Breck Eisner#As director
{{short description|American director}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Breck Eisner
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Michael Breckenridge Eisner
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1970|04|26|mf=y}}
| birth_place = California, U.S.
| occupation = Director
| spouse = {{marriage|Georgia Leigh Irwin
|2006}}
| parents = Jane Breckenridge
Michael Eisner
| family = Eric Eisner (brother)
Stacey Bendet (sister-in-law)
Sigmund Eisner
(great-great-grandfather)
}}
Michael Breckenridge Eisner (born April 26, 1970) is an American television and film director.
Early life
Eisner was born in California, the son of Jane Breckenridge, a business advisor and computer programmer, and Michael Eisner, the former Walt Disney Company chief executive. To avoid confusion with his father, he uses a short version of his middle name/mother's maiden name as his professional first name.Terry Kattleman, [http://www.scenariolane.com/press/creativity_profile.pdf The Next …], Advertising Age's Creativity, Vol. 5, Issue 5, June 1997, p. 44. His mother is a Unitarian of Scottish and Swedish descent while his father is Jewish.{{Cite book |last=Pinsky |first=Mark I. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YGtbYTyulb4C&dq=jane+breckenridge+eisner&pg=PA126 |title=The Gospel According to Disney |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press |isbn=978-0-664-23467-6 |pages=123–129 |language=en}}
Eisner attended Harvard High School (now Harvard-Westlake School), Georgetown University, majoring in both English and Theatre, and the University of Southern California's film school where he received a master's degree in film production.
Career
For a directing project at Georgetown, he filmed a contemporary riff on Alice in Wonderland, shooting scenes in the vast empty attic of Healy Hall on the campus, as well as in an abandoned circular trolley-car tunnel under Dupont Circle in Northwest, Washington, D.C. He also directed Shakespeare plays on the campus.
His MFA thesis film, Recon, a tech noir co-written and co-produced by Steven Cantor, stars Peter Gabriel, Elizabeth Peña and Charles Durning. Set in Los Angeles in 2007, Gabriel plays a weary detective who in order to catch a serial killer uses a new experimental technology, Recon, which allows him to see the last living minutes of the killer's victims through their eyes. Gabriel agreed to appear in the film after having been asked to by Cantor who had served with him on a media advisory board.Kathy DeSalvo, First Time Out, Director Eisner Breaks into Big Time, Shoot, Vol. 38, Issue 6, February 7, 1997, p. 7. Peña came on board because she wanted to work with Gabriel while Durning had the same agent as Peña. The film, made for a budget of $21,000, was shot in 1994 but completion took until 1996. It screened at the 53rd Venice International Film Festival, the Edinburgh International Film Festival and the Hamptons International Film Festival, among others.
Eisner had used some of Digital Domain's processors to render images for his film, and the company suggested he meet with some commercial production houses. Thus began his career as a director of commercials, and after only a year-and-a-half, Eisner had directed 14 high-profile spots. His first commercial was Budweiser's Powersurge, which aired during the 1997 Super Bowl. He also took the helm for Rold Gold pretzels' "Comrades" starring Jason Alexander, which featured Pretzel Boy on a rescue mission to the Mir space station. Eisner's two anti-smoking spots for the California Department of Health Services, "Gala Event" and "Funeral", were selected as Best Spots in back-to-back issues of Adweek. In addition, Eisner's "Mad Dog" for Coors's Zima aired during the Seinfeld finale and was chosen by USA Today{{'s}} "Ad Meter" as the #1 spot. He has also done commercials for Sony, Sega and Coca-Cola.William C. Martel, [http://scenariolane.com/press/shoot_profile.pdf Breck Eisner], Shoot, Vol. 39, Issue 42, Supplement Directors, October 16, 1998, pp. 38 & 132.
Eisner's success in the commercial world opened the door for him to direct the TV film The Invisible Man for the Sci Fi Channel. That led to an episode of DreamWorks Television's mini-series Taken (2002), executive-produced by Steven Spielberg and starring Dakota Fanning.
His first full-length effort was the crime drama Thoughtcrimes (2003), which was produced as a backdoor pilot and went straight to video. His theatrical directorial debut was the film Sahara (2005) starring Matthew McConaughey, Penélope Cruz and William H. Macy.{{Cite web |title=Breck Eisner biography and filmography {{!}} Breck Eisner movies |url=https://www.tribute.ca/people/Breck+Eisner/12001/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Tribute |language=en-US}} The film is considered one of the biggest financial failures in Hollywood history.[http://www.moviefone.com/insidemovies/2007/11/15/biggest-box-office-bombs/ Biggest Box-Office Bombs of All Time] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723010419/http://www.moviefone.com/insidemovies/2007/11/15/biggest-box-office-bombs/ |date=July 23, 2008 }}{{Cite web |last=Bunting |first=Glenn F. |date=2007-04-15 |title=$78 million of red ink? |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-movie15apr15-story.html |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}Glenn F. Bunting, [https://archive.today/20120906163619/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-fi-cussler5mar05,0,3908474,full.story Jurors hear tales of studio maneuvering], Los Angeles Times, March 5, 2007.
Eisner currently works as a director of film and television. In October 2005, it was announced that Eisner would direct a remake of the classic monster film Creature from the Black Lagoon which was dropped in 2009 for unnamed reasons, and in February 2008, it was announced that he would direct The Crazies, a remake of the film of the same name, released in 2010.[http://iconsoffright.com/news/2008/02/breck_eisner_directing_the_cra.html Icons of Fright] In December 2009, it was announced he will direct the remakes of Flash Gordon and The Brood,{{Cite web |last=Central |first=Dread |title=Breck Eisner Talks The Crazies, Flash Gordon, and What's Up with The Brood |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/35988/breck-eisner-talks-the-crazies-flash-gordon-and-what%E2%80%99s-up-with-the-brood |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20121127115130/http://www.dreadcentral.com:80/news/35988/breck-eisner-talks-the-crazies-flash-gordon-and-what%E2%80%99s-up-with-the-brood |archive-date=2012-11-27 |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Dread Central.com}} though he later backed out of the latter.{{Cite web |last=Miska |first=Brad |date=2010-02-20 |title=Breck Eisner NOT Attached to 'The Brood' Remake |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/19193/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Bloody Disgusting! |language=en-US}} He is rumored to direct the remake of Escape from New York.{{Cite web |last=Miska |first=Brad |date=2010-04-23 |title='Crazies' Director to 'Escape From New York' |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/19937/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Bloody Disgusting! |language=en-US}} Eisner is set to direct the film adaptation of the Mark Wheatley comic book Blood of the Innocent.{{Cite web |last=Barton |first=Steve |date=2012-10-02 |title=Godzilla vs. Biollante Roaring its Way to Blu-ray |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/37985/godzilla-vs-biollante-roaring-its-way-to-blu-ray/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Dread Central |language=en-US}} In December 2010, he was in talks to direct the film adaption of the Hasbro board game Ouija.{{Cite web |last=Barton |first=Steve |date=2013-02-18 |title=Producer Exits Jurassic Park 4 Star Wars |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/41530/producer-exits-jurassic-park-4-star-wars/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Dread Central |language=en-US}}
On March 5, 2013, Eisner was set to direct action fantasy film The Last Witch Hunter by Summit Entertainment based on Cory Goodman's script,{{Cite web |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=2013-03-05 |title=Breck Eisner To Helm 'The Witch Hunter' For Summit/Emmett/Furla; Vin Diesel Circling Title Role |url=https://deadline.com/2013/03/breck-eisner-to-helm-summits-the-witch-hunter-vin-diesel-circling-title-role-446018/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} Melisa Wallack would re-write the script.{{Cite web |last=Yamato |first=Jen |date=2014-03-31 |title='Dallas Buyers Club's Melisa Wallack To Polish Vin Diesel's 'Last Witch Hunter' |url=https://deadline.com/2014/03/dallas-buyers-club-melisa-wallack-vin-diesel-last-witch-hunter-707173/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} Vin Diesel stars as lead with Rose Leslie, Julie Engelbrecht, Michael Caine, Elijah Wood and Ólafur Darri Ólafsson.{{cite news|title=Vin Diesel in Talks for Summit's 'The Last Witch Hunter'|url=https://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/vin-diesel-talks-summits-last-witch-hunter-exclusive-55156/|accessdate=July 12, 2014|publisher=thewrap.com|date=September 6, 2012}}{{cite news|title='Game of Thrones' Actress Joins Vin Diesel in 'The Last Witch Hunter'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/game-thrones-actress-joins-vin-718066|accessdate=July 12, 2014|publisher=hollywoodreporter.com|date=July 11, 2014}}{{Cite web |last=Yamato |first=Jen |date=2014-09-03 |title=German Actress Julie Engelbrecht Joins 'The Last Witch Hunter' |url=https://deadline.com/2014/09/last-witch-hunter-julie-engelbrecht-828137/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=McNary |first=Dave |date=2014-07-21 |title=Michael Caine Joins Vin Diesel in 'Last Witch Hunter' |url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/michael-caine-vin-diesel-last-witch-hunter-1201265818/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{cite news|last1=Yamato|first1=Jen|title=Elijah Wood Joins 'The Last Witch Hunter'|url=https://deadline.com/2014/08/elijah-wood-last-witch-hunter-vin-diesel-814293/|access-date=August 5, 2014|publisher=Deadline Hollywood|date=August 4, 2014}}{{Cite web |last=Sneider |first=Jeff |date=2014-08-05 |title='True Detective's' Olafur Darri Olafsson Joins Vin Diesel in 'The Last Witch Hunter' (Exclusive) |url=https://www.thewrap.com/true-detectives-olafur-darri-olafsson-joins-vin-diesel-in-the-last-witch-hunter-exclusive/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}}
In April 2014, Sony Pictures Classics announced that Eisner would direct The Karate Kid sequel starring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/jaden-smiths-karate-kid-sequel-draws-breck-eisner-to-direct-1201153638/|title=Jaden Smith's 'Karate Kid' Sequel Draws Breck Eisner to Direct|work=Variety |date=April 7, 2014 |publisher=Variety.com |last1=McNary |first1=Dave }} In June 2014, Eisner left the project because of scheduling conflicts with The Last Witch Hunter,{{cite news|last=Yamato|first=Jen|title=Breck Eisner Out For 'Karate Kid 2′ As Sony, Overbrook Hire New Scripting Duo|url=https://deadline.com/2014/06/karate-kid-2-jeremiah-friedman-nick-palmer-breck-eisner-796428/|access-date=July 23, 2015|publisher=Deadline Hollywood|date=June 25, 2014}} released in 2015.{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Debi |date=2015-08-06 |title=New Trailer for The Last Witch Hunter Will Live Forever |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/117487/new-trailer-for-the-last-witch-hunter-will-live-forever/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Dread Central |language=en-US}}
In November 2024, it was announced that a production company Expanding Universe co-founded by Eisner with Naren Shankar, Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck has a development deal with Amazon MGM Studios, with their first project, television adaptation of The Captive's War trilogy, being directed and co-executive produced by Eisner.{{Cite web |last=Pinto |first=Jordan |date=2024-11-22 |title=Team behind The Expanse launches sci-fi prodco, agrees Amazon development deal |url=https://www.c21media.net/news/team-behind-the-expanse-launches-sci-fi-prodco-agrees-amazon-development-deal/ |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=C21media}}{{Cite web |last=Maas |first=Jennifer |date=2024-11-21 |title='The Expanse' Creators Set 'Captive's War' TV Series at Amazon, Launch New Media Company Expanding Universe (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/the-expanse-captives-war-tv-series-amazon-expanding-universe-1236215983/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Variety}}
Personal life
In 2006, he married Georgia Leigh Irwin in a ceremony officiated by a Roman Catholic priest and held at her parents' house.{{Cite news |date=2006-06-25 |title=Georgia Irwin and Breck Eisner |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/25/fashion/25irwi.html?ex=1308888000&en=f7a07b705de5ac38&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss |access-date=2025-04-30 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} Irwin's father is a real estate broker in Palm Springs who developed and sold the resort La Mancha; and her maternal grandfather, Carroll Rosenbloom, was the owner of the Los Angeles Rams and the Baltimore Colts.
Filmography
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Director ! Writer ! Notes |
|---|
| 1996
| Recon | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | Eisner's MFA thesis film for the University of Southern California |
= Feature film =
Director
- Thoughtcrimes (2003)
- Sahara (2005)
- The Crazies (2010)
- The Last Witch Hunter (2015)
Executive producer
- A Sound of Thunder (2005)
Actor
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role |
|---|
| 1999
| The Auteur Theory | Moshe from the "film" Brooklyn Will Be Ours |
= Television =
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Notes |
|---|
| 2000
| Episode "Pilot" |
| 2001
| Wilder | Unaired pilot |
| 2002
| Taken | Episode "Jacob and Jesse" |
| 2006
| Beyond | Unaired pilot |
| 2008
| Episode "The Sacrifice" |
| 2017
| Episode "It's All Personal" |
| 2017–2022
| 14 episodes |
Accolades
Eisner has earned Hugo Award nomination for Best Dramatic Presentation in 2020 for directing "Cibola Burn" episode of The Expanse.{{cite web |url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2020-hugo-awards/ |title=2020 Hugo Awards |date=2020-04-07 |publisher=World Science Fiction Society |access-date=2020-04-08 |archive-date=2021-11-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119170105/http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2020-hugo-awards/ |url-status=live }} He got an award in this category for directing this show, in 2022 for "Nemesis Games" and in 2023 for "Babylon's Ashes".{{cite web |url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2021-hugo-awards/ |title=2021 Hugo Awards |date=2021-12-18 |publisher=World Science Fiction Society |access-date=2022-01-03 |archive-date=2022-01-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103115504/http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2021-hugo-awards/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2022-hugo-awards/ |title=2022 Hugo Awards |date=2022-09-04 |publisher=World Science Fiction Society |access-date=2022-09-04 |archive-date=2022-09-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905072855/https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2022-hugo-awards/ |url-status=live }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- Expanding Universe LLC [http://expanding-universe.com]
- {{IMDb name|252135}}
{{Breck Eisner}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eisner, Breck}}
Category:Advertising directors
Category:American people of German-Jewish descent
Category:American people of Scottish descent
Category:American people of Swedish descent
Category:American television directors
Category:Film directors from Los Angeles
Category:Georgetown University College of Arts & Sciences alumni
Category:Harvard-Westlake School alumni