Jason Reitman

Jason Reitman

Reitman at the 2008 Screenwriting Expo
Born October 19, 1977 (1977-10-19) (age 33)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Occupation Film director
Writer
Producer
Actor
Spouse Michele Lee
Website
http://www.myspace.com/yourpaljasonreitman

Jason Reitman (born October 19, 1977) is a Canadian-American film director, screenwriter, producer and actor, best known for directing the films Thank You for Smoking (2006), Juno (2007), and Up in the Air (2009). As of February 2, 2010, he has received four Academy Award nominations, two of which are for Best Director.

Reitman is a dual citizen of the United States and Canada.[1]

Contents

Early life

Reitman was born in Montreal, Quebec. His mother, Geneviève Robert, is a French-Canadian actress sometimes billed as Geneviève Deloir. His father is Canadian-Jewish comedy director Ivan Reitman, who was born in Czechoslovakia to Holocaust survivors.[2] Reitman has two younger sisters, Catherine and Caroline. When he was still a child, his family moved to Los Angeles.[3] His father, Ivan, directed the successful films Ghostbusters, Stripes, and Kindergarten Cop. Jason described his childhood self as "a loser... a movie geek... [and] shy."[4] In the late 1980s, Reitman began appearing in small acting parts and serving as a production assistant on his father's films. He spent time in the editing rooms of his father's movies, learning the process. Throughout his 20s, instead of accepting offers to make commercial feature films, Reitman began making his own short films and directing commercials. Although he was offered the opportunity to direct Dude, Where's My Car? on two separate occasions, he declined.[4]

Reitman graduated from the Harvard-Westlake School in 1995; Reitman was a high jumper in High School.[5] Reitman went on to major in English/Creative Writing at the University of Southern California.

Film career

Reitman at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival

In 2005, Reitman's first feature film Thank You for Smoking opened. Reitman developed the Christopher Buckley novel into a screenplay and, eventually, a film. The movie was a commercial and critical success. It grossed over $39 million worldwide by the end of its run, and was nominated for two Golden Globes. After the success of Thank You for Smoking, Reitman mentioned in an interview that his next film would be adapting another book (a "white collar satire") into a film. He also mentioned that he had plans to work with Buckley again on an original project.[6] Although the first of these projects would eventually become Up in the Air , this second project has not come to fruition.

His second film, Juno, generated great buzz after it premiered at the 2007 Toronto Film Festival[7] and was released in December 2007. It received tremendous critical acclaim (it was Roger Ebert's favourite film of 2007) and received Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Ellen Page's performance as the title character, Diablo Cody's original screenplay, and Reitman himself for Best Director. Reitman did win other awards for his work on Juno, including Best Director at the 2008 Canadian Comedy Awards; he was also honoured with the "Cinema for Peace Award 2008 for Most Valuable Work of Director, Producers & Screenwriter". The film thus far has grossed over $140 million at the U.S. box office, making it the largest success of Reitman's career and more successful than any of his father's films since Kindergarten Cop.[8] Brad Silberling was originally attached to direct the movie, but he dropped out over casting differences.[9] Reitman was in the middle of writing a screenplay when he came on board to direct Juno and, at one point, he expressed intent to finish writing and to direct this screenplay.[10]

In March 2006, Reitman formed the production company "Hard C Productions" with producing partner Daniel Dubiecki. The company had an overall deal with Fox Searchlight Pictures, the company that distributed Reitman's first two films. Reitman described his production company's goal as being to produce "small subversive comedy that is independent but accessible".[11] Reitman states that he and Dubiecki "want to make unusual films, and anything that turns a genre on its ear".[12] Through Hard C Productions, Reitman is set to produce and direct Banzai Shadowhands, a comedy about "a once-great ninja who is now living a life of mediocrity". Shadowhands will be written by The Office's Rainn Wilson. Reitman met Wilson on the set of his father's film My Super Ex-Girlfriend, in which Wilson had a supporting role.[11] No start date for filming has been set, and it is unclear as to whether or not Wilson is finished with the script.

Hard C Productions produced films The Ornate Anatomy of Living Things and Jennifer's Body. Anatomy has been written by Matthew Spicer and Max Winkler, and will revolve around "a Gotham bookstore clerk who discovers a museum devoted to his life".[13] Jennifer's Body, a horror comedy, was written by Diablo Cody and starred Megan Fox. It revolved around a cheerleader who is possessed by a demon and starts feeding off the boys in a Minnesota farming town.[12] In 2009, Reitman left Hard C to form Right of Way Films.

In 2001, the year the novel Up in the Air was published, Sheldon Turner discovered the book and wrote a screenplay adaptation, which he sold to DreamWorks in 2003. Jason Reitman later came upon the novel (initially attracted by the Christopher Buckley blurb on the cover) while browsing in the Los Angeles bookstore Book Soup.[14][15] Reitman persuaded his father Ivan Reitman to purchase the book's film rights, and the elder Reitman commissioned a screenplay from Ted and Nicholas Griffin, who used some elements from Turner's script in their own work. Jason Reitman then developed his own screenplay, incorporating some of the elements from the Griffins' script that had (unbeknownst to Reitman) originated with Turner. Some of Turner's inventions that were utilized in the final film include Ryan's boilerplate termination speech ("Anyone who ever built an empire or changed the world sat where you're sitting right now..."), a key plot point involving a suicide, and the character of Ryan's partner (written by Turner as male).[15][16]

Reitman initially attempted to claim sole credit for writing the film, and later admitted to being confused when the Writers Guild of America ruled that he should share credit with Turner. He and Turner later appeared at a WGA event where both said they were happy to share credit now that the course of events, and Turner's contribution to the final product, had been made clear.[15][16]

In the spring of 2009, Reitman directed Up in the Air starring George Clooney. Up in the Air is based on a novel written by Walter Kirn about a corporate downsizer who travels from city to city and is fanatical about collecting his ten millionth frequent flier mile. The film features real-world characters cast from the ranks of the recently downsized. "Hidden within a film that seems to be about corporate termination and the economy is a movie about the decision whether to be alone or not," noted Reitman,"[17] in an interview conducted just prior to the film's nationwide release. Sheldon Turner and Reitman's Up in the Air screenplay won the Golden Globe Award for best screenplay in 2010.

Reitman also executively produced the erotic thriller Chloe, theatrically released by Sony Pictures Classics on March 26, 2010.[18] Reitman helped persuade Amanda Seyfried to star in the film.[19] In the United States, this film grossed $3 million theatrically and became one of the higher-grossing specialty films in 2010[18](according to Variety, "$3 million is the new $10 million" for specialty films' box office in 2010[20]).

Other work

Reitman at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival

Before his feature film career began, Jason Reitman wrote and directed six short films. He financed his first short film, "Operation", with money he made by selling ads in desk calendars. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 1998.[21]

He was a guest on The Howard Stern Show on April 10, 2008; when he was asked if he would direct Ghostbusters III and cast Howard, he said "Do you know how many times I get asked if I want to do Ghostbusters III? Looking at my career so far, I mean, if you just looked at my two films, I would make the most boring Ghostbusters movie. It would just be people talking about ghosts, there wouldn't be any ghost-busting in it." Stern, a friend of Ivan Reitman, also revealed that he had seen Jason's early short films and was impressed enough to offer him the opportunity to direct an episode of Son of the Beach (a TV series he produced, a goofy parody of Baywatch), which Jason declined, citing that he was busy obtaining financing for Thank You for Smoking at the time.

Reitman produced and directed the 2007 holiday season commercials for Wal-Mart with advertising agency Bernstein-Rein. He has also directed ads for Burger King, Nintendo, BMW, and Buick.[21] In television, Reitman directed two episodes of The Office entitled "Local Ad" and "Frame Toby". Reitman also directed a three-part pretaped sketch for the NBC show Saturday Night Live called "Death By Chocolate," about a walking candy bar (played by episode host Ashton Kutcher) who murders people (stabbing a homeless man, shooting a doctor, cutting off a life support machine on a coma victim, and slicing Andy Samberg [dressed as a lumberjack] with a chainsaw).

Personal life

In 2004, he married writer Michele Lee,[22] with whom he co-wrote the 2004 comedic short "Consent."[23] The two had their first child, Josie, in 2006.

Filmography

Year Title Notes
1998 Operation Director, writer, producer, actor (short film)
1999 H@ Director, writer, actor (short film)
2000 In God We Trust Director, writer, executive producer, actor (short film)
2001 Gulp Director, writer (short film)
2002 Uncle Sam Director, writer (short film)
2004 Consent Director, co-writer (short film)
2006 Thank You for Smoking Director, screenplay (feature film)
2007 The Office Director (television series, episode: "Local Ad")
Juno Director (Academy Award nomination for Best Director)
2008 The Office Director (television series, episode: "Frame Toby")
2009 Jennifer's Body Producer
Up in the Air Director, screenplay, producer (Academy Award nominations for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture).
Chloe executive producer
2010 Ceremony executive producer, (Post Production)
2011 Labor Day Director, screenplay
Jeff Who Lives at Home producer, (Post-production)

References

  1. ↑ Thompson, Bob. "Jason Reitman: Perfect weather to fly". nationalpost.com. http://www.nationalpost.com/arts/story.html?id=2295238. Retrieved May 24, 2010. 
  2. ↑ "Jason Reitman just 'had to make' 'Juno'". CTV. 2009-12-05. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070906/Toronto_film_JUNO_070906/20070907?s_name=tiff2007&no_ads=. Retrieved 2010-01-18. 
  3. ↑ "Jason Reitman Biography". movies.yahoo.com. http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1804141701/bio. Retrieved May 24, 2010. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ebert, Roger. ""Juno's" Reitman on Ellen Page", Chicago Sun-Times, 2007-12-08. Retrieved on January 4, 2008.
  5. ↑ From the Commentary to Juno. Reitman states that the High-Jumper is a call out to his days as a High-Jumper.
  6. ↑ Wines, Shawn. "Lobbying is Kind of Funny", Ignore Magazine, 2006. Retrieved on January 10, 2008.
  7. ↑ Evans, Ian (2007), Juno premiere at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival, http://www.digitalhit.com/galleries/27/424/, retrieved 2009-12-07 
  8. ↑ "Juno - Box Office Mojo", Box Office Mojo, 2007-01-03. Retrieved on January 4, 2008.
  9. ↑ Kreps, Daniel. "Page, Reitman Join Juno", IONCINEMA.com, 2006-10-04. Retrieved on January 10, 2008.
  10. ↑ Reuven, Shmuel. "EXCLUSIVE: Jason Reitman Talks Juno and Ghostbusters," Jew Review, 2007. Retrieved on January 10, 2008.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Kit, Borys and Nicole Sperling. "Reitman, Wilson say 'Bonzai'", Hollywood Reporter, 2006-11-20. Retrieved on January 4, 2008.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Kit, Borys. "Reitman has the jump on Cody's 'Body'", Hollywood Reporter, 2007-11-13. Retrieved on January 4, 2008.
  13. ↑ Garrett, Diane and Peter Gilstrap. "Searchlight interested in 'Anatomy'", Variety, 2007-05-14. Retrieved on January 4, 2008.
  14. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2009-12-09). "Reitman on origins of 'Air': Pic inspired by Buckley quote in book". Variety (magazine). http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118012459.html?categoryId=3537&cs=1. Retrieved 2009-12-09. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Pond, Steve (2010-01-25). "'Up in the Air' Holds a Damage-Control Screening". The Wrap. http://www.thewrap.com/ind-column/air-holds-damage-control-screening-13493. Retrieved 2010-01-29. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Zeitchik, Steven (2010-01-15). "Screenwriting credits, floating up in the air". Los Angeles Times. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2010/01/james-cameron-jason-reitman-anthony-minghella-avatar.html. Retrieved 2010-01-16. 
  17. ↑ "Jason Reitman: Up In The Air". SuicideGirls.com. 23 Dec 2009. http://suicidegirls.com/interviews/Jason%20Reitman%3A%20Up%20In%20The%20Air/. Retrieved 2009-12-23. .
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=chloe.htm
  19. ↑ http://www.screendaily.com/reports/interviews/the-great-entertainer/5006120.article
  20. ↑ Stewart, Andrew (April 24, 2010). "Specialty pics face reduced expectations". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118018219.html?categoryid=3768&cs=1. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Jason Reitman - Libertarian", Advocates of Self Government, 2006. Retrieved on January 10, 2008.
  22. ↑ Michele Lee (II) - Biography
  23. ↑ Consent (2004)

External links

The films of Jason Reitman
Films
Thank You for Smoking (2006) • Juno (2007) • Up in the Air (2009) • Young Adult (2011)
Productions
Jennifer's Body (2009) • Up in the Air (2009) • Chloe (2010)
Television work
The Office (2005–present): "Local Ad" • "Frame Toby"
BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay

Stephen Gaghan (2000) · Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Roger S. H. Schulman and Joe Stillman (2001) · Charlie and Donald Kaufman (2002) · Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh (2003) · Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor (2004) · Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana (2005) · Jeremy Brock and Peter Morgan (2006) · Ronald Harwood (2007) · Simon Beaufoy (2008) · Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner (2009)

 · (1983-1999) · (2000-present)
Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay

Akiva Goldsman (2001) · Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor (2002) · Sofia Coppola (2003) · Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor (2004) · Larry McMurty and Diana Ossana (2005) · Peter Morgan (2006) · Joel and Ethan Coen (2007) · Simon Beaufoy (2008) · Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner (2009)

 ·  ·  · (2001-present)