Adam Saunders
{{undisclosed|date=February 2025}}
{{Short description|American actor and filmmaker}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Adam Saunders
| image = Adam Saunders at San Diego International Film Festival.jpg
| caption = Saunders at San Diego International Film Festival - 2022
| education = Duke University (BA)
Yale University (MFA)
| occupation = Actor, writer, director, and producer
}}
Adam Saunders is an American actor, writer, director,{{Cite web |last=Philbrick |first=Jami |date=2023-05-19 |title=Leslie Uggams Talks 'Dotty and Soul' and playing Blind Al in 'Deadpool 3' |url=https://www.moviefone.com/news/dotty-and-soul-interview-leslie-uggams/ |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=Moviefone |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=White |first=Armond |date=2023-05-19 |title=The Wit and Resistance of Dotty & Soul |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2023/05/the-wit-and-resistance-of-dotty-soul/ |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=National Review |language=en-US}} and producer. He is the CEO and a founding member of Footprint Features.{{Cite web |date=2013-03-26 |title=North Texas producer screens debut feature 'Family Weekend' |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/arts-entertainment/2013/03/26/north-texas-producer-screens-debut-feature-family-weekend/ |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=Dallas News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Yanes |first=Nicholas |date=2023-01-09 |title=Adam Saunders on his career and producing "Darby and the Dead" |url=https://www.scifipulse.net/adam-saunders-on-his-career-and-producing-darby-and-the-dead/ |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=SciFiPulse.Net |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Aaron B. |date=2017-06-09 |title=Interview with Producer Adam Saunders {{!}} Netflix's Shimmer Lake |url=https://www.thehollywoodoutsider.com/interview-with-producer-adam-saunders-shimmer-lake/ |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=The Hollywood Outsider - Film and Television Podcast {{!}} Reviews |language=en-US}}
Biography
Saunders graduated high school at Richardson High School, earned a drama degree from Duke University, and a master's in acting from the Yale School of Drama.{{Cite web |last=Jorgenson |first=Todd |date=2023-05-18 |title=Dallas Native Adam Saunders Wants to Use Social Satire to Reexamine Our Priorities |url=https://www.dmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/2023/05/dallas-native-adam-saunders-wants-to-use-social-satire-to-reexamine-our-priorities/ |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=D Magazine |language=en-US}}
In 2007, Saunders started Footprint Features, a Los Angeles-based production company.
In 2011, Saunders produced and acted in Family Weekend, starring Kristin Chenoweth, and Joey King. The film was written by Matt K. Turner, directed by Benjamin Epps, and executive produced by the Bedford Falls Company.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2013-03-28 |title=Family Weekend: Film Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/family-weekend-film-review-431540/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} In 2013, he produced and acted in About Alex, starring Aubrey Plaza, Max Greenfield, Jason Ritter, and Jane Levy, and written and directed by Jesse Zwick. The film was executive produced by Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz and played at the 2013 TriBeCa Film Festival.{{Cite web |last=Chang |first=Justin |date=2014-08-09 |title=Film Review: 'About Alex' |url=https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/film-review-about-alex-1201278863/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} In 2017, he produced and acted in Oren Uziel's crime thriller Shimmer Lake which was named as Variety’s 2017 standout for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.{{Cite web |last1=Tapley |first1=Kristopher |last2=Riley |first2=Jenelle |date=2017-06-22 |title=Oscars: 13 Deserving Contenders From 2017 So Far |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/in-contention/oscars-halfway-mark-deserving-contenders-1202473420/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}
In 2018, Saunders produced the Netflix romantic comedy When We First Met starring Adam Devine and Alexandra Daddario, written by John Whittington (screenwriter) and directed by Ari Sandel. The film was produced alongside Mason Novick and Wonderland Sound and Vision.{{Citation |last=Sandel |first=Ari |title=When We First Met |date=2018-02-09 |type=Comedy, Fantasy, Romance |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5783956/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |others=Adam Devine, Alexandra Daddario, Shelley Hennig |publisher=Footprint Features, Wonderland Sound and Vision, MXN Entertainment}}
In 2022, Saunders made his directorial film debut with Dotty & Soul,{{Cite web |last=Witherspoon |first=Patrice |date=2022-10-24 |title=Dotty & Soul Review: Saunders' Timely Feature Debut Is Heartfelt & Humorous |url=https://screenrant.com/dotty-and-soul-2022-movie-reviews/ |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}} an indie comedy in which he starred alongside Tony and Emmy winner Leslie Uggams.{{Cite web |last=Bruno |first=Yanette |date=2023-04-29 |title=NYC Screening of Film Dotty & Soul |url=https://theknockturnal.com/nyc-screening-of-film-dotty-soul/ |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=The Knockturnal |language=en}} Dotty & Soul premiered at the 2022 San Diego Film Festival.{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=2023-03-31 |title=Tony Danza & Bex Taylor-Klaus To Star Opposite Adam Saunders In His Indie Comedy 'Re-Election' |url=https://deadline.com/2023/03/tony-danza-bex-taylor-klaus-re-election-comedy-1235314762/ |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Billington |first=Alex |date=2023-04-14 |title=Leslie Uggams Takes Over a Company in Comedy 'Dotty & Soul' Trailer {{!}} FirstShowing.net |url=https://www.firstshowing.net/2023/leslie-uggams-adam-saunders-in-comedy-dotty-soul-trailer/ |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=www.firstshowing.net |language=en-US}} In 2023, it sold to Showtime.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-19 |title=Dotty & Soul {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dotty_and_soul |access-date=2024-02-28 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}
Also in 2022, Saunders produced Darby and the Dead starring Riele Downs and Auli'i Cravalho for 20th Century Studios. The film was directed by Silas Howard, shot in Cape Town, South Africa and was released on December 2, 2022 on Hulu.{{Cite web |last=Yanes |first=Nicholas |date=2023-01-09 |title=Adam Saunders on his career and producing "Darby and the Dead" |url=https://www.scifipulse.net/adam-saunders-on-his-career-and-producing-darby-and-the-dead/ |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=SciFiPulse.Net |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Adam Saunders {{!}} Actor, Producer, Writer |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2259350/ |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}
In 2023, Saunders signed on to star in the comedy Re-Election, alongside television icon Tony Danza and Bex Taylor-Klaus. Re-Election was Saunders' second directorial effort. The film was set in Richardson, Texas and shot in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Filmography
class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Director !Producer !Writer |
2013
| {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |
2014
| {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |
2017
| {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |
2018
| {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |
2022
| {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |
2022
| {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} |
2024
| Re-Election | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} |
=Acting roles=
Television
class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes |
2006
| Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Brendan Cory | 1 episode |
2007-2008
| The Game | Waiter | 2 episodes |
2008
| Meet Me in the Graveyard | Ace | |
2020
| The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez | Informant (voice) | 1 episode |
Film
class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes !Ref. |
2011
| Handsome Guy | | |
2013
| Rick | | |
2014
| Night Editor | | |
2017
| State Trooper | |{{Cite web |title=Adam Saunders {{!}} Movies and Filmography |url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/adam-saunders-vn15616121 |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=AllMovie |language=en}} |
2018
| Confidence | Boss | Short film | |
2022
| Ethan Cox | |{{Cite web |title=Adam Saunders {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/adam_saunders_2 |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}} |
2024
| Re-Election | Jimmy Bauer | |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|2259350|Adam Saunders}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saunders, Adam}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)