Paul Redford

Last updated

Paul Redford is an American television writer and producer. He is best known as a writer for The West Wing . [1] His other writing credits include work on Dirty Sexy Money , [2] Big Love , [3] The Newsroom , [4] and Madam Secretary . [5] His work as a producer includes The West Wing, The Unit , [6] and Journeyman . [7] In 2023, Redford joined the Hallmark Channel series When Calls the Heart [8] in its 10th season as a co-executive producer.

Contents

Early life

Redford’s family moved from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to the Kansas City metropolitan area when he was in the 10th grade. [9] He and his family lived in Mission Hills, Kansas, and he graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School in 1976. [9] In high school, Redford was a self-described “theatre nerd.” [9]

Redford earned a degree in history and literature from Harvard University in 1980. [9] While at Harvard, he wrote for The Harvard Lampoon and appeared in numerous plays, including experimental work by classmate Peter Sellars. [10]

After college, Redford spent 10 years acting in regional theater productions [9] for groups like the Boston Shakespeare Company [10] and the Denver Center Theatre Company (DCTC) [11] before moving to Hollywood. [9]

Career

Early career

In the early 1990s, Redford divided his time between writing for television and acting in commercials. [9] During this time, he co-wrote — with Ed Redlich — the Lifetime Television Christmas movie Ebbie, which starred Susan Lucci. [12] His first job writing scripts for prime-time television was for the 1995 Fox TV sitcom Partners. [9]

The West Wing

Redford was hired by Aaron Sorkin to write for the ABC comedy-drama Sports Night. Redford next joined the writing team for Sorkin on The West Wing . [9]

On The West Wing, Redford co-wrote (with Sorkin and Lawrence O’Donnell Jr.) the episode “Take This Sabbath Day,” which won the 2001 Humanitas Prize in the 60 Minute Network or Syndicated Television category. [13] In addition to the Humanitas Prize, this episode was nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Episodic Drama in 2000.

Redford and Sorkin were again nominated for the WGA Award 60-minute episodic drama in 2001 for The West Wing: "Somebody's Going to Emergency, Somebody's Going to Jail," and in 2002 for The West Wing: "Game On."

Redford was promoted to supervising producer in the second season of The West Wing. He and his fellow producers won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series for The West Wing in 2003. The production team was nominated for an Emmy Award again for work on The West Wing in 2004, the series’ fifth season. [14]

Other Work

Redford worked as an executive producer for LAX , The Unit , and Vanished . He was a consulting producer on Kevin Falls’ series Journeyman . In 2008, Redford joined the crew of Dirty Sexy Money as a writer and co-executive producer. In 2010, he wrote the Big Love fourth-season episode “The Greater Good” and was the co-executive producer for two episodes in the series. Redford and the writing team for The Newsroom (Brendan Fehily, David M. Handelman, Cinque Henderson, Ian Reichbach, Amy Rice, Aaron Sorkin, Gideon Yago) were nominated for the 2012 Writers Guild of America Award for Television: New Series. [15]

During 2014-2015, Redford worked as a writer and producer for Madam Secretary, starring Téa Leoni. [16] From 2016-2018 he worked on Designated Survivor, starring Kiefer Sutherland. In 2023, Redford began work as a writer and co-executive producer for When Calls the Heart, a Hallmark Channel series in its 10th season, developed by Michael Landon Jr. [8]

Filmography

Producer

YearShowRoleNotes
2023 When Calls the Heart Co-executive producerSeason 10
2021RadleyExecutive producerShort film
2016–2018 Designated Survivor Co-executive producerSeasons 1–2
2014–2015 Madam Secretary Consulting producerSeason 1
2012 The Newsroom Co-executive producerSeason 1
2009 Dirty Sexy Money Co-executive producerSeason 2
2008
2007 Journeyman Consulting producerSeason 1
2006 The Unit Co-executive producerSeason 1
Vanished Executive producerSeason 1
2004 LAX Co-executive producerSeason 1
The West Wing Supervising producerSeason 5
2003
Season 4
2002Producer
Season 3
2001Co-producer
Season 2
2000

Writer

YearShowEpisodeNotes
2023 When Calls the Heart 2 episodesSeason 10
2016–2017 Designated Survivor 8 episodes
2014–2015 Madam Secretary 3 episodes
2010 Big Love The Greater GoodSeason 4, episode 2
2009Dirty Sexy Money"The Unexpected Arrival"Season 2, episode 12
2008"The Injured Party"Season 2, episode 6, co-written with Sallie Patrick
2007Journeyman"Keepers"Season 1, episode 6
2006Vanished"Drop"Season 1, episode 3
The Unit"Morale, Welfare and Recreation"Season 1, episode 12
"Unannounced"Season 1, episode 10
"Dedication"Season 1, episode 7
"Non-Permissive Environment"Season 1, episode 5
2004LAX"Finnegan Again, Begin Again"Season 1, episode 2
2003The West Wing"Separation of Powers"Season 5, episode 7
"Life on Mars"Season 4, episode 21
"Privateers"Season 4, episode 18
2002"Game On"Season 4, episode 6
"Enemies Foreign and Domestic"Season 3, episode 19
"Dead Irish Writers"Season 3, episode 16
2001"On the Day Before"Season 3, episode 5
"Somebody's Going to Emergency, Somebody's Going to Jail"Season 2, episode 16
"The Leadership Breakfast "Season 2, episode 11
2000"The Portland Trip"Season 2, episode 7
"The White House Pro-Am"Season 1, episode 17
"Take This Sabbath Day"Season 1, episode 14
1999"The State Dinner"Season 1, episode 7
Sports Night"Ordnance Tactics"Season 1, episode 20
"Small Town"Season 1, episode 13
1996 Coach "Grimmworld"Season 9, episode 6
Partners "Hello? Harmless?"Season 1, episode 19
"The Year of Bob?"Season 1, episode 13
1995"Why Are the Blumenthals Living in My House?"Season 1, episode 5

Related Research Articles

<i>The West Wing</i> American political drama television series (1999–2006)

The West Wing is an American serial political drama television series created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1999, to May 14, 2006. The series is set primarily in the West Wing of the White House, where the Oval Office and offices of presidential senior personnel are located, during the fictitious Democratic administration of President Josiah Bartlet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaron Sorkin</span> American filmmaker (born 1961)

Aaron Benjamin Sorkin is an American playwright, screenwriter, and film director. Born in New York City, he developed a passion for writing at an early age. As a writer for stage, television, and film, Sorkin is recognized for his trademark fast-paced dialogue and extended monologues, complemented by frequent use of the storytelling technique called the "walk and talk". Sorkin has earned numerous accolades including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, five Primetime Emmy Awards, and three Golden Globes.

<i>The American President</i> 1995 film by Rob Reiner

The American President is a 1995 American romantic comedy-drama film directed and produced by Rob Reiner and written by Aaron Sorkin. The film stars Michael Douglas as President Andrew Shepherd, a widower who pursues a relationship with environmental lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade – who has just moved to Washington, D.C. – while at the same time attempting to win the passage of a crime control bill during a re-election year. Martin Sheen, Michael J. Fox and Richard Dreyfuss star in supporting roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Schlamme</span> American director

Thomas David Schlamme is an American television director, known particularly for his collaborations with Aaron Sorkin. He is known for his work as executive producer on The West Wing and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, as well as his work as director on Sports Night and The Americans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Wells (filmmaker)</span> American producer, writer and director (born 1956)

John Marcum Wells is an American producer, writer, and director. He is best known for his role as showrunner and executive producer of the television series ER, Third Watch, The West Wing, Southland, Shameless, Animal Kingdom, and American Woman, as well as the miniseries Maid. His company, John Wells Productions, is currently based at Warner Bros. studios in Burbank, California. Wells is also a labor leader, having served as president of the Writers Guild of America, West from 1999 to 2001 and from 2009 to 2011. Wells serves on the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF) Board of Governors. In 2011, he developed the series Shameless on Showtime, which ran for eleven seasons ending in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joshua Malina</span> American film and stage actor (born 1966)

Joshua Charles Malina is an American film and stage actor known for playing Will Bailey on the NBC drama The West Wing, Jeremy Goodwin on Sports Night, US Attorney General David Rosen on Scandal, and Caltech President Siebert on The Big Bang Theory.

Rick Cleveland is an American television writer, playwright, and monologist, best known for writing on the HBO original series Six Feet Under and NBC's The West Wing. His 2011 play The Rail Splitter premiered at Carthage College as the third production of Carthage's annual New Play Initiative. The production also traveled to the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival in 2012.

<i>Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip</i> American comedy-drama television series (2006-2007)

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is an American comedy-drama television series created and primarily written by Aaron Sorkin. The series was about the production of a live comedy series similar to Saturday Night Live. Produced by Warner Bros. Television, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip ran on NBC for 22 episodes, from September 18, 2006, to June 28, 2007. On May 14, 2007, NBC cancelled the series after one season. It is the only one of the four television shows created by Sorkin not to air for more than one season.

The Humanitas Prize is an award for film and television writing, and is given to writers whose work explores the human condition in a nuanced and meaningful way. It began in 1974 with Father Ellwood "Bud" Kieser—also the founder of Paulist Productions—but is generally not seen as specifically directed toward religious cinema or TV. The prize is distinguished from similar honors for screenwriters in that a large cash award, between $10,000, accompanies each prize. Journalist Barbara Walters once said, "What the Nobel Prize is to literature and the Pulitzer Prize is to journalism, the Humanitas Prize has become for American television."

Eli Attie is an Emmy-winning writer, producer, and former White House staff member. He served as Vice President Al Gore's chief White House and campaign speechwriter through Gore's concession of the 2000 presidential election, which Attie and Gore wrote together. Attie then became a longtime writer and producer on the drama series The West Wing, House, and most recently, Billions. He is also a writer and producer on Netflix's upcoming limited series Zero Day, which will star Robert De Niro, and a consulting producer on Netflix's political thriller The Diplomat.

Debora Cahn is an American writer and producer of television and film. She was a writer and executive producer on the Showtime series Homeland for its final two seasons (2018–2020). She was also a writer and consulting producer on FX's Fosse/Verdon (2019), for which she won a Writers Guild of America award for Best Adapted Long Form Television. In 2018, she wrote the HBO film Paterno, starring Al Pacino and directed by Barry Levinson. She was a writer and co-executive producer for Martin Scorsese's HBO series Vinyl (2016). From 2006 to 2013, she was a writer and producer of Grey’s Anatomy. She began her career as a writer and producer on The West Wing from its fourth to seventh and final season (2002–2006). More recently, Cahn signed a multi-year overall deal with Netflix. Under the deal, she is serving as executive producer and showrunner on the political thriller drama series The Diplomat. Her production company is Let's Not Turn This Into a Whole Big Production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Graves</span> American film director

Alexander John Graves is an American film director, television director, television producer and screenwriter.

Janine Sherman Barrois is an American television writer, producer, and showrunner. She is known for her work on ER, Third Watch and Criminal Minds. From 2017 to 2022, she executive produced crime comedy-drama Claws on TNT. She also produced Netflix miniseries Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker, the Oprah Winfrey Network prime time soap opera, The Kings of Napa, and Apple TV+ thriller The Big Cigar. She owned production banner, Folding Chair Prods., which she launched at Warner Bros. Television Group in 2015.

R. Scott Gemmill is an American television writer and producer, born in Canada. He worked extensively on JAG and ER. Since its eighth season, he is now the showrunner of NCIS: Los Angeles.

<i>The West Wing</i> (season 6) Season of television series

The sixth season of the American political drama television series The West Wing aired in the United States on NBC from October 20, 2004, to April 6, 2005, and consisted of 22 episodes.

<i>The Newsroom</i> (American TV series) American political drama television series (2012-2014)

The Newsroom is an American political drama television series created and principally written by Aaron Sorkin that premiered on HBO on June 24, 2012, and concluded on December 14, 2014, consisting of 25 episodes over three seasons.

<i>The West Wing</i> (season 4) Season of television series

The fourth season of the American political drama television series The West Wing aired in the United States on NBC from September 25, 2002 to May 14, 2003 and consisted of 23 episodes.

"We Just Decided To" is the first episode of the first season of the American television series The Newsroom. It first aired on June 24, 2012 in the United States on HBO. "We Just Decided To" was written by creator Aaron Sorkin and directed by Greg Mottola. In the aftermath of his public tirade, acclaimed Atlantis Cable News anchor Will McAvoy returns to his job to find that most of his staff are leaving and his new executive producer is his ex-girlfriend, MacKenzie McHale and when some breaking news about a potentially disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico hits the network, the staff faces a new challenge.

Lukas Reiter is an American television executive and former lawyer. As a law student he was a mock trial competitor, and he later became the writer for The Practice. He has also written for television shows such as Boston Legal, Close to Home, Outlaw and The Forgotten. He has also served as a producer for shows such as Law & Order, and The Firm.

<i>The West Wing Weekly</i> American television podcast

The West Wing Weekly is an American podcast hosted by Hrishikesh Hirway and Joshua Malina. In each episode, the hosts discuss one episode of the television program The West Wing, which originally aired on NBC from 1999 to 2006. The podcast, which ran from 2016–2020, features various cast and crew members including series creator Aaron Sorkin, director Tommy Schlamme, series actors Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, Bradley Whitford, Richard Schiff, Allison Janney, Janel Moloney, Marlee Matlin, and Dulé Hill, longtime series writer-producers Eli Attie and Lawrence O'Donnell, and many former government officials, academics, and pundits, among others.

References

  1. "The West Wing (1999–2006) Full Cast & Crew". IMDB. November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  2. "Dirty Sexy Money (2007–2009) Full Cast & Crew". IMDB. November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  3. "Big Love (2006–2011) Full Cast & Crew". IMDB. November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  4. "The Newsroom (2012–2014) Full Cast & Crew". IMDB. November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  5. "Madam Secretary (2014–2019) Full Cast & Crew". IMDB. November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  6. "The Unit (2006–2009) Full Cast & Crew". IMDB. November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  7. "Journeyman (2007) Full Cast & Crew". IMDB. November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  8. 1 2 "When Calls the Heart (2014– ) Full Cast & Crew". IMDB. November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 McTavish, Brian (October 7, 2000). "From Shawnee Mission East to 'The West Wing': '76 Grad Imparts Midwestern Sensibility to NBC Drama". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  10. 1 2 O'Connor, John; Goodland, Katharine. A Directory of Shakespeare in Performance 1970–1990: Volume 2, USA and Canada. London: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 1377. ISBN   0230546773.
  11. "Theatre Company Production History, Denver Center for the Performing Arts". Denver Center for the Performing Arts. 1982–1983. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  12. Heffley, Lynne (December 4, 1995). "TV REVIEW : 'Ebbie' a Nice Twist on the Dickens Classic". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  13. Lasky, David Jay (June 28, 2000). "Humanitas nominees announced Award reps human values in film, TV". Variety. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  14. "The West Wing - Awards & Nominations". Television Academy. November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  15. "Writers Guild Awards Winners & Nominees: 2022-2013". WGA. November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  16. Walter, Amy (December 22, 2018). "Politics with Amy Walter: Escaping D.C.'s Real Life Political Drama With a Fictional One". New York Public Radio-WNYC Studios. Retrieved November 4, 2023.