James Merendino

Last updated
James Merendino
James Merendino 2.jpg
Merendino at a Q&A in September 2019
Born
James Anthony Merendino

(1969-01-11) January 11, 1969 (age 56)
Occupation(s) Film director, film producer, screenwriter actor
Years active1991–present
Notable work SLC Punk!
PartnerSeverine Ferarri

James Anthony Merendino (born January 11, 1969) is an American film director and screenwriter. He is best known for writing and directing the dramedy film SLC Punk! . [1]

Contents

Life

Merendino was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, and moved to Salt Lake City when he was six years old. He graduated from Judge Memorial Catholic High School in 1985 and went to college in Rome and Los Angeles where he studied Western philosophy and theology. Merendino moved to Hollywood when he was 21 and found work with Hollywood mogul Dan Melnick.

In 2008 Merendino moved to New York City where he currently lives with his partner Severine Ferarri.

Career

In 1991, Merendino was hired to direct Witchcraft IV: The Virgin Heart . His fourth film, Toughguy (1995), is a psychological thriller starring Heather Graham. His next film was A River Made to Drown In (1997). Merendino's most successful film, SLC Punk! , was released in 1998, and was a semi-autobiographical telling of his growing up in Utah. The screenplay was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award.

The 2000 film Magicians was a European co-production with Alan Arkin and Claire Forlani. Amerikana was part of the Dogma 95 movement by Lars Von Trier. Merendino directed (with Lisa Hammer) the drama film The Invisible Life of Thomas Lynch in 2009. He wrote and directed the sequel to 1998's SLC Punk!, Punk's Dead , which was released in February 2016.

In 2022, James Merendino created and directed the television series Great Kills produced by and starting Steve S. Stanulis. The dark comedy mockumentary about a small time hit man on Staten Island was co-created with Lisa Hammer and released on Tubi in March of 2023. The series was renewed for another season shortly after it aired.

Filmography

Film

YearFilmDirectorWriterProducer
1992 Witchcraft IV: The Virgin Heart YesYesNo
1993 Witchcraft V: Dance with the Devil NoYesNo
1993Beware of DogNoYesNo
1994Hard DriveYesYesNo
1994The Upstairs NeighbourYesYesNo
1995TerrifiedYesYesNo
1996 Livers Ain't Cheap YesYesNo
1996The First ManNoNoYes
1997 River Made to Drown In Yes [a] NoNo
1998 SLC Punk! YesYesNo
2000MagiciansYesYesNo
2001 Amerikana YesYesNo
2004Evil RemainsYesYesNo
2008Death ClubYesYesNo
2009The Invisible Life of Thomas LynchYesYesNo
2011PoxNoNoYes
2016 Punk's Dead: SLC Punk! 2 YesYesNo
2018Double ProposalNoNoYes
2020AshesNoYesNo
TBDCat in a BoxYesYesNo
TBDArthur Kill RoadYesYesNo

Television

YearSeriesDirectorWriterProducerActorNotes
1998Alexandria HotelYesYesYesNo8 episodes
2023 Great Kills YesYesYesYes8 episodes

Awards

2000 Nominated Independent Spirit Award Best Screenplay for: SLC Punk! (1998)

Notes

  1. Credited as Alan Smithee

References

  1. "James Merendino". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . Baseline & All Movie Guide. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-03-21.