New York firefighter Patrick Sullivan had no idea his seemingly idyllic life was about to go up in smoke – especially as the unwitting, second-hand recipient of advice from famed love expert and radio host Dr. Emma Lloyd. One day he is a happy, go-lucky guy looking forward to a life with his soon-to-be-bride. The next thing you know, his fiancée Sophia (Justina Machado) is seeking couples counseling on the radio from Dr. Lloyd. The no-nonsense, ever practical Dr. Lloyd questions Sophia’s concept of romantic love and advises her to break their engagement, which she swiftly does. But when Patrick and his computer-savvy neighbor decide to give Dr. Lloyd a taste of her own medicine and “accidentally” join them in holy matrimony – something that doesn’t go over too well with her fiancée (played by Colin Firth) -- it isn’t long before they learn that sometimes even an expert in love needs a second opinion…Radio sensation Dr. Emma Lloyd (Uma Thurman) and her publisher/fiancé Michael (Colin Firth) thought getting a license to wed in New York would be easier than getting a driver’s license. After all, there’s no tests -- written or blood – they were both over 18, and they weren’t related. All they needed to do was show up together at city hall, fork over the fee, and be done with it. Right? Wrong – Emma’s already married! Oops. Can someone accidentally forget they have a husband? Certainly not the perfectly practical, never-make-a-misstep Dr. Emma Lloyd, a.k.a. "The Love Doctor." Certainly not New York’s very own guru of relationships, and author of the hot self-help book, R.E.A.L Love. But when Emma carelessly dispenses some of her "chicken soup for the heart" over the Big Apple’s airwaves, and a faithful listener takes her advice, Fireman Patrick Sullivan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) suddenly has his love life extinguished. Now Patrick wants to get even, and after reading about the good doctor’s impending nuptials in the newspaper, he puts together the perfect recipe for sweet revenge: Just take one know-it-all talk show host, one angry New York City fireman, one computer whiz who can hack into city hall, and presto! Emma can’t get married because she already is . . . to Patrick! Full of plenty of passion and lots of sparks, The Accidental Husband movie proves that a wild fiery love will snuff out a dull steady flame in a New York minute. Featuring a red hot supporting cast that includes Sam Shepard and Isabella Rossellini, this fun romantic comedy movie is a heartfelt love letter to Manhattan and a tribute to romance everywhere!
"DYING IS EASY; COMEDY IS HARD"Attributed to celebrities all over the world, the famous last words of British actor and director Sir Donald Wolfit on his deathbed rang true for The Accidental Husband director Griffin Dunne. "Comedy is definitely a challenge for both director and actor," admits the Oscar®-nominated director of the The Duke of Groove. "It’s a lot of work to make it look easy and not forced, but I was lucky enough to work with an amazing cast that made my job not just easier but a lot of fun." Wanting to break into the challenging genre of comedy, the Academy Award® nominee of Pulp Fiction, Uma Thurman, knew from the second she read The Accidental Husband that finding a role so perfectly meant for her was no accident. A cross between Katherine Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story and Lucille Ball in "The Marriage License" episode, the character of Emma calls for a top drawer comedienne who can play both romantic and slapstick comedy. Thurman jumped at the chance not only to play Emma, but also to produce the film. It all began, ten years ago when Thurman's agent brought her a romantic comedy by two unknown writers, Mimi Hare and Clare Naylor. Instantly, Thurman was impressed and decided it was the perfect vehicle to introduce her to the world of producing and prove to audiences her capabilities as a comedic actress. "I loved everything about the script – from the title, to the set up of the plot, to the dialogue," remembers Thurman. "Everyone has always told me that I come across so serious, so when I read this script, I saw it as the perfect way to express my sense of humor. It was clear from the first read that I could have a lot of fun with Emma." So began Thurman’s first project as a producer and her introduction to development. Instantly she took to the creative process of the writing and rewriting. “I found that I just love sitting around a table discussing scenes and dialogue," remembers Thurman. "It was wonderful being able to contribute to something you will later be creating." Also known for such films as the Kill Bill series, The Producers and Prime, Thurman also said she was drawn to the film because of its 30s and 40s romantic comedy style as well as its innovative theme – finding true love literally by accident. "Emma is at the height of her career and she’s about to be married to a great guy. She thinks she has it all and then this ‘accidental husband’ sort of comes in and wrecks everything. It’s a great concept. I mean, here's this woman who has all the answers to her life, not to mention everyone else’s, who gets completely thrown when something unpredictable happens," laughs Thurman. "I just love the vulnerability of someone who thinks she knows everything and then gets taught the lesson of her life. And I could completely relate to her – super successful, sure of herself in practically every way, and clueless at the same time!" After reading the screenplay, Dunne was reminded of the 1938 classic comedy Bringing Up Baby, and just like nobody but Katherine Hepburn could star in that film, he couldn’t see anyone else but Thurman starring in The Accidental Husband. "Uma is such a straight, almost foreboding beauty on screen, but people don’t realize what a great sense of humor she has," says Dunne. "The idea of taking that incredibly elegant woman and pushing her down a flight of stairs, throwing a pie in her face or placing her into a wild situation like an Indian Bar Mitzvah is just priceless fun." Producer Jennifer Todd, having spent time with Thurman socially and worked with her on Prime, adds that she could see no one else as the lead in the film.
"The Accidental Husband is sort of a Carol Lombard screwball comedy," says Todd. "Just like Lombard embodied the characters in all her movies, so does Uma embody Emma Lloyd – a successful beautiful woman perfectly in control of her perfect life." Thurman agrees, adding that it’s the misadventures surrounding Emma’s "fall from grace" that makes her so much fun to play and makes the lessons about love that she learns so valuable. "I remember thinking here is a film not just about love but also about true happiness," recalls Thurman. "It’s a theme that everyone can relate to because who hasn’t spent hours talking about love and relationships, wondering how to get it right and what it all means? I think we all want to know how to be happy and making that the comedic hook of this film was just brilliant." Colin Firth, who portrays Emma’s staid, perfectly put together fiancé and publisher of her book R.E.A.L. Love, concurs: "There’s an old adage about comedy being a more serious business than drama, and in this film it really rings true. It was a delicate balance making my character likeable and funny, but working with Uma and Griffin, it was really a rewarding process." Known for playing a diverse range of characters in such films as Bridget Jones’ Diary, Love Actually, and Pride and Prejudice, Firth adds that comedic roles are certainly the most challenging. "There’s no question," he says, "it’s definitely harder to make people laugh." On working with Thurman and Dunne, Firth says that he hadn’t been looking for a romantic comedy, but the script was so good and with those two attached, it would have been inconceivable for him to say no. "Uma blew me away completely. She is amazingly energizing to be around on the set and because she’s so clever and so alive, she really keeps you on your toes," remembers Firth. "And Griffin has long been one of my favorite actors in terms of comedic performances, like An American Werewolf in London and After Hours. In fact, he’s somebody I’ve been trying to imitate for years. Now he’s become one of my favorite directors, especially for a comedy like this. Every actor will tell you, being directed by an actor who knows the game makes for a wonderful experience all around." Thurman couldn’t agree more. She saw Dunne as the perfect director from the moment she decided to produce The Accidental Husband. After fine tuning the script for several years, she finally brought it to Dunne, a friend with whom she'd always wanted to work and someone who she saw as a great raconteur of stories and relationships. "Griffin is incredibly funny and a great storyteller," says Thurman. "He knows how to bring relationships to life and he really picks up on all the subtleties and nuances of comedy." Producers Jason Blum and Jennifer Todd were delighted with the choice of Dunne to direct as well. And they couldn’t have been happier with Thurman in the lead role. "I loved the idea of Uma playing a character whose perfect life gets thrown a curve ball," says Blum. "As for Griffin’s directorial work – well, the performances speak for themselves. Everyone did an incredible job." Todd agreed, adding that she was particularly drawn to the project because of its theme and clever premise. "The set up for the film – the mix up with Emma’s marriage license – is not only a strong and funny dynamic for the actors but you can actually believe this would happen," says Todd. "In fact, when we researched the film and spoke to City Hall, we learned that this had actually happened on more than one occasion!" With two strong stars, a hands-on, well-suited director, and a team of capable producers on board a brilliantly conceived romantic comedy, what was left to make The Accidental Husband the break out film it was meant to be? Finding the perfect break out star who’s as hot as a New York City Fireman.
For a romantic comedy to work, the audience has to believe in the chemistry between the main players, but in the case of The Accidental Husband, there were three: Emma and Richard . . . and the man who comes between them. Enter NYC Fireman Patrick Thomas Sullivan. "There are only a few guys around who look like they can put out fires and get in street fights and be incredibly charming," says Dunne. "Finding Jeffery Dean Morgan wasn’t an accident, it was a miracle." It happened when Dunne saw Morgan on an episode of Grey's Anatomy. "He was playing the recurring role of Denny, a heart disease patient, and he was just lying in bed dying most of the time he was on screen," recalls Dunne. "But the guy literally ran away with the show for ten straight episodes and I was completely glued to him." It turns out that Dunne wasn’t alone. After doing a little research on the actor, Dunne discovered that millions of women all over the world had fallen in love with "Denny" and in the process, with Jeffrey Dean Morgan. "In an instant, I knew he was our accidental husband," says Dunne, "and we got him a script." Morgan read it and had only one question: "What do I have to do to get into this movie?" He flew to New York to read with Thurman, and the chemistry between them was undeniable. The role was his. "I felt like the luckiest guy in the world," says Morgan, the up-and-coming star who's next film is opposite Hillary Swank in P.S., I Love You. "Working with Uma was amazing, and though I was nervous to work with a pro like Colin, once we hung out I found him to be a genuine guy, and very funny. I only hoped I could keep up with him." Portraying a blue collar, fun-loving, all-American fireman who plays soccer, shoots pool and drinks beer, Morgan literally embodied the role. Still, in order to truly become Patrick, he moved to New York and spent six weeks hanging out with the New York fire department and their soccer team researching his role. "It was a great experience hanging out with those guys and I learned a lot," says Morgan. "Now I’ve got an even greater respect for them than I did before." As for the soccer, Morgan had a different view. On the third take of the first day he pulled a groin muscle and a few weeks later when he was supposed to kick a goal he ended up flat on his face. "I’ve played a lot of sport in my life, but I have to admit it’s been 20 years since I’ve picked up a ball," laughs the good-natured Morgan. "Having played soccer once in my life, I will say this: I will never play it again." Moviegoers who see him in The Accidental Husband, however, will think Morgan was not just a good soccer player, but also the break out star of the film.
When a film already has the likes of Uma Thurman, Colin Firth and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, having a supporting cast with Academy Award nominee ® Sam Shepard of The Right Stuff and the elegant Isabella Rossellini of Blue Velvet, is icing on the cake. Being able to direct these two superstars was a dream come true for Dunne. "Sam was one of the reasons I moved to New York to be an actor," reveals Dunne. "I can’t believe that I had the opportunity to direct a man I have been in awe of for so long. It was a little daunting, but Sam is a great guy and so relaxed around the set he makes the job easy. He’s also very serious about acting and about comedy. "It’s all about rhythm," says Shepard, who plays Wilder, Emma's not-so-predictable father. "A joke won’t come off if the rhythm isn’t right. Griffin did I fine job of making the entire pace of this film work." As for working with Rossellini, Dunne remembers he wanted someone European and elegantly gleeful, an eclectic combination he found the actress had in spades. "I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed working with Isabella. She has a great twinkle and energy and plays the role perfectly particularly in the cake eating sequence," says Dunne. "It became one of my favorite scenes in the film because of her wonderful performance." Thurman agrees that some of her favorite scenes were with Rossellini, an actress she has admired all of her life. "Isabella lived up to all of my expectations," remembers Thurman. "When she walks on to a set her presence is as immense as her grace and class. She completely exudes it." Rossellini was delighted to come on board. "I love comedy and I don’t get to do much of it, and though it’s easier for me to make people cry than to make them laugh, working with this wonderful cast and director, I had great fun." The veteran actress remembers watching Dunne at work with a quizzical smile. "Griffin was so charming and very amusing," recalls Rossellini. "You need that on a set when you want to be funny. I used to watch him at the monitor and he would say every line and make the most incredible faces during the takes. I think he acts out every role in his head." Dunne laughs at this observation. "I take each actor’s performance very personally. I am under the delusion that if I can act out and deliver all of their lines, each actor will squeeze out that much more of a performance." Judging from the way each actor brings his or her character alive on screen in The Accidental Husband, it will be no accident if the film is a runaway winner with audiences everywhere. Dunne believes that is part due to his director of cinematography William Rexter and his production designer Mark Ricker, a team he worked with on his last two films, Lisa Picard is Famous and Fierce People. "William gives me so much great footage that I never get into an editing room and wish I had a shot of something, and Mark consistently gives my films a look like I’m working with a huge budget," says Dunne. "I’m grateful to them as well as to everyone concerned with this film. They all wanted to capture the same energy and spark that was in the script and it’s everyone’s collective spirit and effort that is at the heart of this film."
UMA THURMAN (Dr. Emma Lloyd) was discovered at the age of 15, but it was her role as ‘Venus’ in Terry Gilliam’s The Adventures of Baron Munchausen that brought her international attention. Not long after she received critical acclaim for her role in Stephen Frears’ Dangerous Liasons, opposite John Malkovich. This was followed with Philip Kaufman’s Henry and June, the comedy Where The Heart Is, directed by John Boorman and Phil Joanou’s thriller Final Analysis opposite Richard Gere. Later, Thurman reunited with Malkovich in the thriller Jennifer 8. She followed this with Mad Dog and Glory opposite Robert De Niro and Gus Van Sant’s, Even Cowgirls Get The Blues.
Thurman’s role in Quentin Tarantino’s critically lauded Pulp Fiction earned her an Academy Award® nomination in 1996. Later that year, she was featured in A Month By The Lake, with Vanessa Redgrave and Beautiful Girls directed by Ted Demme. Thurman next appeared in The Truth About Cats and Dogs, Batman and Robin, Gattacca opposite Ethan Hawke, Les Miserables with Liam Neeson and The Avengers. In the spring of 1999, she made her stage debut in an updated version of Moliere’s The Misanthrope at the Classic Stage Company in New York.
Thurman’s other works include Sweet and Lowdown, The Golden Bowl, Paycheck and Tape, for which she was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award as Best Supporting Actress. She later won the 2003 Golden Globe for Best Actress and was nominated for a SAG award for her portrayal of Debby Miller in the HBO film Hysterical Blindness, which she also produced.
For Quentin Tarantino, Thurman starred in Kill Bill: Volume 1 and Kill Bill: Volume 2, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe. Next she was seen in Be Cool opposite John Travolta, a sequel to the hit Get Shorty. She followed this with a starring role opposite Meryl Streep in Prime and in Mel Brooks’ critically acclaimed film, The Producers with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick.
More recently, Thurman starred in My Super Ex-Girlfriend, opposite Luke Wilson. She will next be seen in the film, In Bloom, costarring Evan Rachel Wood, which premiered at the 2007 Toronto Film Festival. Earlier in the year, Thurman wrapped filming on My Zinc Bed, based on the play by David Hare.
JEFFREY DEAN MORGAN (Patrick) has, over the past year, emerged as one of the busiest and most sought-after actors in the industry. He is currently in production on writer/director Zack Snyder's film adaptation of the iconic graphic novel Watchmen. Morgan stars as Comedian, a Vietnam vet who is a member of a group of heroes called the Minutemen. He also has a starring role opposite Hilary Swank in the film adaptation of Cecilia Ahern's best-selling novel, P.S. I Love You, directed by Richard LaGravenese and scheduled for release December 2007. Recently, Morgan made a cameo appearance opposite Rachel Weisz in the Warner Bros. holiday comedy feature Fred Claus. He has also starred in a number of independent features, most recently Kabluey, with Lisa Kudrow, which premiered at the 2007 Los Angeles Film Festival; and Live!, with Eva Mendes, which premiered at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival. Morgan first gained the attention of television audiences with his recurring role on ABC's smash hit drama series Grey's Anatomy. His dramatic arc as heart patient Denny Duquette, who wins the heart of intern Izzie Stevens, made him an unqualified fan favorite. His additional television credits include recurring roles on the CW's drama series Supernatural and Showtime's award-winning comedy series Weeds.
COLIN FIRTH (Richard) is a classically trained British theater actor, and a veteran of film, television and stage. Firth recently wrapped production on Universal Pictures’ Mamma Mia, a film adaptation of the ABBA musical. The cast includes Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Stellan Skarsgard. He also wrapped production on Genova, a horror mystery story directed by Michael Winterbottom and co-starring Catherine Keener. Firth recently completed production on the independent film Then She Found Me, directed by and starring Helen Hunt. The cast includes Bette Midler and Matthew Broderick and premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. Firth will soon be seen opposite Jim Broadbent in the independent film And When Did You Last See Your Father. Directed by Anand Tucker, the film is based on the best selling memoir by Blake Morrison. In 2005, Firth appeared in the film Nanny McPhee written by and also starring Emma Thompson. He also appeared in Atom Egoyan’s controversial film Where the Truth Lies opposite Kevin Bacon. The film screened in competition at the 2005 Cannes International Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival. In 2004, Firth starred in the Universal/Working Title hit comedy Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. The film broke numerous box office records internationally and grossed over $250 million worldwide. Not long after he appeared in the film Love Actually, which then broke box office records as the highest grossing British romantic comedy opening of all time in the UK and Ireland. Also in that year, Firth appeared in the critically-acclaimed Lions Gate film Girl With A Pearl Earring opposite Scarlett Johanssen, earning him a nomination for a European Film Award. Other notable credits include The Importance of Being Earnest opposite Reese Witherspoon, the Academy Award® nominated film Shakespeare In Love directed by John Madden and the multi-Oscar® nominated film, The English Patient. For television, Firth is infamous for his breakout role in 1995, when he played Mr. Darcy in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice for which he received a BAFTA nomination for Best Actor. Firth’s latest television appearance was in 2006 in the critically-acclaimed BBC television movie Born Equal. He was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2001 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in the critically acclaimed HBO film Conspiracy and has also received the Royal Television Society Best Actor Award and a BAFTA nomination for his work in Tumbledown. Firth's London stage debut was in the West End production of Another Country playing Bennett.
SAM SHEPARD (Wilder) is an actor, screenwriter, director and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright for his 1979 three-act play Buried Child. Shepard’s numerous other plays have included Angel City, Curse of the Starving Class, Killer’s Head, The Mad Dog Blues, Cowboy Mouth, The Rock Garden, True West, The God of Hell, and Fool of Love. In 1970 Shepard co-wrote Michelangelo Antonioni’s Zabriski Point and later won critical acclaim for his original screenplay of Wim Wenders’ Paris, Texas. As an actor, Shepard made his film debut in Bob Dylan’s Renaldo and Clara, impressing critics the same year as the star, alongside Richard Gere, in Terrence Malick’s Days of Heaven. A number of strong appearances followed, including Resurrection, Raggedy Man, opposite Jessica Lange in Frances and Philip Kaufman’s The Right Stuff, which brought him an Academy Award® nomination. Shepard then re-teamed with Lange in Country and Crime of the Heart, and played the lead in Robert Altman’s adaptation of his play Fool for Love. Shepard's other notable film credits include Baby Boom, Steel Magnolias, Defenseless, Thunderheart, Bright Angel, Voyager, The Pelican Brief, Snow Falling on Cedars, Hamlet, All The Pretty Horses, The Pledge, Swordfish, Black Hawk Down, The Notebook, Stealth, Bandidas, and Don’t Come Knocking. His notable television films and miniseries have included Larry Mc Murtry’s Streets of Laredo, Lily Dale, Purgatory, Dash and Lilly (which brought him both Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for his performance as writer Dashiell Hammett), One Kill, Wild Geese, and Ruffian. As a director, Shepard was at the helm of the features Far North and Silent Tongue, both of which he also wrote. Most recently Shepard was seen in The Assassination of Jesse James by The Coward Robert Ford opposite Brad Pitt. He will soon be seen in The Return and Walker Payne.
ISABELLA ROSSELLINI (Mrs. Bollenbecker) grew up in Paris and Rome. At the age of 19, she moved to New York, where she became a translator and later a reporter for RAI-Italian Television. Her popular segments led to appearances as the New York correspondent for the weekly Italian comedy show The Other Sunday, with Roberto Benigni. At 28, Rossellini was discovered by Bruce Weber and photographed for British Vogue. A modeling career followed, during which Rossellini worked with the industry's most distinguished photographers including Richard Avedon, Steven Meisel, Helmut Newton and Peter Lindbergh. She appeared on the cover of Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Bazaar and Vanity Fair and in 1988, an exhibition of her photographs titled "Portrait of a Woman," was held at the Museum of Modern Art in Paris. Rossellini made her cinematic debut in 1979 in Paolo and Vittorio Taviani's Il Prato (The Meadow). Her American film debut was opposite Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines in Taylor Hackford's White Nights. In 1986, she starred opposite Dennis Hopper as ‘Dorothy Vallens’, the tortured lounge singer, in David Lynch's haunting and controversial Blue Velvet. Recently, she starred in the short film directed by Guy Maddin, My Dad Is 100 Years Old, about her father Roberto Rossellini, which she also wrote and produced. Rossellini and Maddin worked together previously on The Saddest Music in the World. Rossellini's most recent film credits include The Architect, Luis Llosa's screen adaptation of Mario Vargas LLosa's novel The Feast of The Goat and Doug McGrath's Infamous. She will next be seen in Two Lovers with Gwyneth Paltrow and Joaquin Phoenix.
LINDSAY SLOANE (Marcy) is an actress with remarkable talent and poise, who has built an impressive list of credits in film and television. She will next star in Jake Kasdan's independent satire film The TV Set opposite David Duchovny and Sigourney Weaver. The story follows the making of a television pilot at PANDA Network with Sloane playing the actress starring in Duchovny’s pilot. Sloane will also star in Jeff Lowell's How I Met My Boyfriend’s Dead Fiancé opposite Paul Rudd and Eva Longoria. Sloane stars as Chloe, the sister to Paul Rudd's character. Sloane made an impression on critics as ‘Big Red,’ the drill sergeant of a cheer captain in Peyton Reed's hit Universal comedy Bring It On opposite Kirsten Dunst. Additionally, she starred in Andrew Flemming's The In-Laws opposite Michael Douglas, Albert Brooks and Ryan Reynolds. Sloane began her acting career on ABC's hugely successful The Wonder Years opposite Fred Savage. She then starred on the NBC sitcom Mr. Rhodes. Her performance garnered her a Young Artist of the Year nomination for best supporting actress. Following her one-year stint on Mr. Rhodes she starred as a series regular on ABC's Friday night hit Sabrina The Teenage Witch. Shortly after she starred as the lead in the WB Network show-within-a-show Grosse Pointe a spoof of Beverly Hills 90210.
JUSTINA MACHADO (Sophia) began her career on the stage with performances at the Latino Chicago Theatre. She went on to appear in Blade to the Heat and Black Butterfly at the Los Angeles’ renowned Mark Taper Forum. For television, Machado has been featured in ER and had guest appearances on Ghost Whisperer, Cold Case, Grey’s Anatomy and Ugly Betty, among others. She also starred in the pilot I Love Lupe for CastleRock. Recently, she starred in HBO’s critically acclaimed, award-winning series Six Feet Under. Soon after, she starred in the NBC comedy Alpha Mom. She also stars in the upcoming ABC thriller Fatal Contact opposite Joely Richardson. On the stage, Machado recently starred in the musical version of the Mambo Kings at the Golden Gate Theatre in San Francisco, for which she received rave reviews. In film, she has had supporting roles in Steven Soderbergh’s groundbreaking film Full Frontal and in Nick Cassavetes’ She’s So Lovely alongside Robin Wright Penn and James Gandolfini. Her most recent film credits include Final Destination 2 and Torque opposite Ice Cube. She will next be seen in Bertrand Tavernier's In The Electric Mist opposite Tommy Lee Jones.
AJAY NAIDU (Deep) A graduate of the American Repertory Theatre’s Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University, Naidu performed extensively with their resident company before moving to New York where Naidu has appeared in such features as the cult hit SuBurbia, for which he received an Independent Spirit Award nomination, Once We Were Strangers, Office Space, Requiem for a Dream, Hannibal, The Guru, Justice, Bad Santa, Scary Movie 3, The Honeymooners, Perception, Waterborne, and the upcoming films Stream, Hotel For Dogs, Lions of Punjab Presents, Righteous Kill, The Golden Door, and Ashes, which he wrote, produced and directed. Naidu’s television credits include roles on The Sopranos, The West Wing, Lateline, and Monk.
GRIFFIN DUNNE (Director) is an accomplished actor and producer who quickly established himself as a director with the short film Duke of Groove, for which he received an Academy Award® nomination. His feature directorial debut was Addicted to Love, starring Meg Ryan and Matthew Broderick. He then went on to direct Practical Magic starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. Dunne’s latest directorial project was the touching and poignant coming-of-age drama Fierce People starring Diane Lane and Donald Sutherland. Lions Gate released the film in the fall of 2007. Most recently he appeared on the big screen in Game 6 opposite Robert Downey Jr. and Michael Keaton, a film that he also produced. Currently he is in development to direct The Position based on the novel of the same name, set to shoot during the summer of 2008. Dunne’s career began when he moved to New York City to study acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse. Not long after he appeared on Broadway in Search and Destroy, written by Howard Korder. For his work in theatre, Dunne has received a Theater World Award as well as a nomination for a Drama Desk Award. He segued into film as a producer and actor on the drama Chilly Scenes of Winter for United Artists. That led to starring roles in An American Werewolf in London, directed by John Landis, Johnny Dangerously with Michael Keaton, and most notably After Hours, directed by Martin Scorsese, which Dunne also produced and received a Golden Globe nomination. Dunne's other producing credits include, Baby It’s You directed by John Sayles, and Running On Empty, which starred River Phoenix. That film was nominated for two Academy Awards®. Dunne’s next two productions were White Palace, starring Susan Sarandon and James Spader, directed by Luis Mandoki, and Once Around, starring Richard Dreyfuss and Holly Hunter, directed by Lasse Hallstrom. For his career in television, Dunne received an Emmy nomination for a guest star appearance on the show Frasier and has been nominated for two Ace Awards for his work on HBO and Showtime. Dunne will next be seen in David Gordon Green’s Snow Angels with Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier in 20007 and is slated for a February 2008 release.
SUZANNE & JENNIFER TODD (Producers) co-founded their production company Team Todd in 1997, and they are currently based at Sony Pictures Entertainment. Together they have produced over a dozen movies for both film and television, garnering both critical and commercial success. They have just earned a Golden Globe nomination for their latest film, Across the Universe, an original musical featuring the music of the Beatles which opened in September of 2007. Their other productions include the highly acclaimed films Memento and Boiler Room, as well as all three of the Austin Powers films, which together grossed over half a billion dollars worldwide. Suzanne and Jennifer won the Independent Spirit Award for best feature for Memento, which also won Christopher Nolan best screenwriter and director awards. The film was also nominated for the AFI Movie of the year, and was nominated for both an Oscar and a Golden Globe for its screenplay. For their HBO film “If These Walls Could Talk 2” the Todd’s garnered an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Made for Television Movie, as well as a nomination for the Television Producer of the Year Award in Longform by the Producers Guild of America. Suzanne and Jennifer were also awarded the prestigious Lucy Award from Women in Film, an award given to women who have helped expand the role of women in the entertainment industry. The Todd’s credits include Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, and Austin Powers In Goldmember all starring Mike Myers and directed by Jay Roach. The three highly successful films make up one of the most successful comedy franchises in film history. They also produced Boiler Room, the gritty Wall Street drama starring Giovanni Ribisi and Ben Affleck, which was nominated for Best Feature and Best First Screenplay at the Independent Spirit Awards, as well as the two very successful romantic comedies, Must Love Dogs starring John Cusack and Diane Lane, and Prime starring Meryl Streep and Uma Thurman. In addition to Across the Universe, Team Todd also had the romantic comedy Ira and Abby open in September of 2007 starring Chris Messina and Jennifer Westfeldt. The film won best feature at the 2007 HBO Comedy Arts Festival and was released by Magnolia Pictures. Next up the Todd’s are producing Alice in Wonderland for director Tim Burton. The film is slated to begin shooting in London in the fall of 2008.
JASON BLUM (Producer) is the founder of Blumhouse Productions. In 2005 Blumhouse signed a three-year, first look deal with Paramount Pictures. Prior to that, the company had a producing deal with HBO Pictures. From 1995 to 2000, Blum served as co-head of the Acquisitions and Co-Productions department at Miramax Films in New York. While there, he was instrumental in acquiring such films as The Others, Smoke Signals, A Walk on the Moon, Happy Texas and The House of Yes, among others. Blum's feature credits as producer include The Darwin Awards, starring Winona Ryder and Joseph Fiennes, The Fever starring Vanessa Redgrave, Agelina Jolie, Michael Moore and Jolie Richardson, Hysterical Blindness, starring Uma Thurman, Gena Rowlands and Juliette Lewis, which aired on HBO and garnered Thurman a Golden Globe Award, Hamlet starring Ethan Hawke, Bill Murray, Sam Shepard and Kyle MacLachlan and Alexandra Shiva's documentary Stagedoor.
UMA THURMAN (Producer) was discovered at the age of 15, but it was her role as ‘Venus’ in Terry Gilliam’s The Adventures of Baron Munchausen that brought her international attention. Not long after she received critical acclaim for her role in Stephen Frears’ Dangerous Liasons, opposite John Malkovich. This was followed with Philip Kaufman’s Henry and June, the comedy Where The Heart Is, directed by John Boorman and Phil Joanou’s thriller Final Analysis opposite Richard Gere. Later, Thurman reunited with Malkovich in the thriller Jennifer 8. She followed this with Mad Dog and Glory opposite Robert De Niro and Gus Van Sant’s, Even Cowgirls Get The Blues. Thurman’s role in Quentin Tarantino’s critically lauded Pulp Fiction earned her an Academy Award® nomination in 1996. Later that year, she was featured in A Month By The Lake, with Vanessa Redgrave and Beautiful Girls directed by Ted Demme. Thurman next appeared in The Truth About Cats and Dogs, Batman and Robin, Gattacca opposite Ethan Hawke, Les Miserables with Liam Neeson and The Avengers. In the spring of 1999, she made her stage debut in an updated version of Moliere’s The Misanthrope at the Classic Stage Company in New York. Thurman’s other works include Sweet and Lowdown, The Golden Bowl, Paycheck and Tape, for which she was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award as Best Supporting Actress. She later won the 2003 Golden Globe for Best Actress and was nominated for a SAG award for her portrayal of Debby Miller in the HBO film Hysterical Blindness, which she also produced. For Quentin Tarantino, Thurman starred in Kill Bill: Volume 1 and Kill Bill: Volume 2, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe. Next she was seen in Be Cool opposite John Travolta, a sequel to the hit Get Shorty. She followed this with a starring role opposite Meryl Streep in Prime and in Mel Brooks’ critically acclaimed film, The Producers with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick. More recently, Thurman starred in My Super Ex-Girlfriend, opposite Luke Wilson. She will next be seen in the film, In Bloom, costarring Evan Rachel Wood, which premiered at the 2007 Toronto Film Festival. Earlier in the year, Thurman wrapped filming on My Zinc Bed, based on the play by David Hare.
BOB YARI (Producer) is the founder and president of Yari Film Group, one of Hollywood’s fastest growing independent studios with an annual production and release budget of over $300 million and a yearly slate of 10-15 films. In addition to his work with YFG, Bob also produces films as an individual producer. Yari began his career in Hollywood after receiving a degree for Motion Picture in Cinematography. After working for several years as a Producer and Director, Bob concentrated his efforts in the real estate industry. His real estate ventures have included syndication, construction, and development of office towers, malls and residential complexes. Yari also is an owner and board member of the Mexmil Companies, an aerospace manufacturing group with over 1,000 employees worldwide. Yari has produced over 35 features including Crash, which won the Oscar® for Best Picture. He also produced The Illusionist, which was one of the top grossing independent films of 2006. In addition to The Accidental Husband, the upcoming titles for the Yari Film Group include: Killing Pablo, the story of the life and death of Cocaine Kingpin Pablo Escobar and The Sophomore, a high school film noir with Bruce Willis.
ANTHONY KATAGAS (Executive Producer) has worked in production on over 20 primarily New York-based independent films including: 54 (Miramax), Michael Alemereyda's Hamlet 2000 (Miramax) Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation (Focus Features), Jay Anania's Long Time Since, Denys Arcand's Stardom (Alliance Atlantis) and the Robert Evans documentary The Kid Stays In The Picture (USA Films). In 1999, Katagas formed Keep Your Head Productions, committed to the development, and production of home-grown New York films. Through Keep Your Head Katagas has produced three films by visionary filmmaker Michael Almereyda: Happy Here and Now (IFC films 2001), This So-Called Disaster (IFC Films 2002), William Eggleston in the Real World (Palm Pictures 2005). Keep Your Head also produced Blackbird by Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright Adam Rapp (2007), Second Best (ThinkFilm 2004), and Homework (2004). Next up for Keep Your Head is The Ostrich Incident from writer Glenn Gers (Fracture, Mad Money). Katagas was nominated for an IFP Independent Spirit award in 2004, honoring filmmakers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity, and vision required to produce high-quality independent film. Additionally he was a co-producer on Lee Davis' 3 A.M. (Showtime 2001), Ray Mckinnon's Chrystal (First Look 2004), Adam Rapp's Winter Passing (Focus 2004), and Ben Younger's Prime (Universal 2005). Katagas has executive-produced Lasse Hallström's The Hoax (Miramax 2006), James Gray's We Own the Night (2929 Productions/Columbia Pictures 2007), and Roger Kumble's College Road Trip (Walt Disney Studios 2008). Katagas has recently produced Vadim Perlman's In Bloom (Magnolia Pictures 2007) and is in production on James Gray's Two Lovers (2929 Productions 2008).
BONNIE SIKOWITZ (Screenwriter) is originally from New York and currently resides in Los Angeles. Prior to becoming a writer she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and received a Master's degree in English from Columbia. For television she has written for the series Spin City, Scrubs and Dawson's Creek. Her first motion picture credit was Must Love Dogs, a romantic comedy starring Diane Lane and John Cusack. The Accidental Husband is her first collaboration with Griffin Dunne. WILLIAM REXER II (Director of Photography) has a career that spans commercials, music videos, television, documentary and film. His feature credits include Lisa Picard is Famous and Fierce People, both for Griffin Dunne, Prime starring Uma Thurman, Purple Violets and The Groomsmen, both for director Ed Burns and Chris Rock's I Think I Love My Wife. For documentary, Rexer has filmed Fahrenheit 911 for Michael Moore and Miramax, Belly Talkers and more recently The Devil Came in on Horseback for HBO Films. For television Rexer's credits include Lost, Always There and Nickellennium among others.
MARK RICKER (Production Designer) has an MFA in Scenic and Production Design from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. He began his career as an art director, contributing to the designs of Montana, A Brooklyn State of Mind, Hallmark’s Prince Charming, and Dan Sullivan’s film adaptation of The Substance of Fire. Additional film credits as art director include Catch Me If You Can, The Shipping News, Far From Heaven, Kate and Leopold, The Thomas Crowne Affair, Big Daddy, The Out-Of Towners, The Last of The Mohicans, Once Around and Passion Fish. Ricker’s film credits as a production designer include Rebecca Miller’s The Ballad of Jack and Rose starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Catherine Keener; Sunshine State for John Sayles; Jill Sprecher’s Thirteen Conversations about One Thing and Fever for Alex Winter, among others. Most recently, Ricker designed The Nanny Diaries for The Weinstein Company, directed by Shari Springer Berman and Bob Pulcini, The Hoax, directed by Lasse Hallstrom, and Ben Younger’s Prime starring Uma Thurman and Meryl Streep. Ricker first collaborated with director Griffin Dunne on Lisa Picard is Famous. They followed this with his most recent film Fierce People.
SUZY ELMIGER, A.C.E (Editor) made super 8 films with friends before working at CBS Television where she was trained as an Assistant Editor in the News department. After CBS, she spent the next five years editing documentaries before crossing over into feature films. Elmiger’s first big break came when she was introduced to Robert Altman working as a Second Editor on Short Cuts. She followed this with Pret-A-Porter. Not long after, she met Campbell Scott and they worked together on Mrs. Parker and The Vicious Circle, Afterglow and Breakfast of Champions. Through Scott she met Stanley Tucci and went on to edit Big Night, The Imposters and Joe Gould’s Secret. Elmiger’s more recent film credits include Heaven’s Fall for Terry Green, Spinning Into Butter for Mark Brokaw and Feel The Noise for director Alejandro Chomski.