Will Keenan
Encyclopedia
Will Keenan is an American
film producer
, actor
, director, writer
and stuntman
. Keenan has acted in and worked on producing more than 20 independent films made in New York City
which have been screened in festivals worldwide. In 2004, Keenan appeared on an episode of Law and Order: SVU.
Keenan attended New York University while majoring in theater and studying psychology, philosophy and dance. He started his career in underground and cult movies, performing lead roles in Tromeo and Juliet and the first fully digital feature film, Love God (Good Machine
now Focus Features
). Some of his starring and producing credits include Politics of Love
, The Ghastly Love of Johnny X, Chop, Terror Firmer, Margarita Happy Hour, The Love Machine, Hoofboy, OMC, Hisss and Trick.
On July 23, 2003 Keenan married Getty contributor and celebrity photographer Stefanie Imhoff. The couple lived in Hollywood, California
for seven years at a yoga hermitage.
as one of 2011's "Hot Companies To Watch" and co-starred in the German-Indian co-production "Indisch Fur Anfanger (Mission India)" with German celebrities Henning Baum and Wolke Hegenbarth. In March of 2011, Keenan engineered and brokered a feature recording artist and music video deal between YMCMB for hip-hop/rap star Lil Wayne and Indian composer/singer/actor/musician Himesh Reshammiya. Popular American gossip blogger Perez Hilton reported about Indian celebrities for the first time, posting stories about Mallika Sherawat's and Himesh Reshammiya's projects in which Keenan was involved. Keenan introduced Miss Sherawat to Twitter co-founders Ev Williams and Biz Stone at the company headquarters in San Francisco in 2010.
Keenan was a consulting co-producer for the Indian-American production "Hisss" (2010) and a consultant during the development of the big-budget Indian production "Ra.One" (2011). Keenan produced three songs and two videos for the "Hisss" soundtrack in an east-west collaboration, bringing together artist Dave Kushner of American super-group Velvet Revolver with Indian actress/singer/lyricist Shruti Haasan, Julian Lennon with Mallika Sherawat and Panjabi MC with Filmfare Award-winning Indian singer/performer Shweta Pandit. Official Bollywood Soundtrack Charts charted "I Got That Poison" Performed by Panjabi MC and Shweta Pandit in the Top Ten from Oct 24 through Nov, 5 2010. In 2009 Keenan created the Indo-American production company and consultancy partnership Nuclear Mango and sold his stake in the company in 2011.
In 2008, reports in the media named Keenan a producer for "The Aquarian Gospel", an historical fiction feature film based on two best-selling books about the so-called "missing years" of Jesus from the Bible, age 13 through 30. Former Digital Doman founder (with James Cameron) Scott Ross, a Visual Effects specialist and producer, is rumored to be attached to the project. Australian director Drew Heriot of cultural sensation "The Secret
" was previously attached to direct the project. In 2008, Alcon Entertainment, distributed by Warner Brothers, made an offer to option the script.
In 2007, Keenan was an originating creative and development producer for the film "Poor Things" which derailed at the same time co-star Lyndsay Lohan was involved in a car accident and subsequent rehabilitation. Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Rosario Dawson, Christopher Walken, Giovani Ribisi and Channing Tatum were all attached to the picture throughout its history. The film was highly reported in the media during its preproduction.
OMC, co-directed by Keenan, has garnered positive reviews for Keenan's acting and stunt-work, and some film web sites have called him a contemporary Buster Keaton. Keenan's trademark stunt is getting hit by a car. During a 2004 Video Software Dealer's Convention in Las Vegas at which actor/comedian Jerry Lewis was the keynote speaker, Keenan played a prank on Lewis involving the latter's book ("Dean and Me: A Love Story") which was reported in Page Six of the New York Post.
Keenan was an invited participant in the 2000 Sundance Institute Film Labs and won a Best Actor award at the Brooklyn International Film Festival in 2002. Keenan worked under the company name Hoverground in New York City, and, until 2011, under the company name Nuclear Mango in Los Angeles. Keenan was invited to give a featured keynote appearance in Las Vegas for the inaugural Netroots Nation blogger convention in 2005, produced a viral video campaign for the convention and spearheaded the launch of the Netroots Nation screening series program the following year.
In 1998 Keenan produced and programmed a 10-day arts exchange between New York City and Philadelphia named PhillyHoverground at locations throughout Philadelphia including International House and the Shubert Theater. The festival program consisted of art, theatre, dance and film screenings including the city's first public theatrical screenings of Trey Parker and Matt Stone's "Cannibal The Musical" and Harmony Korine's "Gummo".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
, actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, director, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and stuntman
Stuntman
A stuntman or stunt performer is someone who performs dangerous stunts.Stuntman may also refer to:*The Stunt Man, a 1980 film starring Peter O'Toole*Stuntman , a 2002 video game**Stuntman: Ignition, its sequel...
. Keenan has acted in and worked on producing more than 20 independent films made in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
which have been screened in festivals worldwide. In 2004, Keenan appeared on an episode of Law and Order: SVU.
Background
Keenan was born September 14, 1974 in Philadelphia. During his teenage years, Keenan was given the Hugh O'Brien Youth Foundation Award and the Presidential Classroom Award.Keenan attended New York University while majoring in theater and studying psychology, philosophy and dance. He started his career in underground and cult movies, performing lead roles in Tromeo and Juliet and the first fully digital feature film, Love God (Good Machine
Good Machine
Good Machine was an independent film production, film distribution, and foreign sales company started in the early 1990s by its co-founders and producers, Ted Hope and James Schamus. David Linde joined in the late 90s to start the international sales company...
now Focus Features
Focus Features
Focus Features is the art house films division of NBC Universal's Universal Pictures, and acts as both a producer and distributor for its own films and a distributor for foreign films....
). Some of his starring and producing credits include Politics of Love
Politics of Love
Politics of Love is a 2011 film directed by William Dear. Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat and American actor Brian J...
, The Ghastly Love of Johnny X, Chop, Terror Firmer, Margarita Happy Hour, The Love Machine, Hoofboy, OMC, Hisss and Trick.
On July 23, 2003 Keenan married Getty contributor and celebrity photographer Stefanie Imhoff. The couple lived in Hollywood, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
for seven years at a yoga hermitage.
Career
In 2011, Keenan was recruited for an executive position at digital network Maker Studios, named by The Huffington PostThe Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
as one of 2011's "Hot Companies To Watch" and co-starred in the German-Indian co-production "Indisch Fur Anfanger (Mission India)" with German celebrities Henning Baum and Wolke Hegenbarth. In March of 2011, Keenan engineered and brokered a feature recording artist and music video deal between YMCMB for hip-hop/rap star Lil Wayne and Indian composer/singer/actor/musician Himesh Reshammiya. Popular American gossip blogger Perez Hilton reported about Indian celebrities for the first time, posting stories about Mallika Sherawat's and Himesh Reshammiya's projects in which Keenan was involved. Keenan introduced Miss Sherawat to Twitter co-founders Ev Williams and Biz Stone at the company headquarters in San Francisco in 2010.
Keenan was a consulting co-producer for the Indian-American production "Hisss" (2010) and a consultant during the development of the big-budget Indian production "Ra.One" (2011). Keenan produced three songs and two videos for the "Hisss" soundtrack in an east-west collaboration, bringing together artist Dave Kushner of American super-group Velvet Revolver with Indian actress/singer/lyricist Shruti Haasan, Julian Lennon with Mallika Sherawat and Panjabi MC with Filmfare Award-winning Indian singer/performer Shweta Pandit. Official Bollywood Soundtrack Charts charted "I Got That Poison" Performed by Panjabi MC and Shweta Pandit in the Top Ten from Oct 24 through Nov, 5 2010. In 2009 Keenan created the Indo-American production company and consultancy partnership Nuclear Mango and sold his stake in the company in 2011.
In 2008, reports in the media named Keenan a producer for "The Aquarian Gospel", an historical fiction feature film based on two best-selling books about the so-called "missing years" of Jesus from the Bible, age 13 through 30. Former Digital Doman founder (with James Cameron) Scott Ross, a Visual Effects specialist and producer, is rumored to be attached to the project. Australian director Drew Heriot of cultural sensation "The Secret
The Secret
A secret is information kept hidden. Secret or The Secret may also refer to:-Music:* Secret , a South Korean girl group* Il segreto di Susanna; or Suzanna's Secret, one-act opera by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari...
" was previously attached to direct the project. In 2008, Alcon Entertainment, distributed by Warner Brothers, made an offer to option the script.
In 2007, Keenan was an originating creative and development producer for the film "Poor Things" which derailed at the same time co-star Lyndsay Lohan was involved in a car accident and subsequent rehabilitation. Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Rosario Dawson, Christopher Walken, Giovani Ribisi and Channing Tatum were all attached to the picture throughout its history. The film was highly reported in the media during its preproduction.
OMC, co-directed by Keenan, has garnered positive reviews for Keenan's acting and stunt-work, and some film web sites have called him a contemporary Buster Keaton. Keenan's trademark stunt is getting hit by a car. During a 2004 Video Software Dealer's Convention in Las Vegas at which actor/comedian Jerry Lewis was the keynote speaker, Keenan played a prank on Lewis involving the latter's book ("Dean and Me: A Love Story") which was reported in Page Six of the New York Post.
Keenan was an invited participant in the 2000 Sundance Institute Film Labs and won a Best Actor award at the Brooklyn International Film Festival in 2002. Keenan worked under the company name Hoverground in New York City, and, until 2011, under the company name Nuclear Mango in Los Angeles. Keenan was invited to give a featured keynote appearance in Las Vegas for the inaugural Netroots Nation blogger convention in 2005, produced a viral video campaign for the convention and spearheaded the launch of the Netroots Nation screening series program the following year.
In 1998 Keenan produced and programmed a 10-day arts exchange between New York City and Philadelphia named PhillyHoverground at locations throughout Philadelphia including International House and the Shubert Theater. The festival program consisted of art, theatre, dance and film screenings including the city's first public theatrical screenings of Trey Parker and Matt Stone's "Cannibal The Musical" and Harmony Korine's "Gummo".
Filmography
- "Ra.OneRa.OneRa.One is a 2011 Indian science fiction superhero film written and directed by Anubhav Sinha. The film features Shahrukh Khan in dual roles, and also stars Kareena Kapoor, Armaan Verma and Arjun Rampal in the lead...
" (2011) - "Politics of LovePolitics of LovePolitics of Love is a 2011 film directed by William Dear. Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat and American actor Brian J...
" (2011) - "Hisss" (2010)
- The Ghastly Love of Johnny X (2007)
- Black DahliaBlack Dahlia"The Black Dahlia" was a nickname given to Elizabeth Short is an American woman and the victim of a gruesome and much-publicized murder. She acquired the moniker posthumously by newspapers in the habit of nicknaming crimes they found particularly colorful...
(2006) - Mission Accomplished Man!: A Superhero Love Story (2006)
- Friends with MoneyFriends with MoneyFriends with Money is a 2006 film written and directed by Nicole Holofcener. It opened the 2006 Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2006 and went into limited release in North America on April 7, 2006.-Plot:...
(2006) - Shooting Vegetarians (2005)
- Love Rome (2004)
- Alice's Misadventures in Wonderland (2004)
- Law & Order: Special Victims UnitLaw & Order: Special Victims UnitLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it is also primarily produced...
Episode "Sick" as Billy Tripley (2004) - The Duke of Goo (2004)
- A.K.A.: It's a Wiley World! (2003)
- Wolves of Wall StreetWolves of Wall StreetWolves of Wall Street is a film, released in 2002, directed by David DeCoteau.-Plot summary:On the advice of a bartender familiar with the Wall Street crowd, Jeff applies to the Wolfe Brothers brokerage firm for his dream job as a stock broker. He is forced to abandon his love and values for...
(2002) - Beautiful Night (2002)
- Operation Midnight Climax (2002)
- Margarita Happy Hour (2001)
- Who Is A.B.? (2001)
- Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IVCitizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IVCitizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger Part IV is a 2000 American superhero comedy film released by Troma Entertainment, directed by Lloyd Kaufman...
(2000) - Waiting (2000)
- The Love Machine (2000)
- Terror FirmerTerror FirmerTerror Firmer is a 1999 American comedy horror film, directed by Lloyd Kaufman, written by Patrick Cassidy and Douglas Buck, and starring Will Keenan and Alyce LaTourelle. The film was produced by the Troma Entertainment company, known for distributing campy exploitation films...
(1999) - TrickTrick (film)Trick is a 1999 gay-themed romantic comedy film directed by Jim Fall. Trick appeared at the Sundance and Berlin film festivals in 1999. Filming was completed in less than three weeks in August 1998.-Plot:...
(1999) - Ecstasy in Entropy (1999)
- Hoofboy (1998)
- Love God (1997)
- Tromeo and JulietTromeo and JulietTromeo and Juliet is a 1996 independent transgressive comedy film adaptation of William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet from Troma Entertainment...
(1996)