David M. Rosenthal (director)
Encyclopedia
David Mitchell Rosenthal (born March 23, 1969) American writer, director and producer. He is best known for the films Falling Up
and See This Movie
, as well as writing and directing the forthcoming Janie Jones
.
and cookbook author Ellen Wright.
He was educated at Pomfret School
in Connecticut and went on to graduate with a Master of Fine Arts
in Poetry from Sarah Lawrence College
and a Master of Fine Arts in Filmmaking from the American Film Institute
.
playwrights unit with Mark Rydell
.
Rosenthal’s love of writing and film soon led him to the American Film Institute, where he received another Masters degree. A year after graduating, his first short film, Absence was bought and distributed to networks around the world including Canal+, HBO Latin America, PBS, Encore, and Starz.
His documentary feature, entitled Dylan’s Run, which he produced and directed, followed the campaign trail of Dylan Glenn, who made history by becoming the first black republican to run for a congressional seat in the Deep South since Reconstruction.
Rosenthal also has a number of commercial directing credits including Master Cabbie which won an AICP Award, a Merit Award and was a finalist at the London International Advertising Awards and the Clio’s.
, which he directed and co-wrote, premiered at the Aspen Comedy Festival. It was the first feature produced by Depth of Field, a production company operated by Chris Weitz
and Paul Weitz
(About a Boy
, Antz
, American Pie
). See This Movie, which starred Seth Meyers
and John Cho
, won the Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature at the Malibu Film Festival and was released in theaters in January 2006.
In 2008 Rosenthal directed the independent romantic comedy Falling Up
, which was released by Anchor Bay
and Starz
in early 2010.
. The film is inspired by his experience of meeting his daughter for the first time when she was eleven and he was thirty. Starring Abigail Breslin, Alessandro Nivola and Elisabeth Shue, the film follows the story of a down-on-his-luck indie rock star who
meets his 13-year-old daughter who he never knew when her mother (Elisabeth Shue) drops her off en route to rehab.
The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival
on September 17, 2010.
Falling Up (film)
Falling Up is a 2009 romantic comedy film that was released direct-to-video in late 2009 or early 2010 depending on region.-Plot:...
and See This Movie
See This Movie
See This Movie is a 2005 comedy movie written by David M. Rosenthal and Joseph Matthew Smith, and directed by Rosenthal. The film stars Seth Meyers and John Cho, and also features Jessica Paré, Jim Piddock, and Jessalyn Gilsig, with cameo appearances by Patton Oswalt, Miguel Arteta, and the film's...
, as well as writing and directing the forthcoming Janie Jones
Janie Jones (film)
Janie Jones is a 2010 American film by writer/director David M. Rosenthal. It stars Alessandro Nivola, Elizabeth Shue, Brittany Snow, and Abigail Breslin as the eponymous Janie Jones. The film makes extensive use of original music created by Gemma Hayes and Eef Barzelay and sung and played by...
.
Personal life
Rosenthal was born in New York City, New York, the son of Dr. Mitchell S. Rosenthal, founder and Chairman of Phoenix HousePhoenix House
Phoenix House is a nonprofit drug and alcohol rehabilitation organization operating in ten states with 150 programs. Programs serve individuals, families, and communities affected by substance abuse and dependency.- History :...
and cookbook author Ellen Wright.
He was educated at Pomfret School
Pomfret School
Pomfret School is an independent coeducational boarding and day school in Pomfret, Connecticut, United States for grades 9 through 12 plus a post-graduate year. Pomfret School was founded in 1894, on the principles of intellectual rigor and the development of character...
in Connecticut and went on to graduate with a Master of Fine Arts
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
in Poetry from Sarah Lawrence College
Sarah Lawrence College
Sarah Lawrence College is a private liberal arts college in the United States, and a leader in progressive education since its founding in 1926. Located just 30 minutes north of Midtown Manhattan in southern Westchester County, New York, in the city of Yonkers, this coeducational college offers...
and a Master of Fine Arts in Filmmaking from the American Film Institute
American Film Institute
The American Film Institute is an independent non-profit organization created by the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established in 1967 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act...
.
Early career
Rosenthal’s career with film began with writing and photography at a young age. Growing up in New York City, he began shooting and studying photography in high school, and started writing soon after. He earned a Masters in poetry from Sarah Lawrence College and subsequently began publishing poetry in such literary magazines as The Paris Review. David’s first book of poetry was published in 2000. In the same year he became a member of The Actors StudioActors Studio
The Actors Studio is a membership organization for professional actors, theatre directors and playwrights at 432 West 44th Street in the Clinton neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded October 5, 1947, by Elia Kazan, Cheryl Crawford, Robert Lewis and Anna Sokolow who provided...
playwrights unit with Mark Rydell
Mark Rydell
Mark Rydell is an American actor, film director and producer.-Career:Rydell's initial training was in music. As a youth, he wanted to be a conductor. He began his career as an actor and first became known for his role as Walt Johnson on The Edge of Night and as Jeff Baker on As the World Turns,...
.
Rosenthal’s love of writing and film soon led him to the American Film Institute, where he received another Masters degree. A year after graduating, his first short film, Absence was bought and distributed to networks around the world including Canal+, HBO Latin America, PBS, Encore, and Starz.
His documentary feature, entitled Dylan’s Run, which he produced and directed, followed the campaign trail of Dylan Glenn, who made history by becoming the first black republican to run for a congressional seat in the Deep South since Reconstruction.
Rosenthal also has a number of commercial directing credits including Master Cabbie which won an AICP Award, a Merit Award and was a finalist at the London International Advertising Awards and the Clio’s.
Recent work
Rosenthal’s first feature film, See This MovieSee This Movie
See This Movie is a 2005 comedy movie written by David M. Rosenthal and Joseph Matthew Smith, and directed by Rosenthal. The film stars Seth Meyers and John Cho, and also features Jessica Paré, Jim Piddock, and Jessalyn Gilsig, with cameo appearances by Patton Oswalt, Miguel Arteta, and the film's...
, which he directed and co-wrote, premiered at the Aspen Comedy Festival. It was the first feature produced by Depth of Field, a production company operated by Chris Weitz
Chris Weitz
Christopher John "Chris" Weitz is an American producer, writer, director and actor. He is best known for his work with his brother, Paul Weitz, on the comedy films American Pie and About a Boy, as well as directing the film adaptation of the novel The Golden Compass and the film adaptation of New...
and Paul Weitz
Paul Weitz (filmmaker)
Paul John Weitz is an American film producer, screenwriter, actor, and film director.-Personal life:Weitz was born in New York City, New York, the son of the actress Susan Kohner and novelist/fashion designer John Weitz, and the grandson of producer Paul Kohner and Mexican actress Lupita...
(About a Boy
About a Boy (film)
About a Boy is a 2002 comedy-drama film directed by brothers Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz, based on the novel of the same name by Nick Hornby. The film stars Golden Globe winner Hugh Grant as Will, Nicholas Hoult as Marcus, Academy Award nominee Toni Collette as Fiona, and Academy Award winner Rachel...
, Antz
Antz
Antz is a 1998 American computer animated action adventure film produced by DreamWorks Animation. It features the voices of well-known actors such as Woody Allen, Sharon Stone, Jennifer Lopez, Sylvester Stallone, Dan Aykroyd, Anne Bancroft, Gene Hackman, Christopher Walken, and Danny Glover as...
, American Pie
American Pie (film)
American Pie is a 1999 teen comedy film written by Adam Herz. American Pie was the directorial film debut of brothers Paul and Chris Weitz, and the first film in the American Pie film series...
). See This Movie, which starred Seth Meyers
Seth Meyers
Seth Adam Meyers is an American actor and comedian. He currently serves as head writer for Saturday Night Live and hosts its news parody segment Weekend Update.-Early life:...
and John Cho
John Cho
John Yohan Cho is an American actor and musician, best known for his roles in the American Pie films and the Harold & Kumar films . He also starred in the critically acclaimed hit film Better Luck Tomorrow...
, won the Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature at the Malibu Film Festival and was released in theaters in January 2006.
In 2008 Rosenthal directed the independent romantic comedy Falling Up
Falling Up (film)
Falling Up is a 2009 romantic comedy film that was released direct-to-video in late 2009 or early 2010 depending on region.-Plot:...
, which was released by Anchor Bay
Anchor Bay Entertainment
Anchor Bay Entertainment is a U.S. based home entertainment and production company and is a division of Starz Media, which is a unit of Starz, LLC. It was previously owned by IDT Entertainment until 2006 when IDT was purchased by Starz Media. Anchor Bay markets and sells feature films, series,...
and Starz
Starz Media
Starz Media is the motion picture, animation, television, and home video subsidiary of Liberty Media.-Subsidiaries:Starz Media's subsidiaries include:*Anchor Bay Entertainment - distribution division for DVDs and videos....
in early 2010.
Janie Jones
In October 2009 Rosenthal finished principal photography on his film Janie JonesJanie Jones
Marion Mitchell , better known by her stage name, Janie Jones, was an English singer. She became renowned for being a madame in London during the 1970s, and was jailed for her involvement in the BBC Radio One 'sex for airplay' payola scandal...
. The film is inspired by his experience of meeting his daughter for the first time when she was eleven and he was thirty. Starring Abigail Breslin, Alessandro Nivola and Elisabeth Shue, the film follows the story of a down-on-his-luck indie rock star who
meets his 13-year-old daughter who he never knew when her mother (Elisabeth Shue) drops her off en route to rehab.
The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival
Toronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival is a publicly-attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2010, 339 films from 59 countries were screened at 32 screens in downtown Toronto venues...
on September 17, 2010.