Brian McGinn

{{Short description|American director and producer}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Brian McGinn

| image = Brian_McGinn.jpg

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age |1984|10|12}}

| birth_place = Palo Alto, California

| education = Palo Alto High School

| alma mater = Duke University

| occupation = {{hlist|television director|television producer|film producer|screenwriter|showrunner}}

| years_active = 2012–present

| spouse =

| children =

| mother =

| father =

| website =

}}

Brian McGinn (born December 10, 1984) is an American TV and film director, writer, producer and showrunner.

Life and career

Brian McGinn was born in Palo Alto, California, on December 10, 1984.{{Cite web |title=Episode 107: Interview: Brian McGinn, Amanda Knox – Part 1 of 2 |url=https://crimestory.com/2020/02/11/episode-107-brian-mcginn-amanda-knox-part-1-of-2/ |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=Crime Story |date=11 February 2020 |language=en-US}} His mother was an art history librarian{{Cite news |title=Netflix's Chef's Table Brian McGinn: 'There are certainly people in Ireland I am keen to make films about' |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/food/2023/08/12/all-the-right-ingredients-for-comfort-viewing/ |access-date=2023-09-05 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}} and his father an ethics and technology professor from Stanford. He attended Palo Alto High School{{Cite web |date=2003-06-12 |title=Paly class of 2003 graduates |url=https://palyvoice.com/14227/news/node-14227/ |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=The Paly Voice}} and Duke University, where he got in 2007 a degree in English and a certificate in the Film/Video/Digital Program.{{Cite web |title=Screen/Society--2015 Ethics Film Series--"Chef's Table" (2 episodes) w/ director/producer Brian McGinn '07! {{!}} Duke Cinematic Arts |url=https://cinematicarts.duke.edu/sites/cinematicarts.duke.edu/files/screensociety-archive/events/screensociety-2015-ethics-film-series-chefs-table-2-episodes-w-directorproducer-brian-mcginn.html |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=cinematicarts.duke.edu}}

His first directing, producing and writing credits were on the short films Llamas for Ken (2007) and The Frozen City (2008) -which received an honorable mention at the 2009 Cleveland International Film Festival-{{Cite web |title=First Run Features: AMERICAN TEACHER |url=https://firstrunfeatures.com/americanteacher_bio.html |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=firstrunfeatures.com}} and Carry (2009).{{Cite web |title=Catalogue - Go Short 2013 by Go Short - International Short Film Festival Nijmegen |url=https://issuu.com/goshortfilmfestival/docs/catalogue-2013 |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=issuu.com |date=3 March 2013 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Brian McGinn |url=https://en.kinorium.com/name/1692183/ |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=Kinorium |language=en}}

Between 2011 and 2014 he directed a series viral videos for the comedy video website and film and television production company Funny or Die starring Dave Franco, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Alison Brie{{Cite web |title=Brian McGinn |url=https://funnyordie.com/author/brian-mcginn/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=Funny Or Die |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Brian McGinn |url=https://foodontheedge.ie/speaker/brian-mcginn/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=Food On The Edge |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title='Amanda Knox' Directors Ask: 'Why Are We So Fascinated by True-Crime Stories?' |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/amanda-knox-directors-ask-why-are-we-so-fascinated-by-true-crime-stories-140013094.html |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=Yahoo Entertainment |date=28 September 2016 |language=en-US}} as well as Funny or Die’s HBO 2015 special Ferrell Takes The Field starring Will Ferrell.{{Cite web |title=Will Ferrell to star in new HBO Special from Funny or Die, in partnership with Major League Baseball |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/will-ferrell-to-star-in-new-hbo-special-from-funny-or-die/c-112224104 |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=MLB.com |date=11 March 2015 |language=en}}

In 2011, he codirected with Vanessa Roth the documentary film American Teacher{{Cite news |last=Genzlinger |first=Neil |date=2011-09-30 |title=What's a Teacher Worth? |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/30/movies/vanessa-roths-american-teacher-review.html |access-date=2023-04-14 |issn=0362-4331}} and in 2012 he wrote and directed The Record Breaker,{{Cite web |title=Meet the DocuWeeks Filmmakers: Brian McGinn--'The Record Breaker' |url=https://www.documentary.org/online-feature/meet-docuweeks-filmmakers-brian-mcginn-record-breaker |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=International Documentary Association |language=en}} a short film about Ashrita Furman, the man who has the most Guinness World Records of all time.{{Cite web |title=Brian McGinn {{!}} Mountainfilm Festival, Telluride CO |url=https://www.mountainfilm.org/people/brian-mcginn/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=www.mountainfilm.org |language=en}} The documentary won awards at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival,{{Cite web |last=Zoltan |first=Scott |date=2014-02-20 |title=Filmmakers honored at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival ceremony |url=https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/filmmakers-honored-at-big-sky-documentary-film-festival-ceremony- |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=KECI |language=en}} the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, the Palm Springs International ShortFest,{{Cite web |last=Holloway |first=Clint |date=2013-11-15 |title=Watch: Award-Winning Short Documentary 'The Record Breaker' Showcases A Life of Weird World Record Breaking |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2013/11/watch-award-winning-short-documentary-the-record-breaker-showcases-a-life-of-weird-world-record-breaking-32935/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=IndieWire |language=en}} the Cleveland International Film Festival and the New Orleans Film Festival.{{Cite web |title=The Record Breaker |url=https://documentary.net/video/record-breaker/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=Documentary Network |language=en-US}}

Since 2015 he is one of the executive producers and directors of Netflix’s documentary series Chef’s Table,{{Cite news |title='We would love to come and make Chef's Table in Ireland' |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/food-and-drink/we-would-love-to-come-and-make-chef-s-table-in-ireland-1.2852198 |access-date=2023-04-14 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Marsh |first=Calum |date=2019-05-01 |title=How Chef's Table Turned Food TV Into Mouthwatering Art |url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/05/chefs-table-food-tv-mouth-watering-art.html |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=Vulture |language=en-us}} which gave him three nominations to the Emmy Awards.{{Cite web |title=Brian McGinn |url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/brian-mcginn |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=Television Academy |language=en}} He got other two Emmy nominations for the Netflix documentary Amanda Knox, which he has produced, written and directed.{{Cite web |last=Sun |first=Rebecca |date=2016-10-05 |title='Amanda Knox' Director Signs With WME (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/amanda-knox-director-signs-wme-935453/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}

Along with David Gelb, his partner in the production company Supper Club with Jason Sterman,{{Cite web |last=Goldberg |first=Lesley |date=2019-04-10 |title=Disney+ Unveils Robust Unscripted Slate Featuring Pair of Marvel Docuseries |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/disney-unveils-robust-unscripted-slate-featuring-pair-marvel-docuseries-1200876/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Brian McGinn |url=https://foodontheedge.ie/speaker/brian-mcginn/ |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=Food On The Edge |language=en-GB}} McGinn is one of the executive producers of the Netflix series Street Food.{{Cite web |title=Chef's Table to hit Street Food in New Spin-Off |url=https://www.finedininglovers.com/article/chefs-table-hit-street-food-new-spin |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=www.finedininglovers.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Nichols |first=Helena |date=2022-08-16 |title=Street Food USA Co-Creator Brian McGinn On What Defines Street Food - Exclusive |url=https://www.mashed.com/966729/street-food-usa-co-creator-brian-mcginn-on-what-defines-street-food-exclusive/ |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=Mashed |language=en-US}}

In 2019 he produced the film Machine –a documentary about Artificial Intelligence{{Cite web |last=N'Duka |first=Amanda |date=2020-07-06 |title=Gravitas Acquires 'Machine' Documentary; Lionsgate Releases 'The Swing of Things' Trailer; Fox Soul Picks Up 'Unpacked with Hari Williams' – News Briefs |url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/gravitas-machine-documentary-lionsgate-the-swing-of-things-trailer-fox-soul-unpacked-with-hari-williams-news-briefs-1202978827/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} and in 2020 he produced the Netflix show Trial By Media, where he also directed a chapter.{{Cite web |title=Documentary - Trial By Media |url=https://www.thedreamcage.com/2020/05/documentary-trial-by-media.html |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=The DreamCage}}

As executive producer, he was behind several Disney+ original documentaries such as Marvel's 616, People & Places –a revival of a show originally aired in the ‘50s and ‘60s-, A Spark Story, More Than Robots and Earthkeepers.{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=2019-04-10 |title=Disney+ Strikes Overall Deal With 'Chef's Table' Producer Supper Club As It Reveals Non-Fiction Programming Slate |url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/disney-non-fiction-slate-supper-club-1202592504/ |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Hipes |first=Patrick |date=2019-10-18 |title=Disney+ Revives 'People & Places', Adds Mickey Mouse And Wolfgang Puck Documentaries To Growing Nonfiction Slate |url=https://deadline.com/2019/10/disney-plus-documentaries-people-and-places-revival-mickey-mouse-wolfgang-puck-marvel-1202763716/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=2019-04-10 |title=Disney+ Strikes Overall Deal With 'Chef's Table' Producer Supper Club As It Reveals Non-Fiction Programming Slate |url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/disney-non-fiction-slate-supper-club-1202592504/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=2021-07-21 |title=SparkShorts: Disney+ Unveils Two New Shorts & A Feature-Length Doc From Pixar, Sets September Premiere Dates |url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/spark-sh-1234797433/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Renner |first=Brian D. |title=Everything You Need to Know About More Than Robots Movie (2022): Feb. 18, 2022 - added Christine Beebe as executive producer to movie credits |url=https://www.movieinsider.com/m20136/more-than-robots |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=Movie Insider |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Brian McGinn |url=https://prettybird.co/us/talent/creators/brian-mcginn/for-your-consideration/ |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=PRETTYBIRD |language=en}}

He also was the producer of the Disney+ documentary films Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return,{{Cite web |last=Fernández |first=Miguel |date=2022-09-02 |title=Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return - Everything we know about the documentary |url=https://readysteadycut.com/2022/09/02/obi-wan-kenobi-a-jedis-return-everything-we-know-about-the-documentary/ |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=Ready Steady Cut |language=en-GB}} Olivia Rodrigo: Driving Home 2 U{{Cite web |last=Gleiberman |first=Owen |date=2022-03-22 |title='Olivia Rodrigo: driving home 2 u (a SOUR film)' Review: A Glorified Video Scrapbook That Captures Her Spiky Romantic Appeal |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/reviews/olivia-rodrigo-driving-back-2-u-a-sour-film-review-1235211048/ |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} and Wolfgang. He is also the writer of the latter film about the chef Wolfgang Puck.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-25 |title=Review: 'Wolfgang' charts the rise of celebrity chef Puck and an era of California cuisine |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-06-25/review-wolfgang-puck-cuisine-food |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Award

!Result

!Category

!Work

2012

|Jury Award - Palm Springs International ShortFest{{Cite web |last=Levine |first=Sydney |date=2016-09-30 |title=Palm Springs ShortFest and its Winners |url=https://blogs.sydneysbuzz.com/palm-springs-shortfest-and-its-winners-5b21407e55d5 |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=Medium |language=en}}

|Winner

|Best documentary

|The Record Breaker

2012

|SXSW Grand Jury Award - SXSW Film Festival{{Cite web |last=Brooks |first=Brian |date=2012-02-08 |title=SXSW Film Festival Unveils Genre And Shorts Lineup |url=https://deadline.com/2012/02/sxsw-film-festival-unveils-genre-and-shorts-lineup-228024/ |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

|Nominee

|Narrative Short

|Would You

2013

|Grand Jury Award - New Orleans Film Festival{{Cite web |title=The Record Breaker |url=https://scanorama.lt/en/edition/2014/films/the-record-breaker |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=Scanorama |language=en}}

|Winner

|Documentary Short

|The Record Breaker

2013

|The Spalding and Jackson Award: In Celebration of Joy - Cleveland International Film Festival{{Cite web |title=Program Guide - Cleveland International Film Festival |url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/31092118/program-guide-cleveland-international-film-festival |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=yumpu.com |language=en}}

|Winner

|Honorable Mention

|The Record Breaker

2013

|Full Frame Documentary Film Festival{{Cite web |title=The Record Breaker |url=https://www.fullframefest.org/film/the-record-breaker/ |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=Full Frame Documentary Film Festival |language=en-US}}

|Winner

|Audience Award

|The Record Breaker

2014

|Big Sky Documentary Film Festival{{Cite web |last=Zoltan |first=Scott |date=2014-02-20 |title=Filmmakers honored at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival ceremony |url=https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/filmmakers-honored-at-big-sky-documentary-film-festival-ceremony- |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=NBC Montana |language=en}}

|Winner

|Best Short Documentary

|The Record Breaker

2015

|International Documentary Association{{Cite web |date=2016-05-27 |title=How to Take a Next-Level Food Photo, According to the Visionary Behind 'Chef's Table' |url=https://www.gq.com/story/chefs-table-david-gelb |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=GQ |language=en-US}}

|Winner

|Best Episodic Series

|Chef's Table

2016

|International Documentary Association{{Cite web |last=Kilday |first=Gregg |date=2016-12-09 |title=IDA Documentary Awards: Complete Winners List |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/ida-documentary-awards-2016-complete-winners-list-954545/ |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}

|Nominee

|Best Episodic Series

|Chef's Table

2016

|Critics' Choice Documentary Award{{Cite web |last=Tapley |first=Kristopher |date=2016-10-10 |title='O.J.: Made in America,' '13th,' 'Gleason' Lead Critics' Choice Documentary Nominations |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/awards/o-j-made-in-america-13th-critics-choice-documentary-awards-nominations-1201883551/ |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

|Nominee

|Best Director (TV/Streaming)

|Amanda Knox

2016

|Primetime Emmy Awards{{Cite web |last=Brennan |first=Matt |date=2016-08-10 |title='Chef's Table' vs. 'Top Chef' for Emmys as Haute Cuisine Rides High on TV |url=https://www.indiewire.com/awards/industry/chefs-table-top-chef-haute-cuisine-tv-emmys-1201715180/ |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}}

|Nominee

|Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series

|Chef's Table

2017

|International Documentary Association{{Cite web |date=2017-11-01 |title=IDA Documentary Awards: 'City of Ghosts,' 'L.A. 92' and 'Strong Island' Among Best Feature Nominees |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/ida-documentary-awards-2017-nominees-list-full-1053471/ |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}

|Nominee

|Best Episodic Series

|Chef's Table

2017

|Webby Awards and Webby People’s Voice Award{{Cite web |last=Jarvey |first=Natalie |date=2017-04-25 |title=Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, Steve Buscemi Win Webby Awards |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/lady-gaga-kendrick-lamar-steve-buscemi-win-webby-awards-997068/ |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}

|Winner

|Best Food & Drink Video and the Webby Award for Best Documentary: Series (Film & Video)

|Chef's Table

2017

|Primetime Emmy Awards{{Cite web |title=Amanda Knox |url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/amanda-knox |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=Television Academy |language=en}}

|Nominee

|Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special

|Amanda Knox

2017

|Primetime Emmy Awards

|Nominee

|Outstanding Writing for Nonfiction Programming

|Amanda Knox

2017

|Primetime Emmy Awards{{Cite web |title=Chef's Table |url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/chefs-table |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=Television Academy |language=en}}

|Nominee

|Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series

|Chef's Table

2017

|Danish Film Academy (Robert Awards){{Cite web |title=Nominees for the industry's Robert Awards |url=https://www.dfi.dk/en/english/nominees-industrys-robert-awards |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=www.dfi.dk |language=en}}

|Nominee

|Best Documentary

|Amanda Knox

2019

|Primetime Emmy Awards

|Nominee

|Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series

|Chef's Table

References

{{reflist}}