Brian Herzlinger

Last updated
Brian Herzlinger
Brian at Sweet screening.jpg
Herzlinger at Sweet screening
Born (1976-02-19) February 19, 1976 (age 48)
Occupation Film director
Years active1997–present
Spouse
Megan Henry Herzlinger
(m. 2013)
ChildrenCleary Herzlinger (b. 2014), Henry Herzlinger (b. 2017), Rainey Herzlinger (b. 2022)

Brian Scott Herzlinger (born February 19, 1976, Brooklyn, New York) is an American film director who directed and starred in My Date with Drew , a documentary released in 2005. Herzlinger graduated from Ithaca College (NY) with a film degree in 1997.

Contents

Early years

Herzlinger grew up in Evesham Township, New Jersey, where he attended Cherokee High School, graduating in 1994 as the prom king. [1]

In 1997, he graduated from Ithaca College with a BS in Cinema & Photography. He had written and directed a short, student film called The Film Contest shot on 16mm film. After moving to Los Angeles, Herzlinger directed more short films, including Malicious Intent. He worked at DreamWorks and MGM and also as a Production Assistant on several commercials and music videos. Afterwards, he worked for two years as a Producer's P.A. on the CBS medical drama Chicago Hope , and worked his way up to Executive Producer Bill D'Elia's assistant on the David E. Kelley landmark series Ally McBeal . After his first feature My Date With Drew , Herzlinger began a three-year stint as an on-air special correspondent for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno . Simultaneously, he directed the romantic comedy Baby on Board , starring Heather Graham, Jerry O'Connell, John Corbett and Lara Flynn Boyle which hit theatres nationwide in 2009.

Herzlinger's love for film began at a young age with his first viewing of the film E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial , said the director in an interview for The Film That Changed My Life [2] by Robert K. Elder.

I think it gave us permission to believe, and I’ll tell you right now, one of my biggest things as a person, as a filmmaker, is being able to believe. If I didn’t have that and didn’t have that ability, I would have failed at this business. [3]

Recent years

Herzlinger has multiple film and television projects in the works. He currently lives in Malibu, California and works as a film director and writer.

In 2010, Summit Entertainment hired Black and Herzlinger to re-write their $50 million action comedy Mental. In 2011, Herzlinger directed the feature Brother White (starring Bruce Davison and Ray Wise) as well as the television pilot for B&B Media's Today’s Tiaras.[ citation needed ]

In 2012, Herzlinger served as host for Laugh Factor, a CW pilot for the Wayans Brothers, described as The Voice for stand-up comedy. Also in 2012, Herzlinger the comedy musical How Sweet It Is (starring Paul Sorvino and Joe Piscopo), which was co-written by Jay Black & Herzlinger, and released in select theatres nationwide on May 10, 2013. That same year, he directed the family holiday film Christmas Angel (starring Kevin Sorbo and Della Reese), which became the highest-rated TV movie of 2012 for the GMC network with over 3 million viewers.[ citation needed ]

In 2013, he directed the feature film Finding Normal. He produced, directed, and co-wrote the TV pilot Paulie (starring Paul Sorvino and Janeane Garofalo).

In 2014, Herzlinger and Black wrote the cancer drama Meet My Valentine. He directed the film for Marvista Entertainment which was released on Valentine's Day 2015, and is currently on Netflix. In 2015, the duo wrote the action film, The Bus Driver, which Herzlinger also directed. That year, he also directed the feature drama The Perfect Daughter starring Parker Stevenson and Meredith Salenger. He co-wrote and directed the Christmas film Love Always, Santa and directed the series pilot Confessions of a Hollywood Bartender.[ citation needed ]

In 2016, Herzlinger directed the feature romantic comedy Love's Last Resort, which turned out to be the late Alan Thicke's last film; Hush Little Baby, a thriller starring Erin Cahill; and the Pureflix original series pilot Hitting The Breaks.

In 2017, Herzlinger directed the romantic drama Runaway Romance starring Tatum O'Neal. In 2019, he directed his second documentary, My Truth: The Rape of 2 Coreys . The film explores actor Corey Feldman's allegations sexual abuse as a child by prominent Hollywood figures. [4]

Filmography

Films directed
YearFilmOther notes
1997The Film ContestShort film
1999Malicious IntentShort film
2002KrutchShort film
2005 My Date with Drew Vail Film Festival Festival Award
US Comedy Arts Festival Audience Award
Gen Art Film Festival Audience Award
Locarno International Film Festival Critics Week Award
Sonoma Valley Film Festival Audience Award
Sonoma Valley Film Festival Jury Award
Sonoma Valley Film Festival Special Award
2009 Baby on Board
2011Brother WhiteTV movie
2012Christmas AngelTV movie
2013 How Sweet It Is Feature film
2013Finding NormalTV movie
2013PaulieCompleted pilot
2014The Bus DriverFeature film
2014Meet My ValentineFeature film
2015The Perfect DaughterFeature film
2015Confessions of a Hollywood BartenderSeries pilot
2016 Love Always, Santa Feature film
2016Love's Last ResortFeature film
2016Hush Little BabyFeature film
2016Hitting the BreaksSeries pilot + 2 episodes
2017Runaway RomanceFeature film
2020 My Truth: The Rape of 2 Coreys Documentary film
2021The Holiday FixupFeature film

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corey Feldman</span> American actor (born 1971)

Corey Scott Feldman is an American actor and musician. As a youth, he became well known for roles in the 1980s in films such as Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984), Gremlins (1984), The Goonies (1985), and Stand by Me (1986). Feldman collaborated with Corey Haim starring in numerous films such as the comedy horror The Lost Boys (1987), the teen comedy License to Drive (1988) and the romantic comedy Dream a Little Dream (1989). They reunited for the A&E reality series The Two Coreys, which ran from 2007 to 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corey Haim</span> Canadian actor (1971–2010)

Corey Ian Haim was a Canadian actor. He starred in Silver Bullet (1985), Murphy's Romance (1985), Lucas (1986), License to Drive (1988) and Dream a Little Dream (1989). His role alongside Corey Feldman in The Lost Boys (1987) made him a household name. Known as The Two Coreys, the duo became 1980s icons and appeared together in seven films, later starring in the A&E American reality show The Two Coreys.

<i>10 Things I Hate About You</i> 1999 American film by Gil Junger

10 Things I Hate About You is a 1999 American teen romantic comedy film directed by Gil Junger in his film directorial debut and starring Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Larisa Oleynik. The screenplay by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith is a modernization of William Shakespeare's comedy The Taming of the Shrew, retold in a late-1990s American high school setting. The film follows new student Cameron James (Gordon-Levitt) who is smitten with Bianca Stratford (Oleynik) and attempts to get bad boy Patrick Verona (Ledger) to date her antisocial sister Kat (Stiles) in order to get around her father's strict rules on dating. Named after a poem Kat writes about her romance with Patrick, the film was mostly shot in the Seattle metropolitan area, with many scenes filmed at Stadium High School in Tacoma, Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris O'Donnell</span> American actor (born 1970)

Christopher Eugene O'Donnell is an American actor. He played Charlie Sims in Scent of a Woman, Chris Reece in School Ties, D'Artagnan in The Three Musketeers, Jack Foley in the drama film Circle of Friends, Dick Grayson/Robin in Batman Forever and Batman & Robin, Jason Brown in Robert Altman's Cookie's Fortune, Peter Garrett in Vertical Limit, and Wardell Pomeroy in Kinsey. O'Donnell starred as Special Agent G. Callen on the CBS crime drama television series NCIS: Los Angeles, a spin-off of NCIS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Corbett</span> American actor and country music singer (born 1961)

John Joseph Corbett Jr. is an American actor and country music singer. On television, he is best known for his roles as Chris Stevens on Northern Exposure (1990–1995), Aidan Shaw on Sex and the City (2000–2003), Max Gregson on United States of Tara (2009–2011), and Seth Holt on Parenthood (2011–2015). In film, he is known for roles in the My Big Fat Greek Wedding franchise, Raising Helen (2004), The Messengers (2007), Sex and the City 2 (2010), Ramona & Beezus (2010), and the To All the Boys film trilogy (2018–2021).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nancy Travis</span> American actress (born 1961)

Nancy Ann Travis is an American actress. She began her career on Off-Broadway theater, before her first leading screen role in the ABC television miniseries Harem opposite Omar Sharif. Her breakthrough came in 1987, playing Sylvia Bennington in the comedy film Three Men and a Baby. She later starred in its sequel, Three Men and a Little Lady (1990).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce McCulloch</span> Canadian comedian, actor, writer

Bruce Ian McCulloch is a Canadian actor, comedian, writer, musician and film director. McCulloch is best known for his work as a member of the comedy troupe The Kids in the Hall, including starring in the TV series of the same name. He was also a writer for Saturday Night Live. McCulloch has appeared on other series including Twitch City and Gilmore Girls. He directed the films Dog Park, Stealing Harvard and Superstar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tisha Campbell</span> American actress

Tisha Michelle Campbell is an American actress and singer. She made her screen debut appearing in the 1986 rock musical comedy film Little Shop of Horrors, and later starred on the NBC musical comedy drama Rags to Riches (1987–1988). She has appeared in films including School Daze (1988), Rooftops (1989), Another 48 Hrs. (1990), Boomerang (1992), and Sprung (1997). She received a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female for playing Sidney in the comedy film House Party (1990). She reprises the role of Sidney in the sequels House Party 2 (1991) and House Party 3 (1994).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edgar Wright</span> English filmmaker (born 1974)

Edgar Howard Wright is an English filmmaker and actor. He is known for his fast-paced and kinetic, satirical genre films, which feature extensive utilisation of expressive popular music, Steadicam tracking shots, dolly zooms and a signature editing style that includes transitions, whip pans and wipes. He began making independent short films before making his first feature film A Fistful of Fingers in 1995. Wright created and directed the comedy series Asylum in 1996, written with David Walliams. After directing several other television shows, Wright directed the sitcom Spaced (1999–2001), which aired for two series and starred frequent collaborators Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.

Mary Kay Place is an American actress. She is best known for portraying Loretta Haggers on the television series Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, a role that won her the 1977 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress - Comedy Series. Her numerous film appearances include Private Benjamin (1980), The Big Chill (1983), Captain Ron (1992) and Francis Ford Coppola's 1997 drama The Rainmaker. Place also recorded three studio albums for Columbia Records, one in the Haggers persona, which included the Top Ten country music hit "Baby Boy". For her performance in Diane (2018), Place won the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress and the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress.

<i>My Date with Drew</i> 2004 American film

My Date with Drew is a 2004 independent documentary film starring and directed by Brian Herzlinger. The film uses guerrilla filmmaking and received several awards.

<i>License to Drive</i> 1988 film by Greg Beeman

License to Drive is a 1988 American teen comedy film written by Neil Tolkin and directed by Greg Beeman in his feature film directorial debut. It stars Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, Heather Graham, and Carol Kane. The film was in production in late 1987. It was released on July 6, 1988, in the United States and grossed over $20 million at the North American box office. It was distributed by 20th Century Fox.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Daly</span> American actor, comedian and writer

Andrew Daly is an American actor, comedian and writer. He starred as Forrest MacNeil on the Comedy Central series Review, and had a supporting role in the HBO comedy series Eastbound & Down as Terrence Cutler. He has also made recurring appearances on television programs such as Silicon Valley, Veep, Modern Family, Black-ish, Trial & Error, the Netflix series The Who Was? Show, Reno 911!, and Comedy Bang! Bang!, as well as animated shows such as Rick and Morty, Solar Opposites, Bob's Burgers, Adventure Time, and Harley Quinn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Tennant</span> Director, screenwriter, dancer

Andrew Wellman Tennant is an American screenwriter, film and television director, actor, and dancer.

Jonathan Sadowski is an American actor. He is best known for his starring role as Josh Xander Kaminski on the Freeform sitcom Young & Hungry (2014–18). He also starred as Henry Goodson in CBS sitcom $#*! My Dad Says (2010–11).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kongdej Jaturanrasamee</span> Thai film director

Kongdej Jaturanrasamee is a Thai screenwriter, film director and former musician. His screenplays include The Letter, Tom-Yum-Goong, Noo Hin: The Movie and Me ... Myself. His own films include Sayew and Midnight My Love.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirk Jones (director)</span> English film director and screenwriter

Kirk Jones is an English film director and screenwriter.

<i>I Will, I Will... for Now</i> 1976 film by Norman Panama

I Will, I Will... for Now is a 1976 American romantic-comedy film directed by Norman Panama. It stars Elliott Gould and Diane Keaton.

Jay Black is an American comedian, screenwriter, and actor.

<i>How Sweet It Is</i> (2013 film) 2013 American film

How Sweet It Is is a 2013 American independent musical comedy-drama film directed by Brian Herzlinger and written by Herzlinger and Jay Black. The film stars Joe Piscopo, Erika Christensen, Erich Bergen, Michael Paré, and Paul Sorvino. It was released in select theaters in the United States on May 10, 2013.

References

  1. Strauss, Robert. "Worth Noting; This Could Be His Date With Destiny", The New York Times , August 7, 2005. Accessed August 4, 2019. "'I was the Prom King, but I couldn't get a date,' said Mr. Herzlinger, a 1994 Cherokee High School graduate who went on, with his childhood buddies Mr. Gunn and Mr. Winn, to Ithaca College film school."
  2. Elder, Robert K. (2011). The Film that Changed My Life: 30 Directors on Their Epiphanies in the Dark. Chicago Review Press. ISBN   978-1556528255.
  3. Herzlinger, Brian. Interview by Robert K. Elder. The Film That Changed My Life. By Robert K. Elder. Chicago: Chicago Review Press, 2011. N. p87. Print.
  4. "Opinion | Corey Feldman: Every child who was sexually abused must get the justice denied to me". NBC News. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 2020-05-13.