox in 1989, Schiff spent a successful seven years at the studio in a production deal, where he produced such films as My Cousin Vinny, starring Joe Pesci and Best Supporting Actress Oscar® winner Marisa Tomei; The Vanishing (1993 film), the American adaptation of George Sluizer’s Dutch thriller (also directed by the original’s helmer) starring Jeff Bridges and Kiefer Sutherland; the “Animal House”-inspired campus comedy PCU (film); and the sci-fi thriller, Ghost in the Machine (film).
After his stint at Fox, Schiff reteamed with Roth at Disney in a production deal, where he next produced Wes Anderson's critically acclaimed film, Rushmore (film), which starred Bill Murray and introduced upcoming star Jason Schwartzman. The film won two Film Independent Spirit Awards—Best Director and Best Supporting Actor for Murray, who would also win several other acting honors, including the New York and Los Angeles Film Critics prizes, the National Society of Film Critics Award, and nominations for the Golden Globe and the Chicago Film Critics Association (vying for that honor with co-star Schwartzman).
He continued his long-standing affiliation with Roth at the exec’s new production firm, Revolution Studios, where he produced Maid in Manhattan, the hit romantic comedy starring Jennifer Lopez and Ralph Fiennes, and Mike Newell (director)’s drama Mona Lisa Smile, starring Julia Roberts, Julia Styles and Kirsten Dunst.
Schiff's producing credits also include The Air I Breathe (featuring an all-star cast led by Kevin Bacon, Brendan Fraser, Andy Garcia and Sarah Michelle Gellar; Numb (film), starring Matthew Perry; Green Street Hooligans starring Elijah Wood; the 2004 remake of the 1970s classic actioner, Walking Tall (2004 film) with Dwayne Johnson; Solitary Man (film), starring Michael Douglas and Susan Sarandon; The Truth About Emmanuel, starring Jessica Biel; the ensemble comedy Spin (2007 film); and the upcoming Alaskan-set thriller, Into the Grizzly Maze starring James Marsden, Billy Bob Thornton, Thomas Jane and Scott Glenn.
Schiff recently completed My All-American, an inspirational sports drama starring Aaron Eckhart and Robin Tunney.
Personal life
Schiff has a brother, Richard Schiff.
Schiff and his family are Jewish.[1]
Filmography
- 1986 Streets of Gold – Associate Producer
- 1986 Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise – Associate Producer
- 1988 Young Guns – Co-Producer
- 1989 Renegades – Co-Producer
- 1990 Coupe de Ville
- 1990 Young Guns II
- 1992 My Cousin Vinny
- 1993 The Vanishing
- 1993 Ghost in the Machine
- 1994 PCU
- 1995 Bushwhacked
- 1998 Rushmore
- 2000 Whatever It Takes
- 2001 Black Knight
- 2002 Maid in Manhattan
- 2003 Mona Lisa Smile
- 2004 Walking Tall
- 2005 Green Street Hooligans – Executive Producer
- 2006 Date Movie
- 2007 Epic Movie
- 2007 Spin
- 2007 The Air I Breathe
- 2007 Numb
- 2009 Tenure
- 2009 Solitary Man
- 2010 Revenge of the Bridesmaids – Executive Producer
- 2013 Into the Grizzly Maze (also Red Machine) – Producer
- 2015 My All-American – Producer
References
- ↑ ״Infidel actor Richard discovered drama in his family's history". The Jewish Telegraph. www.jewishtelegraph.com Published 2010. Accessed February 12, 2016.