Mitch Brian
Encyclopedia
Mitch Brian is an award-winning filmmaker and screenwriter who has sold, optioned or written on assignment more than 25 scripts to major studios, networks and independent production companies. An American
screen writer who grew up in Hutchinson, Kansas
(born October 15, 1961), he attended film school at California State University, Northridge
.
In Los Angeles
he worked as a story analyst until being hired to write a pair of low-budget films. He later sold the spec script Cold Sweat
to Universal/Imagine and then worked as a co-creator on Warner Bros. Animation
’s Batman
. In addition to co-writing the series bible he wrote the episodes “On Leather Wings,” “POV” and “Bane.” After writing an episode for CBS
’s Viper
he adapted John Sanford’s crime-thriller Rules of Prey for Dino De Laurentiis.
Brian teamed up with Kevin Willmott and wrote Shields Green & The Gospel of John Brown, which was sold to Chris Columbus
' 1492 Pictures
. The two went on to write the Native-American drama Civilized Tribes for 20th Century Fox
. They then wrote two screenplays for producer Oliver Stone
: Little Brown Brothers, about the Philippine–American War, and a biography of Custer based on Michael Blake’s novel Marching to Valhalla. They also wrote two miniseries
for NBC
, House of Getty and the 70's, which was produced in 2000.
Brian adapted Thomas Hardy
’s Far From the Madding Crowd
for New Line and producer Geena Davis
and then sold the screenplay 21 about World War I
fighter ace Frank Luke
to 20th Century Fox. He wrote an episode for HBO's unproduced series about Jefferson & Adams called Patriots and adapted Detour: A Hollywood Story for ABC and executive producer James Ellroy about the Lana Turner-Johnny Stompanto scandal. He then adapted Bob King’s military memoir Spooky 8 for FX.
He and Robert Schwentke
co-wrote an adaptation of David Morrell
’s horror novel The Totem for Mission Entertainment and revised Phoenix’s Last Voyage of the Demeter, about the ill-fated ship that transported Dracula to England in Bram Stoker
’s novel. They also worked on Touchstone’s action-thriller Labor Day and adapted Noah Gordon’s novel The Physician.
Most recently, Brian wrote a remake of the political thriller Seven Days in May. As a director, his films include the award winning shorts Hang Ups, James Ellroy’s Stay Clean and Rhubarb Pie.
He is currently a visiting assistant professor at University of Missouri-Kansas City.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
screen writer who grew up in Hutchinson, Kansas
Hutchinson, Kansas
Hutchinson is the largest city in and the county seat of Reno County, Kansas, United States, northwest of Wichita, on the Arkansas River. It has been home to salt mines since 1887, thus its nickname of "Salt City", but locals call it "Hutch"...
(born October 15, 1961), he attended film school at California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge is a public university in Northridge, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California, United States....
.
In Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
he worked as a story analyst until being hired to write a pair of low-budget films. He later sold the spec script Cold Sweat
Cold Sweat
"Cold Sweat" is a song performed by James Brown and written by his bandleader Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis. Brown recorded it in May 1967. An edited version of "Cold Sweat" released as a two-part single on King Records was a #1 R&B hit, and reached number seven on the Pop Singles chart...
to Universal/Imagine and then worked as a co-creator on Warner Bros. Animation
Warner Bros. Animation
Warner Bros. Animation is the animation division of Warner Bros., a subsidiary of Time Warner. The studio is closely associated with the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies characters, among others. The studio is the successor to Warner Bros...
’s Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
. In addition to co-writing the series bible he wrote the episodes “On Leather Wings,” “POV” and “Bane.” After writing an episode for CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
’s Viper
Viper (TV series)
Viper is an action-adventure TV series about a special task force set up by the federal government to fight crime in the fictional city of Metro City, California that is perpetually under siege from one crime wave after another. The weapon used by this task force is an assault vehicle that...
he adapted John Sanford’s crime-thriller Rules of Prey for Dino De Laurentiis.
Brian teamed up with Kevin Willmott and wrote Shields Green & The Gospel of John Brown, which was sold to Chris Columbus
Chris Columbus (filmmaker)
Christopher Joseph "Chris" Columbus is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Columbus had his largest success with the first two films in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, along with Home Alone, the last...
' 1492 Pictures
1492 Pictures
1492 Pictures is an American film production company founded by director Chris Columbus in 1995. The name is a play on Columbus's more famous namesake, Christopher Columbus, and his 1492 landing in the Americas....
. The two went on to write the Native-American drama Civilized Tribes for 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
. They then wrote two screenplays for producer Oliver Stone
Oliver Stone
William Oliver Stone is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Stone became well known in the late 1980s and the early 1990s for directing a series of films about the Vietnam War, for which he had previously participated as an infantry soldier. His work frequently focuses on...
: Little Brown Brothers, about the Philippine–American War, and a biography of Custer based on Michael Blake’s novel Marching to Valhalla. They also wrote two miniseries
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
for NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, House of Getty and the 70's, which was produced in 2000.
Brian adapted Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy, OM was an English novelist and poet. While his works typically belong to the Naturalism movement, several poems display elements of the previous Romantic and Enlightenment periods of literature, such as his fascination with the supernatural.While he regarded himself primarily as a...
’s Far From the Madding Crowd
Far from the Madding Crowd
Far from the Madding Crowd is Thomas Hardy's fourth novel and his first major literary success. It originally appeared anonymously as a monthly serial in Cornhill Magazine, where it gained a wide readership. Critical notices were plentiful and mostly positive...
for New Line and producer Geena Davis
Geena Davis
Virginia Elizabeth "Geena" Davis is an American actress, film producer, writer, former fashion model, and a women's Olympics archery team semi-finalist...
and then sold the screenplay 21 about World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
fighter ace Frank Luke
Frank Luke
Frank Luke Jr. was an American fighter ace, ranking second among U.S. Army Air Service pilots after Captain Eddie Rickenbacker in number of aerial victories during World War I . Frank Luke was the first airman to receive the Medal of Honor...
to 20th Century Fox. He wrote an episode for HBO's unproduced series about Jefferson & Adams called Patriots and adapted Detour: A Hollywood Story for ABC and executive producer James Ellroy about the Lana Turner-Johnny Stompanto scandal. He then adapted Bob King’s military memoir Spooky 8 for FX.
He and Robert Schwentke
Robert Schwentke
Robert Schwentke is a German film director best known for the films Tattoo and Flightplan.He was a graduate of Columbia College Hollywood in 1992....
co-wrote an adaptation of David Morrell
David Morrell
David Morrell is a Canadian-American novelist, best known for his debut 1972 novel First Blood, which would later become the successful Rambo film franchise starring Sylvester Stallone. He has written 28 novels, and his work has been translated into 26 languages...
’s horror novel The Totem for Mission Entertainment and revised Phoenix’s Last Voyage of the Demeter, about the ill-fated ship that transported Dracula to England in Bram Stoker
Bram Stoker
Abraham "Bram" Stoker was an Irish novelist and short story writer, best known today for his 1897 Gothic novel Dracula...
’s novel. They also worked on Touchstone’s action-thriller Labor Day and adapted Noah Gordon’s novel The Physician.
Most recently, Brian wrote a remake of the political thriller Seven Days in May. As a director, his films include the award winning shorts Hang Ups, James Ellroy’s Stay Clean and Rhubarb Pie.
He is currently a visiting assistant professor at University of Missouri-Kansas City.