Wikipedia

Sam Irvin

For United States senator, seeSam Ervin.

Sam Irvin(born June 14, 1956) is an Americanfilm[1]andtelevision director,producer, screenwriter,[2]actor, author and film teacher.

Sam Irvin
Sam Irvin head shot
Sam Irvin in 2012
Born(1956-06-14)June 14, 1956(age 68)
Asheville, North Carolina
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Film director,producer,screenwriter,actor

Irvin's directing credits includeGuilty as Charged,Oblivion,Elvira's Haunted Hills,and all the episodes of two television series:Dante's CoveandFrom Here on OUT.His other credits include co-executive producer of Bill Condon's Academy Award-winnerGods and Monsters;associate producer of Brian De Palma'sHome Movies;and historical consultant on the Tony Award-winnerLiza's at the Palace.Irvin authored the acclaimed biographyKay Thompson: From Funny Face to Eloise(Simon & Schuster), the children's book parodySam's Toilet Paper Caper!(Knuckle Samwitch Books), and the novelORBGASM: An Erotic Pulp Sci-Fi Satyricon(Knuckle Samwitch Books). Irvin has won two Rondo Awards for Best Article of the Year ( "The Epic Saga BehindFrankenstein: The True Story"published inLittle Shoppe of Horrorsmagazine #38) and Best Interview of the Year ( "Elvira Exposed!" published inScreemmagazine #36). Between projects, Irvin taught graduate courses on directing at theUniversity of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts.

Career

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Samuel Lowe Irvin, Jr. was born June 14, 1956,[3][4][5]in Asheville, North Carolina.[5]His grandfather, Warren Irvin, was the district manager for Wilby-Kincey Theaters, a chain of cinemas throughout the southeastern United States. His father, Sam Irvin Sr., co-owned Irvin-Fuller Theaters, a competing chain with cinemas in both North andSouth Carolina.Irvin worked in these theaters in his youth. Later, during his college years, he worked for Irvin-Fuller Theaters as its Advertising and Publicity Manager.[citation needed]

As a teenager, Irvin edited and published two issues of the fanzinePit(69-70), and four annual issues ofBizarre(1972–1975), a fanzine on fantasy, horror and science fiction films, for which he twice traveled to England to conduct in-person interviews, includingChristopher Lee,Peter Cushing,Vincent Price,Diana Rigg,Jane Seymour,Joan Collins,Terence Fisher,Freddie Francis,Sir James Carreras,Michael Carreras,etc.[6]

In 1978, Irvin graduated from the University of South Carolina[4]with a Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts. While attending the university, he was the film critic forThe Gamecock,the campus newspaper, and won a student film award for his thesis short film.[citation needed]He was also chairman of the University of South Carolina Film Committee that ran a year-round cinema program at the campus theater.

During his summer break in 1977, Irvin interned at theChicagoshooting location for Brian De Palma’sThe Fury.He worked on the feature as a production assistant, an extra, and also wrote a journal on the making of the movie that was published inCinefantastiquemagazine, Vol. 7, No. 2, 1978. Irvin also conducted an exclusive interview withAmy Irvingin which, for the first time anywhere, she discussed her relationship withSteven Spielberg;it was published inCinefantastique,Vol 6, No. 4 / Vol. 7, No. 1, 1978.

In 2013, Irvin was extensively interviewed on camera by filmmaker Robert Fischer about his experiences on the set ofThe FuryforThe Fury: A Location Journal,a 50-minute bonus feature that is included on the 2013 Blu-ray DVD release ofThe Furydistributed byArrow Filmsin the U.K. and Ireland and by Carlotta Films in France. In its October 26, 2013 issue,Telegraph Magazine(the weekly supplement to London's popular daily newspaperThe Telegraph) ran a full-page story and photo of Irvin reminiscing about his time on the set ofThe Fury.

After graduating from the University of South Carolina in May 1978, Irvin worked as the Associate Producer and Production Manager on Brian De Palma'sHome Movies.Then, Irvin worked as De Palma's assistant onDressed to KillstarringMichael Caine,Angie Dickinson,Nancy Allen andKeith Gordon.He also worked with De Palma on several projects in development, includingBlow Out.

Irvin wrote a comprehensive, 13,000-word chronicle on the making ofDressed to KillforBoobs and Bloodmagazine, issue number 4, published in December 2020. The entire issue was devoted to Irvin's article.

Irvin gave up his position as De Palma's assistant to produceThe First Time,a coming-of-age comedy co-written byWilliam Finley,for which De Palma served as a credited Creative Consultant. Released by New Line Cinema, the film starredTim Choate,Wendie Jo Sperber,Wallace Shawn,Cathryn DamonandJane Badler.[citation needed]

During the 1980s, Irvin served as Vice President of Marketing for three film distributors: United Artists Classics, Spectrafilm, and Vestron. During this period, Irvin wonThe Hollywood ReporterKey Art Awards for designing the movie posters forFrançois Truffaut’sConfidentially YoursandPaul Verhoeven’sThe Fourth Man.He also helped spearhead the record-breaking year-long run ofJean-Jacques Beineix'sDivain New York City.[citation needed]

Irvin's first directorial effort, which he also wrote and produced, was the 1985 dark comedy shortDouble Negative,which starredBill Randolph,Justin Henry,Wayne Knight,Dori Legg,andWilliam Finley.[7]It premiered as an official selection at the Sundance Film Festival and subsequently played theatrically in New York and Los Angeles as a warm-up for various feature films. It was nominated for a Gold Hugo Award for Best Short Film at the 1985 Chicago International Film Festival.Janet MaslinofThe New York Timeswrote that it was "an exceptionally promising first effort."[8]Double Negativeis included as an extra bonus feature on the 2013 Blu-ray DVD release of Brian DePalma'sThe Furydistributed byArrow Filmsin the U.K. and Ireland and by Carlotta Films in France.

Irvin went on to direct many feature films, including:

From his own original screenplay, Irvin directed the Showtime Original MovieKiss of a StrangerstarringMariel Hemingway,Dyan Cannon,Corbin BernsenandDavid Carradine.

Irvin directed the cult sci-fi westernsOblivionand its sequelBacklash: Oblivion 2starringJulie Newmar,George Takei,Isaac Hayes,Meg FosterandMaxwell Caulfield.(Oblivionwon the Gold Award for Best Fantasy / Science Fiction Feature atHouston Worldfest.)

He also directed the Disney Channel time-travel pirate fantasyMagic IslandstarringZachery Ty BryanandFrench Stewart.

For television, Irvin directed several episodes of Comedy Central'sStrip MallstarringJulie Brown,Cindy Williams,Jim O'Heir,Carolyn Hennesy,Maxwell Caulfield,andStella Stevens.

Irvin directed all the episodes of the hit television seriesDante's CovestarringTracy Scoggins,Charlie David,Jenny Shimizu,Thea Gill,Stephen Amell,Booboo Stewart,andReichen Lehmkuhl.(Irvin also wrote the lyrics and co-composed the music for the series' international hit theme song, "Dying to Be with You").

Irvin was the sole director and co-producer of the comedy seriesFrom Here on OUTstarringTerry Ray,T. J. Hoban,Juliet Mills,Suzanne Whang,andJulie Brown.Additionally, Irvin wrote the lyrics and co-composed the music for the series' theme song "From Here on OUT".

Irvin was also the first season director and co-producer of the television seriesMy Sister Is So GaystarringTerry Ray,Wendy Michaels,Tilky Jones,Debra Wilson,andLoni Anderson.

Also for television, Irvin directed the opening ofThe 100th Anniversary of the World Series(October 18, 2003) for the Fox Network (a "through the ages" montage featuring the music of and starringSheila E).

Irvin directed several segments for the Fox Network's 2005Super Bowl XXXIXincluding several comedy sketches starringEugene Levyas a nutty gadget inventor trying to improve the entertainment value of football. Other vignettes includedWill Smith,Drew Barrymore,andJimmy Fallon.Irvin also directed the surrealistic opening battle between ninja warriors and football players.

And for the Fox Network opening of the 2007Allstate Sugar Bowl,Irvin directed "Dueling Musicians" shot on the streets of New Orleans (broadcast January 3, 2007).

After directing several American-financed films inRomania,Irvin was invited by Romanian-based Mediapro Studios to directGarcea si olteni,a spin-off of Romania's most popular television show, starring aMonty Python-like sketch comedy group known asVacante Mare.It became the highest grossing motion picture in Romanian history up to that time, beating the previous record-holder, James Cameron'sTitanic.

Also in Romania, Irvin directedAm să mă întorc bărbat(I Will Return A Man), a rock opera performed by the Romanian rock groupVama Vechebroadcast live on television from the National Theater in Bucharest. It was an anti-war musical in the same genre as Pink Floyd'sThe Wall.

His credits as a producer include:

Irvin's first book,Kay Thompson: From Funny Face to Eloise,was published by Simon & Schuster (November 2010) and was honored byKirkus ReviewsandThe Theatre Library Association Awardsas one of the "Best Biographies of 2010." Acclaimed by columnistLiz Smithas "a smashing work," and by entertainerMichael Feinsteinas "one of the best showbiz bios I've ever read." This comprehensive biography covers the life and career of the legendary singer-actress-composer-arranger-author-fashionistaKay Thompson.She was the mentor/best friend ofJudy Garland,the vocal guru toFrank SinatraandLena Horne,the mentor and longtime lover ofAndy Williams,and the godmother/Svengali toLiza Minnelli(who recreated Thompson's nightclub act in the 2009 Tony Award-winning eventLiza's at the Palace).

In connection with his research on the life of Thompson, Irvin served as a historical consultant on the Tony Award-winning Broadway eventLiza's at the Palace.He produced and annotated the 2009 3-CD box set compilationThink Pink! A Kay Thompson Party(Sepia Records) and he appeared in and consulted on Paramount Home Entertainment's documentaryKay Thompson: Think Pink!(an extra included in Paramount's Centennial Collection DVD edition of Stanley Donen'sFunny FacestarringAudrey Hepburn,Fred Astaire,andKay Thompson).

Irvin was the Guest Editor of a special issue ofLittle Shoppe of HorrorsNo. 38 focusing on the making ofFrankenstein: The True Story,published June 2017, including Irvin's 50,000-word chronicle on the movie which won the 2017 Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award for Best Article of the Year. The magazine also included Irvin's exclusive interviews withLeonard Whiting,Jane Seymour,David McCallum,Nicola Pagett,Don Bachardy,among many others. The issue also features an exclusive never-before-published essay on the writing of the movie by the lateChristopher Isherwoodand his partnerDon Bachardy.Irvin also arranged for a special Foreword by best-selling authorAnne Riceand an essay byMark Gatiss,the co-creator ofSherlock.

Subsequently, Irvin did all the special features for Shout! Factory's acclaimed 2020 Blu-ray release ofFrankenstein: The True Story—including a three-hour audio commentary plus newly-filmed interviews withJane Seymour,Leonard Whitingand co-screenwriterDon Bachardy.

As a noted expert on the career ofVincent Price,Irvin appears as an on-camera authority inConstantine Nasr's 2013 documentaryHouse of Wax: Unlike Anything You've Ever Seen,also featuring exclusive on-camera interviews withMartin Scorsese,Joe Dante,Wes Craven,Rick Baker,andVictoria Price.The 48-minute documentary is featured as an extra on Warner Home Video's 2013 3D Blu-ray edition ofHouse of Wax(1953) starringVincent Price.

Irvin also won a second Rondo Award for Best Interview of the Year for "Elvira Exposed!", an in-depth interview withCassandra Petersonpublished inScreemmagazine #36 in 2018.

Between projects, Irvin has served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts where he taught graduate courses on directing. Among his former students isRyan Coogler,acclaimed writer-director ofFruitvale Station,winner of the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, as well as the Un Certain Regard award at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. Coogler has since directed the acclaimed hitCreedstarringMichael B. JordanandSylvester Stallone;and theMarvel superheromovieBlack Panther.

Most recently, Irvin authoredSam's Toilet Paper Caper!,a children's book parody, illustrated byDan Gallagher.The book was inspired by Irvin's own real-life quest to find toilet paper during the 2020 pandemic paper panic. Drenched in movie references fromThe Sound of MusictoCarrie,the grocery store clerk is a dead ringer forPeter Lorre.Published by Irvin's own imprint, Knuckle Samwitch Books, it is available in paperback and ebook on Amazon. All profits from the sales of the book are being donated to theWorld Health Organization's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

Irvin also authored the novelORBGASM: An Erotic Pulp Sci-Fi Satyricon,published by Irvin's own imprint, Knuckle Samwitch Books, available in paperback and ebook on Amazon. All profits from the sales of the book are being donated to the World Health Organization's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

Irvin resides in Los Angeles with Gary Bowers, his partner since 1982. They married August 12, 2016.

Filmography

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As director

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As producer

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As actor

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As writer

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As author

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As guest editor

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References

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  1. ^"Sam Irvin".Movies & TV Dept.The New York Times.2016. Archived fromthe originalon 2016-03-06.
  2. ^Snow, Nicholas (2005-10-03)."'Dante's Cove' Director Sam Irvin Up Close ".Notes From Hollywood.Archived fromthe originalon 2007-05-04.Retrieved2007-07-10.
  3. ^"Sam Irvin".Turner Classic Movies.2022.RetrievedJune 14,2022.
  4. ^abWard, Doris Cline; Biddix, Charles D. (1981).The Heritage of Old Buncombe County.Asheville, N.C.: Old Buncombe County Genealogical Society. p. 239.ISBN9780894591594.
  5. ^abFischer, Dennis (2011).Science Fiction Film Directors, 1895-1998.Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. p. 307.ISBN9780786460915.
  6. ^Bizarre.Richard Klemensen'sLittle Shoppe of Horrors,issue number 27, October 2011.
  7. ^"Sam Irvin biography".Turner Classic Movies.Retrieved22 April2010.
  8. ^SCREEN: 'SONGWRITER',Janet Maslin,New York Times,June 28, 1985
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