Matthew Ross (filmmaker)
Matthew Ross | |
|---|---|
Ross in 2013 | |
| Born | Matthew Ross July 10, 1976 |
| Other names | Matthew M. Ross |
| Occupations | film director, screenwriter, journalist, fiction writer |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Notable work | Frank & Lola |
| Website | www |
Matthew Ross is an American film director, screenwriter, journalist and fiction writer based in Harlem. He is best known for writing and directing Frank & Lola, which debuted at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival[1] and was later released by Universal Studios.[2]
Early life
Born and raised in New York City, Ross attended Harvard University, where he graduated Cum Laude with Honors with a degree in Visual and Environmental Studies, concentrating in filmmaking. His senior thesis film Here Comes Your Man earned Magna Cum Laude Plus honors and was selected for a number of international film festivals.[3]
Journalism career
Ross began his career as a film journalist. His first staff position of note was as a film reporter for Variety in 2000.[4] At the age of 25, he was hired as the senior editor of Indiewire, overseeing the site's editorial coverage as well as writing a regular industry column,[5] followed by four years as the managing editor of Filmmaker magazine. Ross expanded his focus beyond film, writing pieces that ranged from feature profiles of MMA champions for FIGHT! magazine[6] to long-form investigative journalism for Playboy.[7] As a freelancer, his work has appeared in The Village Voice,[8] Nerve,[9] The Criterion Collection, and dozens of other publications.[10]
Film and television career
Ross began making films in college, including the festival shorts Here Comes Your Man,[11] A Hero's Welcome,[12] Curtis and Clover,[13] Lola,[14] and Red Angel.[15] Another short he made was Inspired By Bret Easton Ellis,[16] commissioned by Ellis and described by critic Roger Ebert as "one terrific video!".[17] He also directed, wrote and produced a nonfiction viral series about professional fighters, FIGHT! Life!, which logged over eight-million YouTube views as of 2019.[18]
Ross's first screenplay Plays Well with Others (co-written with Guy Cimbalo)[19] was optioned by the production company Anonymous Content. He also worked as a story consultant on Curb Your Enthusiasm, including contributing plot lines to "Palestinian Chicken,"[20] winner of the 2011 DGA Award for "Best Comedy Episode".
Frank & Lola
Frank & Lola [21] marked Ross' directorial debut. In 2014, backed by Parts and Labor Films' producers Jay Van Hoy and Lars Knudsen, Killer Films' Christine Vachon and David Hinojosa, producer John Baker, Preferred Content's Kevin Iwashina and Las Vegas-based production company Lola Pictures, the film began production, with Michael Shannon (Frank) and Imogen Poots (Lola) in the lead roles. The other major parts were played by Michael Nyqvist (Alan), Justin Long (Keith), Rosanna Arquette (Patricia), and Emmanuelle Devos (Claire).[22]
The film had its premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, where it received largely positive reviews.[23][24] Universal Studios secured its worldwide rights (with the exception of a few minor territories) for over $2 million, with a theatrical release planned for later that year.[25] The film was released theatrically and on VOD in the U.S. on December 9, 2016.[26]
Other work
Ross wrote for the ABC series Nashville (writing two episodes and serving as creative consultant for Season 5).[27] He also directed the feature Siberia in 2018.[28]
Fiction writing
In September 2022, Neotext published JUNKMAN, Ross's first book, a sci-fi novella collaboration with legendary comics artist Joe Staton.[29]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | A Hero's Welcome (short) | Director, Editor, Writer |
| 1998 | Here Comes Your Man (short) | Director, Editor, Writer, Cinematographer |
| 2001 | Curtis & Clover (short) | Director, Writer, Producer |
| 2006 | Lola (short) | Director, Writer |
| 2006 | Red Angel (short) | Director, Writer (adapted from the play by Eric Bogosian) |
| 2009–2010 | FIGHT! Life (nonfiction viral series) | Director, Writer, Producer |
| 2010 | Inspired By Bret Easton Ellis (short) | Director, Writer, Cinematographer |
| 2011 | Curb Your Enthusiasm (TV series) | Story Consultant |
| 2016 | Frank & Lola (feature film) | Director, Writer |
| 2017 | Nashville (TV series) | Writer (2 episodes), Creative Consultant (11 episodes) |
| 2018 | Siberia (feature film) | Director |
| 2021–23 | Wu-Tang: An American Saga (TV series) | Director (3 episodes) |
References
- ^ "Sundance 2016 Announcement". Sundance.org. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
- ^ "Sundance: Michael Shannon's 'Frank and Lola' Bought by Universal". Variety. 30 January 2016. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
- ^ "Matthew Ross Bio on IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
- ^ "Matthew Ross - Variety articles". Variety. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
- ^ "Matthew Ross – Indiewire columns". Behance. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
- ^ "Anderson Silva / FIGHT! Magazine". Behance. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
- ^ "Playboy - "Inside El Rodeo"". Playboy. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
- ^ "The Village Voice - "Risky Business"". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on September 16, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
- ^ ""Post-Apocalypse Now!"". Nerve.com. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- ^ "Matthew Ross Journalism Portfolio on Behance". Behance. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
- ^ ""Here Comes Your Man"". IMDb. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
- ^ "A Hero's Welcome". IMDb. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
- ^ "Curtis and Clover". IMDb. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
- ^ "Lola -- IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
- ^ "Red Angel". IMDb. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
- ^ "Inspired By Bret Easton Ellis". IMDb. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
- ^ "Roger Ebert". Twitter. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
'Inspired by Bret Easton Ellis,' by Matthew Ross. This is one terrific video!
- ^ "FIGHT! Life". YouTube. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
- ^ "Hamptons Alum Share Script; NBC Deal for "Deadline"; Philly Fest Opens & More". Indiewire. 9 April 2004. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
- ^ "Curb Your Enthusiasm - "Palestinian Chicken"". IMDb. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
- ^ "Frank & Lola". IMDb. Retrieved February 5, 2015 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Berlin: Arclight Launches Robert Halmi-Backed 'Frank And Lola' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
- ^ "Sundance Premieres Include Films From James Schamus, Spike Lee". Variety. 7 December 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
- ^ Smith, Nigel M. (28 January 2016). "The Guardian - 4-Star Review for Frank & Lola". The Guardian. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
- ^ "Universal Lands 'Frank And Lola' For $2M+ – Sundance". Deadline. 30 January 2016. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- ^ Nolfi, Joey (October 20, 2016). "Michael Shannon falls for a femme fatale in smoldering Frank & Lola trailer — exclusive". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
- ^ "Nashville IMDb page". IMDb.
- ^ "Saban Films Snaps Up North American Rights To Keanu Reeves Crime Thriller 'Siberia' – Cannes". Deadline. 11 May 2018.
- ^ "Amazon's Junkman page". Amazon. Retrieved September 6, 2022.