John Requa
Encyclopedia
John Requa is a screen writer (with Glenn Ficarra) of Cats & Dogs
, Bad Santa
and the 2005 remake Bad News Bears.
The DVD commentary for Bad News Bears revealed that Requa was to have had a bit role in the film, but it was not shot.
Requa and Ficcara directed Jim Carrey
and Ewen McGregor in their screenplay I Love You Phillip Morris
.
in 1985. His talents as a writer were evident when he wrote and performed in a skit for his senior year Homecoming assembly titled "Fernbusters." It was a morphing of Ghostbusters and the killer Christmas Trees skit from the 1975 classic Saturday Night Live. In it, Requa played the killer fern. For another assembly later that year he wrote a skit about an almighty creator named Sven.
Requa attended Highline at the same time as Dana Newton, who is now a senior producer on the Oprah Winfrey Show, and Randy Dixon who is an internationally known improv artist who heads Unexpected Productions
in Seattle, and Mike Starr
who was the original Bassist for Alice in Chains
and recently seen on season three of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew
.
Requa graduated from the film program at the Pratt Institute
in the early 90s. While there he met and began his long association with writing partner Glenn Ficarra.
Requa and Ficarra wrote numerous episodes of The Angry Beavers
, an animated show in production on Nickelodeon
from 1997 until 2001. Their first episode was season two's Kandid Kreatures which they followed with Dag for Night, Un-Barry-ble, Zooing Time, Sans-a-Pelt and Gonna Getcha. They went on to write eleven more episodes over the remaining three seasons of the show.
Following the success of Cats & Dogs
and Bad Santa
, Requa was set to direct (again with Ficarra) Woody Harelson in their script Jack Tucker, Trucker. Announced in Variety on February 10, 2004, the film has yet to be produced and is not currently listed on the Internet Movie Database.
Cats & Dogs
Cats & Dogs is a 2001 American-Australian action-comedy film directed by Lawrence Guterman. The screenplay by John Requa and Glenn Ficarra centers on the relationships between cats and dogs. It was shot in Victoria and Vancouver. The film was released on July 4, 2001 by Warner Bros...
, Bad Santa
Bad Santa
Bad Santa is a 2003 American screwball black comedy film directed and co-written by Terry Zwigoff, produced by the Coen brothers, and starring Billy Bob Thornton as the title character and Tony Cox as his partner in crime. Actors Bernie Mac and John Ritter co-star...
and the 2005 remake Bad News Bears.
The DVD commentary for Bad News Bears revealed that Requa was to have had a bit role in the film, but it was not shot.
Requa and Ficcara directed Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey
James Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and comedian. He has received two Golden Globe Awards and has also been nominated on four occasions. Carrey began comedy in 1979, performing at Yuk Yuk's in Toronto, Ontario...
and Ewen McGregor in their screenplay I Love You Phillip Morris
I Love You Phillip Morris
I Love You Phillip Morris is a 2009 American romantic comedy-drama film based on the 1980s and '90s real-life story of con artist, impostor, and multiple prison escapee Steven Jay Russell, as played by Jim Carrey. While incarcerated, Russell falls in love with his fellow inmate, Phillip Morris...
.
Early life
Requa grew up in Burien, Washington, a suburb of Seattle, graduating from Burien's Highline High SchoolHighline High School
Highline High School is a high school in Burien, Washington, United States, located about 3.5 highway miles from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Highline High School, the flagship high school of the Highline School District, opened its doors in 1924 and served the cities of Burien, Des...
in 1985. His talents as a writer were evident when he wrote and performed in a skit for his senior year Homecoming assembly titled "Fernbusters." It was a morphing of Ghostbusters and the killer Christmas Trees skit from the 1975 classic Saturday Night Live. In it, Requa played the killer fern. For another assembly later that year he wrote a skit about an almighty creator named Sven.
Requa attended Highline at the same time as Dana Newton, who is now a senior producer on the Oprah Winfrey Show, and Randy Dixon who is an internationally known improv artist who heads Unexpected Productions
Unexpected Productions
Unexpected Productions is an improvisational comedy company in Seattle, Washington, USA. From their home at the Market Theater in Seattle's historic Pike Place Market, Unexpected Productions produces year-round shows, teaches improv classes, and hosts the Seattle International Festival of...
in Seattle, and Mike Starr
Mike Starr (musician)
Michael Christopher "Mike" Starr was an American musician, best known as the original bassist in Alice in Chains, with whom he played from the band's formation in 1987 until 1993.- Career :...
who was the original Bassist for Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...
and recently seen on season three of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew
Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew
Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew is a reality television show airing on the cable network VH1 that chronicles a group of celebrities as they are treated for alcohol and drug addiction by Dr. Drew Pinsky and his staff at the Pasadena Recovery Center in Pasadena, California. The first season premiered...
.
Requa graduated from the film program at the Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute is a private art college in New York City located in Brooklyn, New York, with satellite campuses in Manhattan and Utica. Pratt is one of the leading undergraduate art schools in the United States and offers programs in Architecture, Graphic Design, History of Art and Design,...
in the early 90s. While there he met and began his long association with writing partner Glenn Ficarra.
Professional career
As best as is known, all of John Requa's professional work has been in association with his writing partner Glenn Ficarra.Requa and Ficarra wrote numerous episodes of The Angry Beavers
The Angry Beavers
The Angry Beavers is an American animated television series created by Mitch Schauer for the Nickelodeon channel. The series revolves around Daggett and Norbert Beaver, two young beaver brothers who have left their home to become bachelors in the forest near Wayouttatown, Oregon. The show premiered...
, an animated show in production on Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
from 1997 until 2001. Their first episode was season two's Kandid Kreatures which they followed with Dag for Night, Un-Barry-ble, Zooing Time, Sans-a-Pelt and Gonna Getcha. They went on to write eleven more episodes over the remaining three seasons of the show.
Following the success of Cats & Dogs
Cats & Dogs
Cats & Dogs is a 2001 American-Australian action-comedy film directed by Lawrence Guterman. The screenplay by John Requa and Glenn Ficarra centers on the relationships between cats and dogs. It was shot in Victoria and Vancouver. The film was released on July 4, 2001 by Warner Bros...
and Bad Santa
Bad Santa
Bad Santa is a 2003 American screwball black comedy film directed and co-written by Terry Zwigoff, produced by the Coen brothers, and starring Billy Bob Thornton as the title character and Tony Cox as his partner in crime. Actors Bernie Mac and John Ritter co-star...
, Requa was set to direct (again with Ficarra) Woody Harelson in their script Jack Tucker, Trucker. Announced in Variety on February 10, 2004, the film has yet to be produced and is not currently listed on the Internet Movie Database.
Filmography
- Cats & DogsCats & DogsCats & Dogs is a 2001 American-Australian action-comedy film directed by Lawrence Guterman. The screenplay by John Requa and Glenn Ficarra centers on the relationships between cats and dogs. It was shot in Victoria and Vancouver. The film was released on July 4, 2001 by Warner Bros...
(2001) – writer/co-producer - Bad SantaBad SantaBad Santa is a 2003 American screwball black comedy film directed and co-written by Terry Zwigoff, produced by the Coen brothers, and starring Billy Bob Thornton as the title character and Tony Cox as his partner in crime. Actors Bernie Mac and John Ritter co-star...
(2003) – writer - Bad News Bears (2005) – writer
- I Love You Phillip MorrisI Love You Phillip MorrisI Love You Phillip Morris is a 2009 American romantic comedy-drama film based on the 1980s and '90s real-life story of con artist, impostor, and multiple prison escapee Steven Jay Russell, as played by Jim Carrey. While incarcerated, Russell falls in love with his fellow inmate, Phillip Morris...
(2009) – writer/director - Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011) – director