Alex Mechanik

Last updated
Alex Mechanik
Born (1986-10-18) October 18, 1986 (age 38)
Tampa, Florida
Occupation Filmmaker
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2023)​

Alex Mechanik (born October 18, 1986) is an American filmmaker. For his work on the Todd Haynes drama May December , he was nominated alongside his wife Samy Burch at the 96th Academy Awards. [1]

Contents

Early life

Mechanik was raised in Tampa, Florida. [2] He graduated with a bachelor's degree from New York University Tisch School of the Arts in 2009. [3]

Career

After graduating from college, Mechanik worked as a production assistant on reality television programs such as The Apprentice . He served on the casting department for features such as Allegiant and Ant-Man , where he is credited as Woody Mechanik. [2]

Mechanik collaborated on a series of short films with his partner, Samy Burch. The pair later collaborated on the screenplay for May December , a 2023 feature directed by Todd Haynes and starring Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore. Mechanik is also an editor for the "Open Door" video series produced by Architectural Digest . [2]

As of early 2024, Mechanik is set to direct a feature film starring O-Lan Jones for Gloria Sanchez Productions, the company that produced May December , based on a script he developed with Burch. [4] [2]

Personal life

While studying at New York University, Mechanik met Samy Burch, with whom he would collaborate on a number of short films as well as the story for May December . The pair married in 2023. [4]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleEditorWriterNotes
2013All You Can EatYesYesShort film;
Co-directed with Samy Burch
2016BevYesNo
2017Crown PrinceYesYes
2023 May December NoYesShares "Story by" credit with Samy Burch

Television

YearTitleNotes
2019 – 2020 Gourmet Makes Editor, 2 episodes
2020 – 2024 Architectural Digest Editor, 24 episodes
2024Almost Already FamousEditor, TV movie

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultRef.
2014 Slamdance Film Festival Spirit of Slamdance AwardThe GreggsWon [a] [5]
Best Narrative ShortNominated [a]
2023 Indiana Film Journalists Association Best Original Screenplay May December Runner-up [b] [6] [7]
Florida Film Critics Circle Best Original ScreenplayNominated [8]
Golden OrangeRunner-up
2024 Columbus Film Critics Association Best Original ScreenplayNominated [b] [9] [10]
Online Association of Female Film Critics Best Original ScreenplayRunner-up [b] [11]
Austin Film Critics Association Best Original Screenplay Nominated [b] [12]
North Dakota Film Society Best ScreenplayNominated [b] [13]
Portland Critics Association Best ScreenplayNominated [b] [14]
Independent Spirit Awards Best First Screenplay Won [b] [15]
Academy Awards Best Original Screenplay Nominated [b] [16]
Writers Guild of America Awards Best Original Screenplay Nominated [b] [17]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Shared with Brooke Bundy, Nigel DeFriez, Robert Malone, Kira Pearson, Jessie Levandov, and Jonathan Rosenblit
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Shared with cowriter Samy Burch

References

  1. ↑ Magidson, Joey. "Interview: Samy Burch and Alex Mechanik Talk About the 'Coyote vs. Acme' Controversy, Their 'May December' Oscar Nominations, and More!". Awards Radar. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Guzzo, Paul. "Tampa man co-wrote 'May December' starring Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  3. ↑ n.a. "2023 Gotham Award Nominees". Tisch School of the Arts. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  4. 1 2 Barber, Nicholas. "How 'May December' screenwriters hit the cinematic jackpot with their first produced spec script". Screen Daily. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  5. ↑ n.a. "Alex Mechanik - Awards". IMDb. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  6. ↑ n.a. "2023 Award Nominees". Indiana Film Journalists Association. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  7. ↑ Neglia, Matt (December 17, 2023). "The 2023 Indiana Film Journalists Association (IFJA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  8. ↑ Neglia, Matt. "The 2023 Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  9. ↑ n.a. "Awards 2023 Nominees". Columbus Film Critics Association. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  10. ↑ n.a. "Awards 2023". Columbus Film Critics Association. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  11. ↑ n.a. (December 21, 2023). "AWARDS Online Association of Female Film Critics 2023 Awards – Winners". Online Association of Female Film Critics. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  12. ↑ Anderson, Erik. "Austin Film Critics Association Nominations (AFCA): 'Killers of the Flower Moon,' 'Oppenheimer' Lead with 10 Each". AwardsWatch. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  13. ↑ Neglia, Matt (January 15, 2024). "The 2023 North Dakota Film Society (NDFS) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  14. ↑ Neglia, Matt (January 15, 2024). "The 2023 Portland Critics Association (PCA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  15. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 5, 2023). "Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominations: Best Feature 'American Fiction', 'May December', 'All Of Us Strangers', 'Passages', 'Past Lives' & 'We Grown Now' — Live". Deadline. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  16. ↑ Gonzalez, Shivani (January 23, 2024). "Oscar Nominees 2024". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  17. ↑ n.a. "2024 Writers Guild Awards Nominees". Writers Guild of America. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
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