Greg Mottola

Greg Mottola

Mottola on the set of Paul in July 2009
Born Gregory J. Mottola
July 11, 1964
Dix Hills, New York
Occupation Filmmaker, screenwriter, television director

Gregory J. "Greg" Mottola[1] (born July 11, 1964)[2] is an American filmmaker, screenwriter and television director. Mottola wrote and directed the 1996 independent film The Daytrippers, then concentrated for several years on directing in television for series such as Undeclared and Arrested Development. More recently, he has directed the feature films Superbad, Adventureland, and Paul.

Life and career

Mottola grew up in Dix Hills, New York,[3] in a Catholic family of Irish-Italian descent.[4] He received his BFA in art from Carnegie Mellon University and MFA in film from Columbia University.

Mottola directed Adventureland, set in the 1980s, a "first love" story about a group of college-age kids working at an amusement park. The protagonist's plans go awry when circumstances cause him to miss out on a backpacking trip to Europe with his friends.[5] It premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and received critical praise.

Mottola's 2011 science fiction / comedy film Paul is about two comic book nerds (played by the film's screenwriters Simon Pegg and Nick Frost) who meet an alien named Paul while vacationing in the US.

As of 2011 Mottola is writing a screenplay based on Leanne Shapton's Important Artifacts and Personal Property From the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion and Jewelry, to be produced by Natalie Portman and Plan B Entertainment.[6]

Mottola is married to Sarah Allentuch and has three children.[1]

Filmography

Film (as director)

Year Title Notes
1989 Swingin' in the Painter's Room Short film
1996 The Daytrippers Also screenwriter
2007 Superbad
2009 Adventureland Also screenwriter
2011 Paul
2013 Clear History Television film
2016 Keeping Up with the Joneses

Television

Year Show Episode Notes
2001 Undeclared "Addicts"
"Sick in the Head"
"Eric Visits Again"
2002 "Jobs, Jobs, Jobs"
"Truth or Dare"
"The Perfect Date"
2003 The Big Wide World
of Carl Laemke
"Pilot" Unaired television pilot
Arrested Development "Charity Drive"
"Visiting Ours"
2004 "Storming the Castle"
Cracking Up "Scared Straight
2005 The Comeback "Valerie Demands Dignity"
"Valerie Saves the Show"
2012 The Newsroom "We Just Decided To" [7]
"The 112th Congress" [8]
"The Greater Fool" [9]

References

External links