Mitch Cullin
Encyclopedia
Mitch Cullin is an American writer of Scotch-Irish and Cherokee
descent. He is the author of seven novels, and one short story collection. He currently resides in Arcadia, California
and Tokyo, Japan with his partner and frequent collaborator Peter I. Chang
. His books have been translated into over 10 languages, among them French, Polish, Japanese, and Italian.
The New York Times
has described Cullin's writing as "brilliant and beautiful," but the author has confessed that "half the time I'm not even sure why I make choices in writing, or how it works when it works."
Cullin's novel Tideland
was adapted for the screen and directed by Terry Gilliam
in 2003, and the author also made a brief cameo appearance in the film, later stating about his time on the set: "There was a part of me that wanted to watch and experience every aspect of what Terry was doing… and he allowed me to do that while I was there if I wished to… but at the same time, I didn’t want his process to become too demystified… because I wanted to buy a ticket someday and sit down in a dark theater and simply watch the film without knowing too much about how it was filmed." Despite mixed reviews from critics, Gilliam's film adaptation won the 2005 FIPRESCI
prize at San Sebastián International Film Festival
.
In 2005, Cullin published his sixth novel A Slight Trick of the Mind
, a portrait of Sherlock Holmes
in old age for which The New York Times
praised the author as being "an unusually sophisticated theorist of human nature," and Carolyn See
of The Washington Post
stated that "you don't read it to be 'improved' but for the plain joy of seeing what the language can do in the hands of an affectionate, very accomplished writer." The audiobook edition the novel won the Audio Publishers Association's 2006 Audie Awards
for Unabridged Fiction.
Cullin's seventh novel The Post-War Dream was published by Random House
in March 2008.
According to The New York Times
, a film version of Cullin's A Slight Trick of the Mind
is in pre-production with the producers Anthony Bregman, Ted Hope
, and Anne Carey
, with a screenplay by Jeffrey Hatcher
. Ben Kingsley
is attached to star, and Yann Samuell
is listed as the director.
in the mid 1990s, Cullin befriended the author Mary Gaitskill
. Gaitskill taught him in several writing classes. She remained a mentor after he dropped out of college and moved to Tucson, Arizona
to write. Since then, Cullin and Gaitskill have stayed friends, and in 2005 they did a one-on-one author appearance at Manhattan's Housing Works
.
Some of Cullin's early unpublished writings (including Afternoon Misdemeanors, The House of Special Purpose, and 6 Poems) are housed at Syracuse University
in its archive collection of poet scholar Robert S. Phillips' papers, letters, manuscripts, and correspondence.
Along with writers including Salman Rushdie and Amy Tan
, Cullin is a founding author of the non-profit Red Room website.
's Howe Gelb
, helping to design the cover and logo for Gelb's 2003 solo album The Listener. The following year, with Canadian musicians Todd Bryanton and Rob Bryanton, he co-wrote the song "Lift Me Up To Sweet Jesus" for the soundtrack of Terry Gilliam
's Tideland
, a film based on his novel of the same name, and in which he has a cameo appearance. Cullin is credited as the producer of Peter I. Chang's film I Want to Destroy America
, a documentary about the life of Hisao Shinagawa
.
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
descent. He is the author of seven novels, and one short story collection. He currently resides in Arcadia, California
Arcadia, California
Arcadia is an affluent city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and located approximately northeast of downtown Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley and at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains....
and Tokyo, Japan with his partner and frequent collaborator Peter I. Chang
Peter I. Chang
Peter I. Chang is a Taiwanese-born mixed-media artist, illustrator, and filmmaker. He has often collaborated with the author Mitch Cullin who is also his domestic partner....
. His books have been translated into over 10 languages, among them French, Polish, Japanese, and Italian.
The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
has described Cullin's writing as "brilliant and beautiful," but the author has confessed that "half the time I'm not even sure why I make choices in writing, or how it works when it works."
Cullin's novel Tideland
Tideland
Tideland is the third published book by author Mitch Cullin, and is the third installment of the writer's Texas Trilogy that also includes the coming-of-age novel Whompyjawed and the novel-in-verse Branches....
was adapted for the screen and directed by Terry Gilliam
Terry Gilliam
Terrence Vance "Terry" Gilliam is an American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam is also known for directing several films, including Brazil , The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , The Fisher King , and 12 Monkeys...
in 2003, and the author also made a brief cameo appearance in the film, later stating about his time on the set: "There was a part of me that wanted to watch and experience every aspect of what Terry was doing… and he allowed me to do that while I was there if I wished to… but at the same time, I didn’t want his process to become too demystified… because I wanted to buy a ticket someday and sit down in a dark theater and simply watch the film without knowing too much about how it was filmed." Despite mixed reviews from critics, Gilliam's film adaptation won the 2005 FIPRESCI
FIPRESCI
The International Federation of Film Critics is an association of national organizations of professional film critics and film journalists from around the world for "the promotion and development of film culture and for the safeguarding of professional interests." It was founded in June 1930 in...
prize at San Sebastián International Film Festival
San Sebastián International Film Festival
The San Sebastián International Film Festival is an annual FIAPF A category film festival held in the Spanish city of San Sebastián .-History:The festival was founded in 1953...
.
In 2005, Cullin published his sixth novel A Slight Trick of the Mind
A Slight Trick of the Mind
A Slight Trick of the Mind is the seventh book by American author Mitch Cullin. It was first published in April 2005 as a hardcover edition from Nan A. Talese/Doubleday, and during the same month an unabridged audio book version read by Simon Jones was released on both compact disc and cassette by...
, a portrait of Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
in old age for which The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
praised the author as being "an unusually sophisticated theorist of human nature," and Carolyn See
Carolyn See
Carolyn See is the author of nine books, including the memoir, Dreaming: Hard Luck and Good Times in America, an advice book on writing, Making a Literary Life, and the novels There Will Never Be Another You and The Handyman....
of The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
stated that "you don't read it to be 'improved' but for the plain joy of seeing what the language can do in the hands of an affectionate, very accomplished writer." The audiobook edition the novel won the Audio Publishers Association's 2006 Audie Awards
Audie Awards
The Audie Awards are annually bestowed annually in the USA for outstanding audiobooks. The Audies have been granted by the Audio Publishers Association, a not-for-profit trade organization, since 1996. The nominees are announced each year in January, and the winners are announced at a gala banquet...
for Unabridged Fiction.
Cullin's seventh novel The Post-War Dream was published by Random House
Random House
Random House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...
in March 2008.
According to The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, a film version of Cullin's A Slight Trick of the Mind
A Slight Trick of the Mind
A Slight Trick of the Mind is the seventh book by American author Mitch Cullin. It was first published in April 2005 as a hardcover edition from Nan A. Talese/Doubleday, and during the same month an unabridged audio book version read by Simon Jones was released on both compact disc and cassette by...
is in pre-production with the producers Anthony Bregman, Ted Hope
Ted Hope
Ted Hope is an American independent film producer based in New York City.As the American Indie wave hit in the early 90’s, Ted was among the first producers to emerge from the pack, and today remains one of the few consistently delivering vital and exciting new work...
, and Anne Carey
Anne Carey
Anne Carey is an independent film producer based in New York City.Carey began her career working as the head of development for William Morris Agency, serving their top film and television clients. In the early 1990s she began working as both a producer and head of development for production...
, with a screenplay by Jeffrey Hatcher
Jeffrey Hatcher
Jeffrey Hatcher is a playwright and screenwriter. He wrote the stage play Compleat Female Stage Beauty, which he later adapted into a screenplay, shortened to just Stage Beauty...
. Ben Kingsley
Ben Kingsley
Sir Ben Kingsley, CBE is a British actor. He has won an Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards in his career. He is known for starring as Mohandas Gandhi in the film Gandhi in 1982, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor...
is attached to star, and Yann Samuell
Yann Samuell
Yann Samuell , is a French film director, and screenwriter.-Biography:Samuell went to film school and was a storyboard artist before becoming a director. He gave his directing debut in 2003 with Love Me If You Dare and his second film was the romantic comedy film My Sassy Girl...
is listed as the director.
Career
While attending the University of HoustonUniversity of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
in the mid 1990s, Cullin befriended the author Mary Gaitskill
Mary Gaitskill
Mary Gaitskill is an American author of essays, short stories and novels. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, Harper's Magazine, Esquire, The Best American Short Stories , and The O. Henry Prize Stories .-Life:Gaitskill was born in Lexington, Kentucky...
. Gaitskill taught him in several writing classes. She remained a mentor after he dropped out of college and moved to Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
to write. Since then, Cullin and Gaitskill have stayed friends, and in 2005 they did a one-on-one author appearance at Manhattan's Housing Works
Housing Works
Housing Works is a New York City based non-profit fighting the twin crises of AIDS and homelessness. The charity is well-known for its operations, which have recently included outreach to Haiti after the 2010 earthquake....
.
Some of Cullin's early unpublished writings (including Afternoon Misdemeanors, The House of Special Purpose, and 6 Poems) are housed at Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
in its archive collection of poet scholar Robert S. Phillips' papers, letters, manuscripts, and correspondence.
Along with writers including Salman Rushdie and Amy Tan
Amy Tan
Amy Tan is an American writer whose works explore mother-daughter relationships. Her most well-known work is The Joy Luck Club, which has been translated into 35 languages...
, Cullin is a founding author of the non-profit Red Room website.
Music and film work
Cullin has worked with Giant SandGiant Sand
Giant Sand is an American rock band, based in Tucson, Arizona, USA. The name is shortened from the original Giant Sandworms, a reference to the creatures in the Dune books. Overseen by singer-songwriter Howe Gelb, its membership has shifted over the years—at times with each album...
's Howe Gelb
Howe Gelb
Howe Gelb is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer based in Tucson, Arizona.-Projects:Gelb's approach to music is collaborative and he has recorded with a number of side projects...
, helping to design the cover and logo for Gelb's 2003 solo album The Listener. The following year, with Canadian musicians Todd Bryanton and Rob Bryanton, he co-wrote the song "Lift Me Up To Sweet Jesus" for the soundtrack of Terry Gilliam
Terry Gilliam
Terrence Vance "Terry" Gilliam is an American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam is also known for directing several films, including Brazil , The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , The Fisher King , and 12 Monkeys...
's Tideland
Tideland (film)
Tideland is a 2005 British-Canadian fantasy thriller film co-written and directed by Terry Gilliam, an adaptation of Mitch Cullin's novel of the same name. The film was shot in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, and surrounding area in the fall and winter of 2004...
, a film based on his novel of the same name, and in which he has a cameo appearance. Cullin is credited as the producer of Peter I. Chang's film I Want to Destroy America
I Want to Destroy America
I Want to Destroy America is a documentary film by Peter I. Chang which traces the life of the Japanese musician Hisao Shinagawa through his early years as a folk singer in Tokyo to his current occupation as a street performer in Los Angeles....
, a documentary about the life of Hisao Shinagawa
Hisao Shinagawa
Hisao Shinagawa is a Japanese-born songwriter and performer who lives in Los Angeles, California. He is probably best known in his adopted home country for the satirical song "More Money, More War", which became an underground hit after the video aired on "Weird Al" Yankovic's Al TV on MTV in...
.
Novels
| Title | Original Publication Date | Original Publisher | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whompyjawed Whompyjawed Whompyjawed is the debut novel by American author Mitch Cullin. It is the first installment of the writer's Texas Trilogy that also includes the dark novel-in-verse Branches and the surrealistic novel Tideland.... |
1999 | The Permanent Press | |
| Branches Branches (book) Branches is a novel-in-verse by American author Mitch Cullin, with illustrations by the Japanese artist Ryuzo Kikushima. It is the second installment of the writer's Texas Trilogy that also includes the coming-of-age football novel Whompyjawed and the surrealistic novel Tideland.In a 2000 interview... |
2000 | The Permanent Press | |
| Tideland Tideland Tideland is the third published book by author Mitch Cullin, and is the third installment of the writer's Texas Trilogy that also includes the coming-of-age novel Whompyjawed and the novel-in-verse Branches.... |
2000 | Dufour Editions | |
| The Cosmology of Bing The Cosmology of Bing The Cosmology of Bing is the fourth novel by American author Mitch Cullin. It was first published in April 2001 as a hardback edition from The Permanent Press.... |
2001 | The Permanent Press | |
| UnderSurface UnderSurface UnderSurface is the sixth book by American author Mitch Cullin with illustrations by Peter I. Chang. It was first published in September 2002 as a hardback edition from The Permanent Press.... |
2002 | The Permanent Press | |
| A Slight Trick of the Mind A Slight Trick of the Mind A Slight Trick of the Mind is the seventh book by American author Mitch Cullin. It was first published in April 2005 as a hardcover edition from Nan A. Talese/Doubleday, and during the same month an unabridged audio book version read by Simon Jones was released on both compact disc and cassette by... |
2005 | Doubleday | |
| The Post-War Dream | 2008 | Doubleday | |
Short Story Collections
| Title | Original Publication Date | Original Publisher | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| From the Place in the Valley Deep in the Forest From the Place in the Valley Deep in the Forest From the Place in the Valley Depp in the Forest is a short story collection by American writer Mitch Cullin, and is the author's fifth book. It was first published as a trade paperback in November 2001 by Dufour Editions in the US. A UK trade paperback edition was published by Weidenfold &... |
2001 | Dufour Editions | |
Anthologies
| Title | Story Contribution | Original Publication Date | Original Publisher | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Gay Erotica 1996 | Playing Solitaire | 1996 | Cleis Press | |
| Happily Ever After | The Snow Prince & The Bear | 1996 | Masquerade Books | |
| Best American Gay Fiction 2 | Sifting Through | 1997 | Little, Brown | |
| Circa 2000: Gay Fiction at the Millennium | Excerpt from 'The Cosmology of Being | 2000 | Alyson Books | |
| Afterwords | Aguas de Marco | 2001 | Alyson Books | |
| M2M: New Literary Fiction | Fall | 2003 | AttaGirl Press | |
| Wonderlands: Good Gay Travel Writing | Crows in the Hair | 2004 | The University of Wisconsin Press | |
| The Flash | Bullets | 2007 | Social Disease | |
| スウィート・ドリームス第１号 Sweet Dreams #1 |
At the Nageku Kinenhi | 2007 | Sweet Dreams | |
Photography
| Title | Original Publication Date | Original Publisher | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| INKEI/KAO | 2007 | Workshop Lo-Vi | limited edition |
| Tokyo is Dreaming | 2008 | Workshop Lo-Vi | limited edition |
Filmography
- TidelandTideland (film)Tideland is a 2005 British-Canadian fantasy thriller film co-written and directed by Terry Gilliam, an adaptation of Mitch Cullin's novel of the same name. The film was shot in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, and surrounding area in the fall and winter of 2004...
(2005) – as passenger on bus; Terry GilliamTerry GilliamTerrence Vance "Terry" Gilliam is an American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam is also known for directing several films, including Brazil , The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , The Fisher King , and 12 Monkeys...
's film version of Mitch Cullin's novel - Getting GilliamGetting GilliamGetting Gilliam is a 2005 documentary film directed by Vincenzo Natali about the making of Terry Gilliam's film Tideland.-Cast:*Mitch Cullin - Himself*Brendan Fletcher - Himself*Terry Gilliam - Himself*Gabriella Martinelli - Himself...
(2006) – as himself; Vincenzo NataliVincenzo NataliVincenzo Natali is an American-Canadian film director and screenwriter, best known for writing and directing science fiction films such as Cube, Nothing and Splice.-Early life:...
's documentary about Terry GilliamTerry GilliamTerrence Vance "Terry" Gilliam is an American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam is also known for directing several films, including Brazil , The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , The Fisher King , and 12 Monkeys...
and the making of TidelandTideland (film)Tideland is a 2005 British-Canadian fantasy thriller film co-written and directed by Terry Gilliam, an adaptation of Mitch Cullin's novel of the same name. The film was shot in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, and surrounding area in the fall and winter of 2004... - This Band Has No Members (2006) – as himself; unreleased concert film of Howe GelbHowe GelbHowe Gelb is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer based in Tucson, Arizona.-Projects:Gelb's approach to music is collaborative and he has recorded with a number of side projects...
performing in Kyoto, Japan - I Want to Destroy AmericaI Want to Destroy AmericaI Want to Destroy America is a documentary film by Peter I. Chang which traces the life of the Japanese musician Hisao Shinagawa through his early years as a folk singer in Tokyo to his current occupation as a street performer in Los Angeles....
(2006) – producer/interviewer; Peter I. ChangPeter I. ChangPeter I. Chang is a Taiwanese-born mixed-media artist, illustrator, and filmmaker. He has often collaborated with the author Mitch Cullin who is also his domestic partner....
's documentaryDocumentary filmDocumentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
about Hisao ShinagawaHisao ShinagawaHisao Shinagawa is a Japanese-born songwriter and performer who lives in Los Angeles, California. He is probably best known in his adopted home country for the satirical song "More Money, More War", which became an underground hit after the video aired on "Weird Al" Yankovic's Al TV on MTV in... - Making of Tideland (2007) – as himself; featurette on US, Canadian, and UK DVD editions of Terry GilliamTerry GilliamTerrence Vance "Terry" Gilliam is an American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam is also known for directing several films, including Brazil , The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , The Fisher King , and 12 Monkeys...
's TidelandTideland (film)Tideland is a 2005 British-Canadian fantasy thriller film co-written and directed by Terry Gilliam, an adaptation of Mitch Cullin's novel of the same name. The film was shot in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, and surrounding area in the fall and winter of 2004... - Regina Monologue (2007) – as himself; short film released only as an Easter egg on Disc 2 of the UK DVD edition of Terry GilliamTerry GilliamTerrence Vance "Terry" Gilliam is an American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam is also known for directing several films, including Brazil , The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , The Fisher King , and 12 Monkeys...
's TidelandTideland (film)Tideland is a 2005 British-Canadian fantasy thriller film co-written and directed by Terry Gilliam, an adaptation of Mitch Cullin's novel of the same name. The film was shot in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, and surrounding area in the fall and winter of 2004... - Q&A with Terry Gilliam and Mitch Cullin at the Hay Festival (2007) – as himself; bonus feature on the UK DVD edition of Terry GilliamTerry GilliamTerrence Vance "Terry" Gilliam is an American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam is also known for directing several films, including Brazil , The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , The Fisher King , and 12 Monkeys...
's TidelandTideland (film)Tideland is a 2005 British-Canadian fantasy thriller film co-written and directed by Terry Gilliam, an adaptation of Mitch Cullin's novel of the same name. The film was shot in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, and surrounding area in the fall and winter of 2004... - Tokyo is DreamingTokyo is DreamingTokyo is Dreaming is a 2008 documentary film by Peter I. Chang which depicts life in the Japanese capital and is accompanied by a score from Calexico's John Convertino...
(2008) – producer/cinematographer; Peter I. ChangPeter I. ChangPeter I. Chang is a Taiwanese-born mixed-media artist, illustrator, and filmmaker. He has often collaborated with the author Mitch Cullin who is also his domestic partner....
's documentaryDocumentary filmDocumentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
about modern-day TokyoTokyo, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family... - A Slight Trick of the MindA Slight Trick of the MindA Slight Trick of the Mind is the seventh book by American author Mitch Cullin. It was first published in April 2005 as a hardcover edition from Nan A. Talese/Doubleday, and during the same month an unabridged audio book version read by Simon Jones was released on both compact disc and cassette by...
(2009; in pre-production) – an adaptation of Cullin's novel starring Ben KingsleyBen KingsleySir Ben Kingsley, CBE is a British actor. He has won an Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards in his career. He is known for starring as Mohandas Gandhi in the film Gandhi in 1982, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor...