Directed by SCA Alumnus Luke Greenfield
Written by Luke Greenfield and Nicholas Thomas
Produced by Simon Kinberg and Luke Greenfield

Starring Damon Wayans Jr., Jake Johnson, Rob Riggle, Nina Dobrev, James D'Arcy, & Andy Garcia

 

Followed by a Q&A with Luke Greenfield, moderated by screenwriter/SCA alumus Timothy Dowling.

About the Guests

LUKE GREENFIELD (Co-Writer, Director, Producer)

Luke is best known for writing (uncredited) and directing the film, “The Girl Next Door” starring Emile Hirsch, Paul Dano, Timothy Olyphant, Olivia Wilde and Elisha Cuthbert.

He began making movies at the age of 10 when his uncle gave him an old Super-8mm movie camera.  He was brought up on the films of Francis Coppola, Marty Brest, John Hughes, Oliver Stone, Milos Forman and of course, Steven Spielberg.  At age 13, Luke’s dream was to become a filmmaker. 

Luke's mother was concerned about this dream.  They didn't know anyone or anything about the movie industry. So without Luke's knowing, his mother wrote a passionate letter to Steven Spielberg, Luke’s filmmaking idol. In the letter she asked Spielberg if Luke had what it took and included two of Luke's high school short films.

Miraculously, the letter reached Steven Spielberg, and not only did he watch Luke's high school films, but he was so impressed, he wrote Luke a 2-page handwritten letter.

Spielberg encouraged Luke to continue making films and gave Luke some very telling advice about how to truly "reach" audiences. (Advice Luke claims he still uses today.) At the end of the letter Spielberg wrote: "Maybe someday our paths will cross - your raw beginnings are so similar to my own that I know you'll make it." His letter was the beginning of a story that would come full-circle years later.

Before Luke had graduated high school, he was accepted as an undergraduate to the USC School of Cinema-Television. There he made several student films including his undergrad 480 film, "Alive & Kicking," which won awards at many film festivals and Luke signed with his first agent, Jeff Robinov at ICM, at the age of 21.

In 1999, Luke co-wrote and directed the short film, "The Right Hook." Adam Sandler and producers, Todd Garner and Greg Silverman, saw an early cut of the short and gave Luke his first opportunity to direct a studio feature called "The Animal" starring Rob Schneider. It was also Luke's first experience to direct a film he didn't co-write or write the screenplay himself.

Immediately after "The Animal," Luke went back to co-writing and directing his own material with the edgy coming-of-age film, "The Girl Next Door."

With the success of “The Girl Next Door,” Luke's relationship with his childhood idol, Steven Spielberg, came full-circle. Spielberg happened to be a fan of “The Girl Next Door” and was surprised to discover Luke was the same kid he had written to 16 years earlier encouraging him to be a filmmaker.  The two finally sat down together and discussed Luke’s ultimate passion projects he’s always wanted to make.

Luke created his film & TV production company, WideAwake, Inc., which gave Luke his first foray into television.  He directed the critically acclaimed television pilot, "Aliens in America" for NBC/Universal Studios and produced the film,“Role Models,” for Universal Pictures.

After directing “Something Borrowed” for Warner Brothers, Luke went back to directing his own material with the action-comedy, “Let’s Be Cops,” a film he co-wrote, directed and produced at 20^th Century Fox.

TIMOTHY DOWLING (Screenwriter/SCA Alumnus/Moderator)

Timothy Dowling is a graduate of the School of Theatre at the University of Southern California. As an actor he was in the films: THE BEAUTICIAN AND THE BEAST, DR. BENNY and TERMINATOR 3. As a screenwriter he was named one of VARIETY'S TEN WRITERS TO WATCH and listed last year in FADE IN's TOP 100 PEOPLE IN Hollywood. He has written the films ROLE MODELS, JUST GO WITH IT, and THIS MEANS WAR. As well as the upcoming PIXELS directed by Chris Columbus and starring Adam Sandler, Peter Dinklage and Josh Gad. And ANOTHER MIDNIGHT RUN starring Robert De Niro. Timothy is also on the Board of the USC School of Cinematic Arts as well as being their representative on the USC Alumni Board of Governors.In 2012 he proudly donated a Urinal to the School that bears his name.

About the SCA Alumni Screening Series

The School of Cinematic Arts invites you to an exciting free screening series featuring a dynamic selection of new feature films by SCA alumni and faculty throughout the Fall 2013 semester. All screenings and events will be free of charge and open to the public, although we do ask for an electronic reservation for each screening, which can be made through the website for each individual screening. Many screenings will be overbooked to ensure that capacity is met in the theater. Some screenings will be run from digital sources.