Geoffrey S. Fletcher

For British artist and art critic, see Geoffrey Scowcroft Fletcher.
Geoffrey S. Fletcher
Born Geoffrey Shawn Fletcher
October 4, 1970
New London, Connecticut
Alma mater Harvard,
NYUTisch School of the Arts
Occupation Screenwriter,
Film Director and,
Adjunct Film Professor
Employer Columbia University,
NYU/Tisch School of the Arts

Geoffrey Shawn Fletcher (born October 4, 1970) is an American screenwriter, film director, and adjunct film professor at Columbia University and New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in New York City, New York. Fletcher is the screenwriter of Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire and received an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on March 7, 2010. He is the first African American to receive an Academy Award for writing.[1] In September 2010, Fletcher began shooting Violet & Daisy in New York City based on his original script as his directorial debut.[2]

Early life

Fletcher was born in New London, Connecticut, one of three children of Alphonse Fletcher, Sr. and Bettye R. Fletcher. Alphonse Fletcher, Jr. and Todd Fletcher are his brothers. Fletcher attended Waterford High School in Waterford, Connecticut prior to completing his secondary education at Choate Rosemary Hall. Fletcher graduated from Harvard College where he concentrated in psychology and from NYU's Tisch School where he earned a Master of Fine Arts. His student film Magic Markers, which he wrote and directed, was shown at festivals,[3] and caught the attention of director John Singleton.[4]

Career

Fletcher at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival.

Fletcher worked in a variety of temporary staff positions for years as he wrote and directed his own films. Eventually he was appointed an adjunct professor at Tisch and also at Columbia. In 2006, producer Lee Daniels viewed Magic Markers and asked Fletcher to adapt the book Push by Sapphire which became the film Precious.[4] Daniels, well known to be "passionately dedicated" to artists "serious about their craft," [5] considered several writers before choosing Fletcher according to a Variety article that included Fletcher among the "Ten Screenwriters to Watch."[6] Fletcher is represented by his agents Billy Hawkins, Brian Siberell and Chris Till of CAA and by the law firm of Gang, Tyre, Ramer and Brown.

On February 16, 2010 director Doug Liman and Fletcher announced that they would be collaborating on a film re-creation of the 1971 Attica state prison rebellion.[7] Fletcher said in a statement "Working with a remarkable director in Doug Liman whose family history binds him personally to this project, I hope to create opportunities for re-examination of this dramatic crossroad in our nation's history while contributing to the current dialogue on the value of protecting everyone's rights."[8][9]

His brother Alphonse Fletcher Jr. has been involved in a hedge fund bankruptcy case. Money from his fund, Fletcher Asset Management, was used to fund his Violet movie project according the bankruptcy court trustee.[10]

Filmography

Recognition

Screenwriting awards for Precious

Screenwriting nominations for Precious

Awards and Festivals for Magic Markers

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Geoffrey Fletcher.
  1. ↑ "Nominees for the 82nd Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
  2. ↑ "Alexis Bledel in Violet and Daisy with Saoirse Ronan". celebriFi. Retrieved 2010-10-23.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Magic Markers Film Information". Variety. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Horn, John (November 29, 2009). "Geoffrey Fletcher Pulls Precious from Push". Los Angeles Times.
  5. ↑ "Lee Daniels Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
  6. ↑ "10 Screenwriters to Watch". Variety. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
  7. ↑ "Director Liman Announces 'Attica' adaptation". Reuters. Retrieved 2010-02-18.
  8. ↑ "Liman, Fletcher to adapt Attica". Sharon Waxman. February 16, 2010.
  9. ↑ Zeitchik, Steven (February 16, 2010). "From Precious to Prison". Los Angeles Times.
  10. ↑ Pension Funds Sue on a Deal Gone Cold February 24, 2014 by Rachel Abrams New York Times (Deal Book)
  11. ↑ "Oscars Ceremonies-2010-Writing (Adapted Screenplay)". www.oscars.org. 2010-03-07. Retrieved 2015-03-24.
  12. ↑ ""Precious" Takes Top Prizes at Indie Film Awards". ABCNEWS.com. 2010-03-06. Retrieved 2010-03-06.
  13. ↑ "Motion Picture Categories". NAACPImageAwards.com. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
  14. ↑ International Press Academy (December 2009). "2009 14th Annual Satellite Awards Nominations". PressAcademys.com. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
  15. ↑ "African -American Film Critics Association Selects "Precious" As Top Film Of 2009". Aafca.com. Retrieved 2010-01-09.
  16. ↑ "'Precious' and 'Princess' Top Black Reel Awards Nominations". BlackReelAwards.com. The Black Reel Awards. 2009-12-16. Retrieved 2009-12-16.
  17. ↑ Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association (2009-12-07). "Our Awards: 2009". DCFilmCritics.com. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
  18. ↑ "2009 EDA Award Winners". AWFJ.org. Retrieved 2009-12-19.
  19. ↑ "Houston Film Critics Society: Home". HoustonFilmCritics.com. Retrieved 2009-12-19.
  20. ↑ "FFCC Award Winners". FloridaFilmCriticsCircle.webs.com. Retrieved 2010-01-09.
  21. ↑ "USC Libraries Announce Scripter 2010 Finalists". USC.edu. Retrieved 2010-01-10.
  22. ↑ "2010 Writers Guild Awards Screen Nominees Announced". wga.org. Retrieved 2010-01-14.
  23. ↑ "The official nominations for the Orange British Academy Film Awards in 2010". bafta.org. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
  24. ↑ "DGA Student Film Awards". DGA.org. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
  25. ↑ "The Third Hamptons International Film Festival Student Films". filmscouts.com. Retrieved 2010-02-02.

External links