Jeff Wadlow | |
|---|---|
 Wadlow at San Diego Comic-Con 2013 | |
| Born | Jeffrey Clark Wadlow March 2, 1976 Arlington, Virginia, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Dartmouth College University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Relatives | Emily Couric (mother) Katie Couric (aunt) |
Jeffrey Clark Wadlow (born March 2, 1976) is an American screenwriter, producer and director. Feature films that he has both written and directed include Truth or Dare, Kick-Ass 2 and Fantasy Island.[1]
Life and career
Wadlow was born in Arlington, Virginia, the son of Emily Couric, a state senator, and R. Clark Wadlow. He is the nephew of journalist Katie Couric.[2] He has a sister, Dr. Anne Drogula, who teaches Latin at Ohio University. Wadlow attended Dartmouth College, graduating with a BA in History and Film modified by Drama and a citation for outstanding work in Animation. The following year, he attended the University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television after being Awarded a USC Associates Endowment Scholarship for academic achievement, Wadlow went on to graduate in 2001. While there, he made The Tower of Babble (2002), which he conceived, co-wrote, acted in and directed. He received more than two dozen awards for the short, including Best Short Film at the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival and at the St. Louis International Film Festival, the George Méliès Cinematography Award at the Taos Talking Picture Festival, and a Student Award at USA Film Festival.[3]
He went on to receive the Short Film Prize at the Wine Country Film Festival for Manual Labor (2002) and the Best Animated Short at the New Haven Film Fest for Catching Kringle (2004). Having won the short film division at the 2002 Chrysler Million Dollar Film Competition for Living the Lie (2002), he aspired to enter the competition with a feature film.
In 2005, Wadlow and Beau Bauman came up with the idea for Wadlow's theatrical directorial debut Cry Wolf with the money Wadlow won in the 2002 Chrysler Million Dollar Film Competition for his short film, Living the Lie.[4] Along with co-writer Beau Bauman, created a five-minute presentation piece starring Topher Grace and Estella Warren that won a top prize at the Toronto Film Festival.
As an actor, he has played a small role in Pearl Harbor and a professor on an episode of the sci-fi TV series Roswell, which aired May 7, 2001. Wadlow also founded The Adrenaline Film Project, a program to help aspiring filmmakers of all ages conceive and complete a short film in just 72 hours.[1]
He directed the film Never Back Down, which was released on March 14, 2008, and starred Djimon Hounsou and Sean Faris.[3] The movie went on to beat out big budget competition to win the MTV movie award for "Best Fight." Wadlow also wrote and directed Kick-Ass 2, the sequel to the 2010 black comedy superhero film Kick-Ass.[5]
Filmography
Short films
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | The Tower of Babble | Yes | Story | George Méliès Cinematography Award NYIIFV Grand Jury Prize for Best Short Film SLIFF Award for Best Dramatic Short Student Award Nominated – Deauville Film Festival – Best Short Film |
| Manual Labor | Yes | Yes | Also editor; Wine Country Film Festival – Best Short Film (Domestic) | |
| 2004 | Catching Kringle | Yes | Story | Jury Award for Best Short Film – Animated |
Feature films
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Cry Wolf | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2007 | Prey | No | Yes | No | |
| 2008 | Never Back Down | Yes | No | No | |
| 2013 | Kick-Ass 2 | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2014 | Non-Stop | No | No | Executive | |
| 2016 | True Memoirs of an International Assassin | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2018 | Truth or Dare | Yes | Yes | Executive | |
| 2020 | Fantasy Island | Yes | Yes | Yes | Nominated – Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture Nominated – Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay |
| Bloodshot | No | Yes | No | ||
| 2022 | The Curse of Bridge Hollow | Yes | No | Executive | |
| 2024 | Imaginary | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Television
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Executive Producer |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | The Odds | No | Yes | Yes | |
| 2011 | Hail Mary | No | Yes | Yes | |
| 2013 | Bates Motel | No | Yes | Yes | Consulting producer, 6 episodes Writer, episodes "Ocean View" and "What's Wrong with Norman" |
| 2015 | Agent X | Yes | No | No | Episode: "Long Walk Home" |
| 2017 | The Strain | No | Yes | Yes | 10 episodes Writer, episode "Belly of the Beast" |
| 2019 | Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television | Yes | No | Yes | 8 episodes |
| 2021 | Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Curse of the Shadows | Yes | No | Yes | 4 episodes[6] |
Acting roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Pearl Harbor | Next Guy In Line #1 | |
| Roswell | Professor | Episode: "Baby, It's You" | |
| 2002 | The Tower of Babble | Derek | |
| 2007 | I'm Through with White Girls | Billy | |
Other credits
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | The Pallbearer | Office production assistant (as Jeffrey Clark Wadlow) |
| 1999 | The Big Kahuna | Set production assistant (as Jeffrey C. Wadlow) |
References
- 1 2 "Jeff Wadlow". Virginia Film Festival. February 4, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
- ↑ "Jeff Wadlow News & Biography". www.empireonline.com. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
- 1 2 Jeff Wadlow biography and filmography
- ↑ "Nightmare Anniversary: "CRY_WOLF" and The AIM Alternate Reality Game!". Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
- ↑ Kit, Borys (May 8, 2012). "Universal in Talks for 'Kick-Ass 2'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
- ↑ "'Are You Afraid Of The Dark?' Gets Season 2 Trailer & Premiere Date On Nickelodeon". Deadline Hollywood. January 8, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.