| Chris Sparling | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 21, 1977 Providence, Rhode Island |
| Occupation | Screenwriter, film director and actor |
| Spouse | Kerri Morrone Sparling |
Chris Sparling is an American screenwriter, director, and actor from Providence, RI. He is married to Kerri Morrone Sparling, author of the diabetes blog Six Until Me.
After writing, directing, and acting in several low-budget independent films[1], Sparling found mainstream success when his feature length screenplay Buried was purchased by producer Peter Safran. Spanish director Rodrigo Cortés and actor Ryan Reynolds worked on the project.
The film premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival to high critical praise[2][3] and was eventually sold to Lionsgate Films[4]. After later playing additional film festivals worldwide—including the Toronto International Film Festival, as well as winning the Méliès d'Or Award[5] at the Sitges Film Festival -- it received a limited theatrical release in September 2010, earning over $18 million worldwide[6]. The film was later released on DVD in January 2011.
Sparling was awarded Best Original Screenplay by the 2010 National Board of Review for Buried and the film was selected as on the 10 Best Independent Films of 2010. He also won a Goya Award in 2011 for Best Original Screenplay[7], and he was nominated for a Gaudi Award[8] as well in the same category.
Sparling later wrote the script ATM[9], a suspense thriller produced by Peter Safran and shot in Winnipeg, Manitoba in the fall of 2010.[10] He also wrote Reincarnate for producer M. Night Shyamalan, the second film of a three-part series known as The Night Chronicles.[11][12]
Currently, Sparling plans to direct the supernatural drama Falling Slowly, based on his original screenplay, as well as the thriller Mercy, which had previously been under option at Gold Circle Films. It is unknown whether he will also perform in an acting role in either of these films.