Kaz Firpo

Firpo was born and raised in San Francisco, California, the youngest son of artists Claudia Katayanagi and Patrick Firpo, and brother of creative director Danny Firpo.{{Cite news|url=https://actu.fr/normandie/barneville-carteret_50031/barneville-carteret-realisateur-americain-sublime-station-balneaire_851284.html|title=Barneville-Carteret : un réalisateur américain sublime la station balnéaire|access-date=2017-05-14|language=fr-FR}} He graduated from Sir Francis Drake High School in Marin County in 2008, making his first films with a borrowed video camera from school.{{Cite web|last=Wakeman|first=Gregory|date=2021-11-04|title=How two Bay Area cousins scored a gig writing a Marvel movie|url=https://www.sfgate.com/streaming/article/marvel-eternals-kaz-ryan-firpo-sf-screenwriters-16589342.php|access-date=2022-01-16|website=SFGATE|language=en-US}} He then attended New York University, majoring in Film & Television and Classical Studies at the Tisch School of the Arts.{{Cite web|url=http://www.liberalstudies.nyu.edu/object/forbes.html|title=Alum Named to Forbes 30 Under 30, LS|publisher=New York University|date=October 10, 2016|access-date=May 14, 2017|archivedate=April 18, 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418022622/http://www.liberalstudies.nyu.edu/object/forbes.html}}

Firpo began as a commercial director straight out of film school, working with startups Snapchat and Tinder in their early days to direct their first commercials.{{Cite web|url=https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/ad-day-tinder-plus-takes-girl-wild-adventures-love-sex-and-travel-163270/|title=Ad of the Day: Tinder Plus Takes a Girl on Wild Adventures in Love, Sex and Travel|author=Nudd, Tim|date=March 4, 2015|website=AdWeek|language=en-US|access-date=March 3, 2020}} His work with Tinder earned him a spot in Adweek{{'s}} 2015 Top Commercials of the Year.{{Cite web|author=Burgi, Michael|url=https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/check-out-9-years-best-written-directed-and-produced-videos-166413/|title=Check Out 9 of the Year's Best Written, Directed and Produced Videos|website=AdWeek|language=en-US|date=August 17, 2015|access-date=May 22, 2021}}

Firpo's directorial debut, Refuge, documented human stories from the Syrian refugee crisis. The film was shot in Leros, Lesvos, and Athens, Greece.{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/greece-refugees-film_us_573204b7e4b016f378972206|title=Refugees Passing Through Greece Share Their Tragedies In Heartwrenching Film|last=Frej|first=Willa|date=2016-05-26|work=Huffington Post|access-date=2017-05-14|language=en-US}}{{cite web|url=https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/refuge-project-refugees-film-greece-syria/|author=Werft, Meghan|title=Filmmakers Travel From NYC to Greece, Uncovering The Human Side of The Refugee Crisis|publisher=Global Citizen|date=September 13, 2016|access-date=May 14, 2017|archive-date=September 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914180113/https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/refuge-project-refugees-film-greece-syria/|url-status=dead}} The film premiered at SXSW, and won Best Documentary at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/santa-barbara-film-festival-2017-award-winners-1201984675/|title=Santa Barbara Film Festival Announces 2017 Award Winners|last=Ahern|first=Sarah|date=2017-02-11|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2020-03-03}} He went on to work internationally with UNICEF, creating an original documentary series highlighting their frontline work in Chiapas, Mexico and Kingston, Jamaica.{{Cite news|url=https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/jamaica-local-heroes-help-kids-build-safer-futures/32151|title=In Jamaica, Local Heroes Help Kids Build Safer Futures|work=UNICEF USA|access-date=May 14, 2017|language=en}}

His debut short film, Child's Play, starring Tony Award-winner David Alvarez, won Best Screenplay at the Beverly Hills Film Festival.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lasplash.com/publish/Entertainment/cat_index_la_events/13-th-annual-beverly-hills-film-festival-announces-award-winners-at-gala-awards-ceremony.php|title=13th Annual Beverly Hills Film Festival Announces Award Winners at Gala Awards Ceremony – Fest Expands to Japan|magazine=Splash Magazines|author=Burgett, Heather|language=en|date=May 12, 2013|access-date=October 5, 2021|archivedate=August 5, 2013|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130805210133/https://www.lasplash.com/publish/Entertainment/cat_index_la_events/13-th-annual-beverly-hills-film-festival-announces-award-winners-at-gala-awards-ceremony.php}}

Firpo's 2017 Black List-winning script, Ruin, co-written with his cousin and writing partner Ryan Firpo, had Margot Robbie attached, and Justin Kurzel set to direct.{{Cite news|url=http://www.tracking-board.com/justin-kurzel-attached-to-direct-hot-spec-ruin-which-has-multiple-studio-offers-exclusive/|title=Justin Kurzel Attached to Direct Hot Spec "Ruin," Which Has Multiple Studio Offers (Exclusive)|date=2017-03-31|work=The Tracking Board|access-date=2017-05-14|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|last=McNary|first=Dave|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/margot-robbie-matthias-schoenaerts-world-war-ii-thriller-ruin-1202927252/|title=Margot Robbie, Matthias Schoenaerts to Star in World War II Thriller 'Ruin'|date=2017-10-11|work=Variety|access-date=2017-10-12|language=en-US}} His original tropicpunk thriller Mimi from Rio was purchased in a bidding war by Netflix, and has Ridley Scott set to produce.{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2017/12/mimi-from-rio-netflix-matthew-firpo-ryan-firpo-1202220110/|title=Netflix Wins Sci-Fi Spec Script 'Mimi From Rio'|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|date=2017-12-05|work=Deadline|access-date=2018-02-16|language=en-US}}

In May 2018, it was announced that the Firpos were hired by Marvel Studios to write Eternals based on the Marvel Comics space gods of the same name, to be released as part of "Phase Four" of the MCU.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/marvel-sets-black-list-writers-eternals-movie-1112084|title=Marvel Sets Black List Writers for 'Eternals' Movie (Exclusive)|last=Kit|first=Borys|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 15, 2018|access-date=May 20, 2018}} The film wrapped principal photography in February 2020,{{Cite web|date=2020-02-02|title=Marvel's Eternals Movie Has Finished Filming|url=https://screenrant.com/marvel-eternals-movie-wraps-finishes-filming/|access-date=2020-03-03|website=ScreenRant|language=en-US}} and in May 2021 it was announced that the film's director, Academy Award-winner Chloé Zhao, and Patrick Burleigh, would share screenplay credit with the Firpos, and that the Firpos would receive sole story credit.{{Cite web |last=Vary |first=Adam B. |date=May 24, 2021 |title=The 'Eternals' Trailer Finally Reveals How Chloé Zhao's Vision Will Fit in the MCU |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/eternals-chloe-zhao-marvel-trailer-1234980521/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524231420/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/eternals-chloe-zhao-marvel-trailer-1234980521/ |archive-date=May 24, 2021 |access-date=May 24, 2021 |website=Variety}} Eternals was released in November 2021, and grossed over $401 million worldwide, becoming the tenth-highest-grossing film of 2021.{{Cite web|title=2021 Worldwide Box Office|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/world/2021/|access-date=2022-01-16|website=Box Office Mojo}}

Netflix announced in 2021 that Kaz Firpo and Ryan Firpo had been hired to launch the Millarworld Cinematic Universe by adapting Mark Millar's epic adventure series, Prodigy, as a globetrotting tentpole franchise.{{Cite web|last=Patten|first=Dominic|date=2021-05-06|title=Netflix & Mark Millar Roll Out Big Plans With 'Super Crooks' Debut, Untitled Spy Show, 'Prodigy' Scribe + More|url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/netflix-mark-miller-super-crooks-jupiters-legacy-magic-order-prodigy-1234750645/|access-date=2022-01-16|website=Deadline|language=en-US}} In October, Firpo created the YouTube Original Series SiGNALS, a mixed-media extravaganza exploring climate change through the wild hopes, fears, and anxieties of everyday objects.{{Cite web|last1=Hailu|first1=Katie Song,Danielle Turchiano,Jennifer Yuma,Selome|last2=Song|first2=Katie|last3=Turchiano|first3=Danielle|last4=Yuma|first4=Jennifer|last5=Hailu|first5=Selome|date=2021-09-23|title=YouTube Originals Acquires 'Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free: The Making of Wildflowers' (TV News Roundup)|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/tom-petty-somewhere-you-feel-free-youtube-tv-news-roundup-1235071796/|access-date=2022-01-16|website=Variety|language=en-US}}

In November 2021, SlashFilm confirmed that Firpo is writing and directing his debut feature film, The Motor City Girls, a myth of the American midwest about five half-sisters with strange and dangerous powers hunting down a cult in 1990s Detroit.{{Cite web|last=Mathai|first=Jeremy|date=2021-11-21|title=Eternals Screenwriters' Next Movie Is 'The Matrix Meets The Virgin Suicides' [Exclusive]|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/666987/eternals-screenwriters-next-movie-is-the-matrix-meets-the-virgin-suicides-exclusive/|access-date=2022-01-16|website=SlashFilm.com|language=en-US}}

• Refuge (2017) – director, producer
• SiGNALS (2021) – creator, director{{Citation|title=Plastic Must Die {{!}} SiGNALS| date=28 October 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gujvvV_FqSM|language=en|access-date=2022-01-16}}
• Eternals (2021) – screenplay (with Chloé Zhao, Patrick Burleigh and Ryan Firpo), story (with Ryan Firpo)

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official Website|www.MKF.tv|name=Official Website}}
• {{IMDb name|3303922}}
• [https://www.forbes.com/pictures/eihl45kdjm/matthew-k-firpo-25-ma/amp/ Forbes 30 Under 30]
• [https://vimeo.com/455851678 NYU Tisch alumnus video interview]
• {{Cite web|author=Firpo|first=Kaz|url=https://suitcasemag.com/fashion/shot-on-location/pop-and-suki-acido-dorado-joshua-tree/|title=Desert Mirage 'The Getaway'|date=September 21, 2016|website=Suitcase Magazine|language=en-GB|access-date=May 14, 2017|archive-date=May 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507140822/https://suitcasemag.com/fashion/shot-on-location/pop-and-suki-acido-dorado-joshua-tree/|url-status=dead}}
• {{Cite web|author=Firpo|first=Kaz|url=https://suitcasemag.com/fashion/shot-on-location/in-the-beginning-go-behind-the-scenes/|url-status=dead|title=In the Beginning...Go behind the scenes|website=Suitcase Magazine|language=en-GB|date=March 9, 2015|access-date=March 3, 2020|archive-date=March 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303094346/https://suitcasemag.com/fashion/shot-on-location/in-the-beginning-go-behind-the-scenes/}}

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Category:Tisch School of the Arts alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Film directors from San Francisco

Category:1982 births

Category:Archie Williams High School alumni

Category:Screenwriters from California

Category:21st-century American screenwriters

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