Christopher B. Landon

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Christopher B. Landon
Born Christopher Beau Landon
(1975-02-27) February 27, 1975 (age 43)
Los Angeles, California, United States
Occupation Film director, producer, screenwriter
Nationality American
Alma mater Loyola Marymount University
Years active 1996-present
Relatives Michael Landon (father)
Marjorie Lynn Noe (mother)
Leslie Landon (sister)
Michael Landon, Jr. (brother)
Jennifer Landon (paternal half-sister)
Mark Landon (adoptive brother)

Christopher Beau Landon (born February 27, 1975) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter best known for writing Disturbia (2007), Paranormal Activity 2 (2010), Paranormal Activity 3 (2011), Paranormal Activity 4 (2012), and Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (2014). Landon is the son of late actor Michael Landon. Landon wrote and made his first directorial debut on the satirical thriller film Burning Palms (2010). He wrote and directed the found footage horror film Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (2014), directed and co-wrote the horror comedy film Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (2015) and directed the slasher film Happy Death Day (2017).

<i>Disturbia</i> (film) 2007 film by D. J. Caruso

Disturbia is a 2007 American thriller film directed by D. J. Caruso, written by Christopher Landon and Carl Ellsworth and stars Shia LaBeouf, David Morse, Sarah Roemer and Carrie-Anne Moss. The film follows a teenager who is placed on house arrest and begins to spy on his neighbors, thinking one of them is a serial killer.

<i>Paranormal Activity 2</i> 2010 film by Tod Williams

Paranormal Activity 2 is a 2010 American found footage supernatural horror film directed by Tod Williams and written by Christopher B. Landon, Michael R. Perry and Tom Pabst. The film is a prequel to the 2007 film Paranormal Activity, beginning two months before and following up with the events depicted in the original film. It was released in theaters at midnight on October 22, 2010 in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Poland and Ireland. An unrated version of the film was also released, and an unofficial film called Paranormal Activity: Tokyo Night.

<i>Paranormal Activity 3</i> 2011 film by Ariel Schulman, Henry Joost

Paranormal Activity 3 is a 2011 American found footage supernatural horror film, directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman. It is the third installment of the Paranormal Activity series and serves as a prequel, mostly set 18 years prior to the events of the first two films. It was released in theaters on October 21, 2011. Paranormal Activity 3 was also Joost and Schulman's first horror film.

Contents

Early life

Landon was born in Los Angeles, and is the son of Michael Landon and Lynn Noe. He is the youngest of four children produced by their marriage. His parents divorced in 1980, when he was four years old, where upon he resided with his father until the age of sixteen, when his father died of pancreatic cancer. [1] One of his brothers is Michael Landon, Jr., an actor, and one of his half-sisters is Jennifer Landon, an actress. His paternal grandfather was Jewish.

Michael Landon actor, director, producer, writer

Michael Landon was an American actor, writer, director, and producer. He is known for his roles as Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza (1959–1973), Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie (1974–1983), and Jonathan Smith in Highway to Heaven (1984–1989). Landon appeared on the cover of TV Guide 22 times, second only to Lucille Ball.

Pancreatic cancer endocrine gland cancer located in the pancreas

Pancreatic cancer arises when cells in the pancreas, a glandular organ behind the stomach, begin to multiply out of control and form a mass. These cancerous cells have the ability to invade other parts of the body. There are a number of types of pancreatic cancer. The most common, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, accounts for about 85% of cases, and the term "pancreatic cancer" is sometimes used to refer only to that type. These adenocarcinomas start within the part of the pancreas which makes digestive enzymes. Several other types of cancer, which collectively represent the majority of the non-adenocarcinomas, can also arise from these cells. One to two percent of cases of pancreatic cancer are neuroendocrine tumors, which arise from the hormone-producing cells of the pancreas. These are generally less aggressive than pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Jennifer Landon is an American actress, known for her role as Gwen Norbeck Munson in the CBS soap opera As the World Turns, for which she won three consecutive Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series.

Career

Landon, following his father Michael Landon's footsteps in filmmaking, studied screenwriting at Loyola Marymount University, but dropped out three years into the course to pursue a career when film director Larry Clark offered him a writing job after reading one of his scripts. [1] He went on to co-write the script of Another Day in Paradise with Eddie Little and Stephen Chin. After writing Another Day in Paradise, he came out as gay, aware that homophobia may have harmed his potential in the industry. "I may fall off some list because of my sexuality. But if that happens, then I really don't want to be on that list anyway," he said, speaking of homophobia in Hollywood and the film industry. [1] "I was the flavor of the month, and then I was quickly dismissed. I reached a point in my career when I couldn't get a meeting anywhere." [2] He moved from Los Angeles to Austin, Texas, contemplating the future of his career, which he revived only a few years later. [3] [2]

Loyola Marymount University Jesuit university in Los Angeles

Loyola Marymount University (LMU) is a private Jesuit and Marymount research university in Los Angeles, California. The university is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and one of five Marymount institutions of higher education.

Larry Clark American photographer and filmmaker

Lawrence Donald Clark is an American film director, photographer, writer and film producer who is best known for his controversial teen film Kids (1995) and his photography book Tulsa. His work focuses primarily on youth who casually engage in illegal drug use, underage sex, and violence, and who are part of a specific subculture, such as surfing, punk rock or skateboarding.

<i>Another Day in Paradise</i> (film) 1998 Crime Drama by Larry Clark

Another Day in Paradise is a 1998 crime drama film directed by Larry Clark, and released by Trimark Pictures. It is based on the novel Another Day in Paradise written by Eddie Little. The movie won the Grand Prix award at the 1999 Festival du Film Policier de Cognac. The film starred James Woods, Melanie Griffith, Vincent Kartheiser and Natasha Gregson Wagner.

Most of Landon's films deal with gay themes and issues[ citation needed ], including $30, one of five components in Boys Life 3 , a collection of short films dealing with issues faced by gays, and a spec script about the relationship between a straight man and a gay man. [1] More recently, he has written the screenplays of the 2007 films Blood and Chocolate , The Flock [4] and the acclaimed Disturbia . Disturbia was one of his spec scripts which was brought to Montecito Pictures and subsequently DreamWorks Pictures, and went on to become No. 1 in cinemas upon its release. [2] [4] He is currently working on The Lesson , an upcoming film for DreamWorks[ citation needed ], and the 2007 television series Dirty Sexy Money , his first television project, eager to expand his repertoire. [3] [2] He is currently working on the screenplay of the film adaption of Lisa McMann's young adult novel Wake [ citation needed ]. Landon also made his directorial debut in Burning Palms , a comedic thriller which was poorly received. [5]

Boys Life 3 is a compilation of five short films that deal with coming-out and the trials and tribulations of being gay in America.

A spec script, also known as a speculative screenplay, is a non-commissioned and unsolicited screenplay. It is usually written by a screenwriter who hopes to have the script optioned and eventually purchased by a producer, production company, or studio.

After writing Paranormal Activity 2 , Paranormal Activity 3 and Paranormal Activity 4 , Landon directed the franchise spinoff, Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones , and followed it up with Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse . [6]

<i>Paranormal Activity 4</i> 2012 film by Ariel Schulman, Henry Joost

Paranormal Activity 4 is a 2012 American found footage supernatural horror film, directed by Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost and written by Christopher B. Landon from a story by Chad Feehan. The film features Katie Featherston, who starred in the first film, and had cameos in the other two. The film was released in theaters and IMAX on October 17, 2012, in the United Kingdom and was released on October 19, 2012, in the United States, by Paramount Pictures. It is the fourth installment in the Paranormal Activity series, and a sequel to Paranormal Activity 2, set several years later.

<i>Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones</i> 2014 film by Christopher B. Landon

Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones is a 2014 American found footage supernatural horror film written and directed by Christopher B. Landon. Released on January 3, 2014, in the United States, it is the fifth film of the Paranormal Activity film series. It is also Landon's second directorial film, after Burning Palms. The Marked Ones received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $90 million worldwide.

<i>Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse</i> 2015 film by Christopher B. Landon

Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse is a 2015 American zombie comedy film directed by Christopher B. Landon and written by Landon, Carrie Evans, Emi Mochizuki and Lona Williams. The film stars Tye Sheridan, Logan Miller, Joey Morgan, Sarah Dumont and David Koechner. The film was released on October 30, 2015 by Paramount Pictures.

Personal life

Landon came out as gay in 1999, having only written the script of Another Day in Paradise, unafraid of his sexuality harming his career potential. [1] He says that growing up he was labeled a faggot by peers at his high school. [1] His mother, a Christian, initially hesitated to accept his sexuality, but he told her, "I don't even know if I believe in God, but if I do, he gave you a gay son so that you can start confronting some of these issues and get yourself out of the box you've placed yourself in for so long." [1] His stepmother, Cindy Clerico, his father's next wife, told him that both she and his father suspected he was gay. [1]

Faggot (slang) pejorative term

Faggot, often shortened to fag, is a pejorative term used chiefly in North America primarily to refer to a gay male. Alongside its use to refer to gay men in particular, it may also be used as a pejorative term for a "repellent male" or to refer to women who are lesbian. Its use has spread from the United States to varying extents elsewhere in the English-speaking world through mass culture, including film, music, and the Internet.

Filmography

Film and Television

YearTitle Director Producer Writer Notes
1998 Another Day in Paradise NoNoYes
2000 Boys Life 3 NoYesYesSegment: "$30"
2007 Blood & Chocolate NoNoYes
Disturbia NoNoYes
2007-2009 Dirty Sexy Money NoYesYesTelevision Series
Writer: 2 episodes
Consulting Producer: 10 episodes
2010 Burning Palms YesNoYesDirectorial debut
Paranormal Activity 2 NoNoYes
2011 Paranormal Activity 3 NoYesYesCo-Producer
2012 Paranormal Activity 4 NoYesYesExecutive Producer
2014 Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones YesNoYes
2015 Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse YesNoYes
2016 Viral NoNoYes
2017 Happy Death Day YesNoUncredited
2019 Happy Death Day 2U YesNoYes

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 John Griffiths (December 7, 1999). "Christopher's street – Christopher Landon comes out as gay". The Advocate . Archived from the original on December 25, 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Anthony Kaufman (June 21, 2007). "10 Screenwriters to Watch: Christopher Landon". Variety . Retrieved 2008-01-07.
  3. 1 2 Josef Molnar (April 19, 2007). "Christopher Landon makes the boys scream". The Advocate . Retrieved 2008-01-07.
  4. 1 2 Pamela McClintock (May 7, 2007). "Landon to lead 'The Flock'". Variety . Retrieved 2008-01-07.
  5. Jay A. Fernandez (June 17, 2010). "Miley Cyrus attending 'Wake' for Paramount?". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 2010-06-17.
  6. "Scout's Honor: 'Paranormal's Christopher Landon Helming 'Boy Scouts vs. Zombies'". Deadline. 25 September 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2013.