Jeff Wadlow

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Jeff Wadlow
Wadlow in 2013
Born
Jeffrey Clark Wadlow

(1976-03-02) March 2, 1976 (age 48)
Arlington, Virginia, U.S.
EducationDartmouth College (BA)
University of Southern California (MFA)
Occupations
  • Film director
  • screenwriter
  • producer
Years active1996–present
Parent
RelativesKatie Couric (aunt)

Jeffrey Clark Wadlow (born March 2, 1976) is an American screenwriter, producer, and director. He is best known for writing and directing feature films including Truth or Dare, Kick-Ass 2, and Fantasy Island.[1]

In 2022, Wadlow was nominated for a DGA award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television, Commercials and Documentary.[2][3]

Early life[edit]

Wadlow was born in Arlington, Virginia, the son of Emily Couric, a state senator, and R. Clark Wadlow.[4] He is the nephew of journalist Katie Couric.[5] Wadlow's sister, Dr. Anne Drogula, teaches Latin at Ohio University. Wadlow attended Dartmouth College, graduating with a BA in History and Film modified by Drama and a citation for outstanding work in Animation.[6] The following year, he attended the University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television after being Awarded a USC Associates Endowment Scholarship for academic achievement, Wadlow went on to graduate in 2001.[7][8]

Career[edit]

Writing and Directing[edit]

Film[edit]

Wadlow's short film, tHE tOWeR oF BabBLe (2002), received more than two dozen awards, including: Best Short Film at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival, Best Short Film at the St. Louis International Film Festival, the George Méliès Cinematography Award at the Taos Talking Picture Festival, and a Student Award at USA Film Festival.[9][10]

In 2005, Wadlow came up with the idea for his theatrical directorial debut Cry Wolf with the money Wadlow won in the 2002 Chrysler Million Dollar Film Competition.[1][11]

In 2008, Wadlow directed the film Never Back Down, starring Djimon Hounsou and Sean Faris.[9] The movie went on to beat out big budget competition to win the MTV movie award for "Best Fight."[1]

In 2013, Wadlow also wrote and directed Kick-Ass 2, the sequel to the 2010 black comedy superhero film Kick-Ass.[12][13] Quentin Tarantino called Kick Ass 2 among the ten best films of 2013, and said “Jeff Wadlow wrote and directed it with a real auteur approach.”[14]

Wadlow wrote and directed True Memoirs of an International Assassin in 2016, starring Kevin James and Andy Garcia, which was among the first original feature films for Netflix.[15]

Wadlow directed, executive produced and co-wrote the horror film, Truth or Dare, starring Lucy Hale and Tyler Posey, in 2018.[16] The premise of the movie surrounds the popular party game, Truth or Dare, and the deadly results that ensue from a group of friends playing while on a spring break trip to Mexico.[17]

In 2020, Wadlow directed, produced and co-wrote the film Fantasy Island, inspired by a 1970s television show with the same name.[18] That same year, Wadlow wrote the story and co-wrote the screenplay for the action thriller Bloodshot, starring Vin Diesel and based on the 1990s comic book.[19][20]

In 2022, Wadlow directed and executive produced The Curse of Bridge Hollow, a Halloween movie streaming on Netflix starring Marlon Wayans.[21]

Wadlow's forthcoming horror film, Imaginary, which he directed, produced and co-wrote, is scheduled to be released in 2024.[22] The film grapples with the idea of a childhood imaginary friend, in this case a Teddy bear, turning evil.[23] The film is Wadlow's third collaboration with Jason Blum and is financed by Blumhouse Productions and Lionsgate Films.[16]

Wadlow has directed short films and public service announcements with actors including Danny DeVito, Meryl Streep, and Vanessa Williams.[24][1]

Television[edit]

Wadlow was a writer and executive producer for the television series, Bates Motel, starring Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga, and also for the final season of the series, The Strain.[17][25] He wrote two pilots picked up by CBS, The Odds in 2010 and Hail Mary in 2011, on which he was also an executive producer.[26]

In 2017, Wadlow directed and executive produced YouTube Premium series, Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television, starring Ryan Hansen and Samira Wiley.[27]

In 2021, Wadlow directed and executive produced the re-boot of the classic 1990's television show, Are You Afraid of the Dark? for Paramount/Nickelodeon.[28][29] Wadlow was nominated for a DGA award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television, Commercials and Documentary for his work on the series.[2]

Acting[edit]

In 2001, Wadlow played a small role in Pearl Harbor and a professor on an episode of the sci-fi television series Roswell.[30] The following year, Wadlow performed in the short, tHE tOWeR oF BabBLe (2002), which he also co-wrote and directed.[10] In 2007, Wadlow played Billy in the independent romantic comedy, I'm Through with White Girls (2007), starring Anthony Montgomery.[31]

The Adrenaline Film Project[edit]

Wadlow founded The Adrenaline Film Project in 2004 during the Virginia Film Festival.[32] An annual event, the project involves teams of amateur filmmakers (aged high school and college) writing, casting, directing, and editing short films in a 72 hour time frame under the mentorship of Wadlow and other industry leaders.[33] Each film, with a duration or five minutes or less, is screened at the end of the competition to be judged for the three cash awards: audience, mentor and jury prizes.[34]

Filmography[edit]

Short film[edit]

Year Title Director Writer Notes
2002 The Tower of Babble Yes Story
Manual Labor Yes Yes Also editor
2004 Catching Kringle Yes Story

Feature film[edit]

Year Title Director Writer Producer
2005 Cry Wolf Yes Yes No
2007 Prey No Yes No
2008 Never Back Down Yes No No
2013 Kick-Ass 2 Yes Yes No
2014 Non-Stop No No Executive
2016 True Memoirs of an International Assassin Yes Yes No
2018 Truth or Dare Yes Yes Executive
2020 Fantasy Island Yes Yes Yes
Bloodshot No Yes No
2022 The Curse of Bridge Hollow Yes No Executive
2024 Imaginary Yes Yes Yes

Television[edit]

Year Title Director Writer Executive
Producer 		Notes
2010 The Odds No Yes Yes
2011 Hail Mary No Yes Yes
2013 Bates Motel No Yes Yes Consulting producer, 6 episodes
Writer, episodes "Ocean View" and
"What's Wrong with Norman"
2015 Agent X Yes No No Episode: "Long Walk Home"
2017 The Strain No Yes Yes 10 episodes
Writer, episode "Belly of the Beast"
2019 Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television Yes No Yes 8 episodes
2021 Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Curse of the Shadows Yes No Yes 4 episodes[35]

Acting roles[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2001 Pearl Harbor Next Guy In Line #1
Roswell Professor Episode: "Baby, It's You"
2002 The Tower of Babble Derek
2007 I'm Through with White Girls Billy

Other credits[edit]

Year Title Notes
1996 The Pallbearer Office production assistant (as Jeffrey Clark Wadlow)
1999 The Big Kahuna Set production assistant (as Jeffrey C. Wadlow)

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Title Notes
2002 The Tower of Babble George Méliès Cinematography Award
NYIIFV Grand Jury Prize for Best Short Film
SLIFF Award for Best Dramatic Short
Nominated- Deauville Film Festival – Best Short Film
Manual Labor Wine Country Film Festival – Best Short Film (Domestic)
2004 Catching Kringle Jury Award for Best Short Film – Animated
2020 Fantasy Island Nominated- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture
Nominated- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Jeff Wadlow". Virginia Film Festival. February 4, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "DGA Announces Nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television, Commercials and Documentary for 2021 -". www.dga.org. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  3. ^ "'The J Team' and Are You Afraid Of The Dark?: Curse Of The Shadows' Receive Nominations in 2022 DGA Awards". Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  4. ^ Media, Katie Couric (November 29, 2023). "Katie's Nephew Remembers His Mother, Emily, and Shares His Medical Expertise on Pancreatic Cancer". Katie Couric Media. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  5. ^ "Jeff Wadlow News & Biography". www.empireonline.com. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  6. ^ "Alumni". Film & Media Studies. May 20, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  7. ^ "USC Cinematic Arts | Notable Alumni". cinema.usc.edu. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  8. ^ "Jeff Wadlow biography and filmography | Jeff Wadlow movies". Tribute. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Jeff Wadlow biography and filmography
  10. ^ a b "Hollywood director Jeff Wadlow on his film Fantasy Island and more". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  11. ^ "Nightmare Anniversary: "CRY_WOLF" and The AIM Alternate Reality Game!". Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  12. ^ Kit, Borys (May 8, 2012). "Universal in Talks for 'Kick-Ass 2'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  13. ^ Rugunya, Daniel (February 21, 2023). "Jim Carrey Refused To Promote Kick-Ass 2 And The Film's Creator Was Surprisingly Happy About It". TheThings. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  14. ^ Jagernauth, Kevin (October 10, 2013). "Quentin Tarantino Shares Criticism Of 'The Lone Ranger,' Thoughts On Ben Affleck As Batman & More". IndieWire. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  15. ^ Sneider, Jeff (May 6, 2015). "Kevin James to Star in 'True Memoirs of an International Assassin'". TheWrap. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Grobar, Matt (February 6, 2023). "Lionsgate Acquiring Blumhouse Thriller 'Imaginary' To Be Directed By Jeff Wadlow – EFM". Deadline. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  17. ^ a b Barna, Ben (April 13, 2018). "Truth or Dare director Jeff Wadlow shares his scariest scene of all time". Interview Magazine. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  18. ^ Debruge, Peter (February 14, 2020). "'Blumhouse's Fantasy Island': Film Review". Variety. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  19. ^ Walsh, Katie (March 11, 2020). "Review: Vin Diesel and 'Bloodshot' deliver what you'd expect in a silly sci-fi action film". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  20. ^ Radish, Christina (April 16, 2018). "Truth or Dare Ending Explained by Director Jeff Wadlow". Collider. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  21. ^ "Director Jeff Wadlow Talks Netflix's The Curse of Bridge Hollow (EXCLUSIVE)". fandomwire.com. October 19, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  22. ^ Danoff, Owen (January 17, 2024). "Blumhouse's Upcoming Horror Movie Imaginary Drops Spooky New Poster". ScreenRant. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  23. ^ Mantilla, Ryan Louis (January 17, 2024). "Blumhouse's Imaginary Unveils Chilling New Poster". ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  24. ^ "Catching Kringle - Cleveland International Film Festival :: March 22 - April 1, 2023". dev.clevelandfilm.org. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  25. ^ creepykingdom (October 14, 2022). "Interview: 'The Curse of Bridge Hollow' Director Jeff Wadlow". Creepy Kingdom. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  26. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 25, 2011). "CBS Picks Up Medical, PI Drama Pilots". Deadline. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  27. ^ "'Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television*' Goes Out In A Big Way". UPROXX. January 30, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  28. ^ "[Interview] Executive Producer and Director Jeff Wadlow Talks Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Curse of the Shadows". Gayly Dreadful -- Bursting out of your closet with the latest horror reviews. February 11, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  29. ^ Zachary, Brandon (February 13, 2021). "Are You Afraid of the Dark: Curse of the Shadows' Jeff Wadlow Delves Into the Frights". CBR. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  30. ^ "Where Are They Now? : Jeff Wadlow". Horror Society. April 22, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  31. ^ "I'm Through with White Girls". www.nndb.com. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  32. ^ JennyM (September 7, 2018). "Virginia Film Festival Announces Light House Studio to Take Over Adrenaline Film Project". Virginia Film Festival. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  33. ^ "Adrenaline Film Project". Virginia Film Festival. October 3, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  34. ^ "Adrenaline Film Project looking for participants". www.cbs19news.com. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  35. ^ "'Are You Afraid Of The Dark?' Gets Season 2 Trailer & Premiere Date On Nickelodeon". Deadline Hollywood. January 8, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.

External links[edit]

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