Marc Turtletaub

Born in Lakewood, New Jersey,{{Cite news|url=https://www.app.com/story/entertainment/movies/2018/07/27/money-store-lakewood-marc-turtletaub-puzzle/835524002/|title=From the Money Store to making movies: How a Lakewood native got to Hollywood|work=Asbury Park Press|access-date=2018-07-27|language=en}} he grew up in Perth Amboy, New JerseyOrtner, Sherry, B. [https://books.google.com/books?id=aIqdEw2VToUC&pg=PA11 Not Hollywood: Independent Film at the Twilight of the American Dream], p. 118. Duke University Press, 2013, {{ISBN|978-0-8223-9968-1}}. Accessed November 13, 2017. "A second example of a progressive investor is Marc Turtletaub, head of Big Beach Productions.... I met him on the set of a later investing / producing project Sunshine Cleaning, and asked him about his background. He said he's from Perth Amboy, N.J." and the adjoining township of Woodbridge.{{Cite web|url=http://www.digifind-it.com/woodbridge/DATA/LeaderPress/1967/1967-04-27.pdf|title=Middlesex Leader Press, April 27, 1967, page 10}} He attended Rutgers Preparatory School, graduating in the class of 1963. The captain and center on the basketball team, he made All-State in his senior year and was inducted into the Rutgers Prep Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993. At the time of his induction, he was called a "class individual" by the former basketball coach.{{Cite web|url=http://www.digifind-it.com/franklin/data/Franklin%20Focus/1993/03%20March/03-12-1993.pdf |title=Franklin Focus, March 12, 1993 |page=24|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113113019/http://www.digifind-it.com/franklin/data/Franklin%20Focus/1993/03%20March/03-12-1993.pdf|archive-date=2017-11-13}} He was a political science major{{Cite web|url=https://dparchives.library.upenn.edu/?a=d&d=tdp19680801-01.2.29&srpos=11&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-marc+turtletaub+major-ARTICLE-----|title=The Daily Pennsylvanian 1 August 1968 — Daily Pennsylvanian Digital Archives|website=dparchives.library.upenn.edu|access-date=2019-09-13}} at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1967. He was a reporter and then managing editor of the campus newspaper, The Daily Pennsylvanian.{{Cite web|url=http://www.library.upenn.edu/docs/kislak/dp/1967/1967_02_10.pdf|title=Upenn docs}}{{Cite web|url=https://dparchives.library.upenn.edu/?a=d&d=tdp19670131-01.2.25&srpos=3&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-%22marc+turtletaub%22+Wharton------|title=The Daily Pennsylvanian 31 January 1967 — Daily Pennsylvanian Digital Archives|website=dparchives.library.upenn.edu|access-date=2019-09-13}} He received a "Men's Senior Honor Award" for "outstanding service to the University community"{{Cite web|title=Office of Student Affairs - Men's Senior Honor Awards 1900-Present {{!}} University of Pennsylvania|url=https://www.vpul.upenn.edu/osa/mensseniordawards.php|access-date=2020-08-08|website=www.vpul.upenn.edu}} and was selected to be a member of the prestigious Sphinx Senior Society.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sphinxseniorsociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Fall-2017-Newsletter.pdf|title=Sphinx Senior Society}} He attended New York University School of Law, graduating in 1970. He was admitted to the California Bar, becoming inactive in 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://apps.calbar.ca.gov/attorney/Licensee/Detail/85330|title=Marc Jay Turtletaub # 85330 - Attorney Licensee Search|website=apps.calbar.ca.gov}} He was a journalist for six years after finishing school, but always felt he was a storyteller.

File:The Money Store- TheMoneyStore.png

File:Sacramento-river-bank-pyramid-20.4.jpg

Turtletaub spent 20 years working for The Money Store, a business that his father, Alan Turtletaub, founded in 1967.[https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/1999/05/17/daily19.html Turtletaub resigns] The Money Store was a pioneer in the subprime lending industry, making home equity-secured second mortgages and other loans to people with blemished credit. Turtletaub succeeded his father as CEO and president in 1989,Odekon, Mehmet, [https://www.amazon.com/Booms-Busts-Encyclopedia-Economic-History/dp/0765682249 Booms and Busts: An Encyclopedia of Economic History from the First Stock Market Crash of 1792 to the Current Global Economic Crisis], page 542, 3rd Edition, (2010) M.E. Sharpe, {{ISBN|978-0765682246}} and took the company public in 1991, and then sold it in June 1998 to First Union Bank for $2.1 billion.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2000/voices/columns/financier-gets-friendly-to-forge-shingle-1117787220/|title=Financier gets Friendly to forge shingle|first1=Michael|last1=Fleming|date=October 3, 2000}} During his tenure the advertising-driven lending company's growth was phenomenal, and "had been quite profitable for the Turtletaub family."{{Citation|title=Money Store Sacramento 1997| date=February 22, 2015 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHFajYwGkNQ|language=en|access-date=2019-09-06}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/27/business/first-union-to-shut-down-money-store.html|title=First Union To Shut Down Money Store|last=McGeehan|first=Patrick|date=2000-06-27|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-03-22|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} At the time of the sale, revenue was $831 million/year, loan originations were more than $1 billion a quarter, there were 172 branches and 5000 employees; it was the nation's 5th-largest subprime lender, and the leading home equity and Small Business Administration lender.{{Cite web|url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2008/07/where-credit-due-timeline-mortgage-crisis/4/|title=Where Credit Is Due: A Timeline of the Mortgage Crisis|website=Mother Jones|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-09}}[https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2001/02/12/focus2.html Legacy of The Money Store] Turtletaub had built the {{convert|400000|sqft|adj=on}} Ziggurat shaped headquarter in West Sacramento, triggering a rebirth in the area.[https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2000/07/03/story7.html Down in flames] He subscribed to the ancient principles of feng shui, a Chinese geometric practice; with architect Ed Kado, he incorporated these features into the design of this "unique landmark."{{Cite web|url=https://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/dgs/pio/connections/connections-fall08.pdf|title=The "Zig", unique landmark, turns 10}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/48519934/Project-Ziggurat|title=Project Ziggurat {{!}} Feng Shui {{!}} Nature|website=Scribd|language=en|access-date=2019-09-02}} The need for a "deep pocket" led to the merger with First Union; bond rating agencies had downgraded The Money Store to junk bond status. Within a day of the merger it had a solid rating. "We will now benefit from the rating of the parent company. We are going to be in the driver's seat," Turtletaub said.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/1998/03/09/story3.htm|access-date=2020-10-16|title=Money Store rebounds after merger|website=www.bizjournals.com}} First Union had trouble integrating acquisitions,{{Cite news|url=http://businessnc.com/the-wachovia-waycategory/|title=The Wachovia Way - Business North Carolina|last=Digital|first=MAZ|date=2012-01-12|work=Business North Carolina|access-date=2018-03-22|language=en-US}} and The Money Store did not prosper after the merger. At the time of the severe liquidity crisis of August 1998, the subprime industry imploded. The main source of funds to replenish capital and to refinance new loans, securitization, dried up. Also, the parent company revamped many of the advertising programs that had made the company so previously successful; the Money Store was soon described as barely existing in the form that it was bought in.{{Cite news|url=http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/19990614/SUB/906140711/the-money-store-comes-up-short-after-big-changes-new-parent-wanted-national-presence-but-borrowing-drops-at-revamped-lender|title=The Money Store comes up short after big changes|last=Luh|first=Tami|work=Crain's New York Business|access-date=2018-04-28}} Turtletaub resigned as president and CEO in May, 1999. By October, 1999, the deal was called a "disaster" for First Union.[https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/1999/10/25/story4.html Sacramento stories] First Union, preparing for a Wachovia merger, split The Money Store into four divisions, and transferred First Union's bad home equity loans into The Money Store's home equity division.{{Cite web|url = http://www.occ.gov/static/interpretations-and-precedents/jul98/ca280.pdf|title = APPLICATION BY FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK TO ACQUIRE "THE MONEY STORE", INC.|date = June 29, 1998|access-date = 2015-09-15|website = Conditional Approval|publisher = Comptroller of the Currency Administrator of National Banks}} The student loan division, Educaid, and the SBA loan division were retained by First Union.

Turtletaub was a "generous donator" to federally elected officials; a friend of President Bill Clinton (FOB), he got to sleep in the Lincoln bedroom,Muolo, Paul; Padilla, Mathew (2008) Chain of Blame, p.35, {{ISBN|978-0470292778}} and had a private "coffee visit" with President Clinton and Senator Chris Dodd, then chairman of the Senate Banking Committee.{{Cite web|title=DODD COFFEE VISITS POINT TO PROXIMITY OF POLICY, POLITICS|url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1997-01-29-9701290242-story.html|last=Lightman|first=David|website=courant.com|date=January 29, 1997 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-28}}

The Money Store's use of political donations and lobbyists was described as the "classic example of the interaction of money, politics and regulation." Competitors felt that The Money Store was treated more favorably because of its political clout, with accusations that federal rulings in its favor were "politically fixed."{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/30/us/money-store-makes-investment-in-politics.html|title=Money Store Makes Investment in Politics|first=Stephen|last=Labaton|newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 30, 1997}}

The Money Store was closed in July, 2000, at a loss of $1.7 billion to First Union Bank Corp.

With a profit of $700 million from selling The Money Store, Turtletaub, decided to go into the film business.{{Cite web |date=2018-07-30 |title=Pieces of Work: Marc Turtletaub on Moving from Producing Indie Darlings to the Director's Chair for Puzzle - MovieMaker Magazine |url=https://www.moviemaker.com/marc-turtletaub-puzzle-interview/ |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=www.moviemaker.com |language=en-US}} He describes himself as a child of the counter-culture and only wants to make films he is passionate about and that have redemption, something more than entertainment. He wants to touch and change people and use his money, through film, to do good. He looks for screenplays that have something to say, are one of a kind,{{Cite web |last=Roman |first=Julian |date=2023-08-13 |title=Exclusive: Jules Director Marc Turtletaub on Sir Ben Kingsley, Aliens, and Supporting Independent Cinema |url=https://movieweb.com/marc-turtletaub-jules-interview/ |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=MovieWeb |language=en}} touch his heart,{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/video/debra-granik-marc-turtletaub-more-live-filmmakers-panel-close-up-hollywood-reporter-filmmakers-sunda-1077100|title=Debra Granik, Marc Turtletaub and More on Live Filmmakers Panel with Close-Up with The Hollywood Reporter {{!}} Filmmakers {{!}} Sundance 2018|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=2018-04-05|language=en}} have a powerful voice, illuminate the human condition and emotional connections,{{Cite web |date=2023-08-09 |title=Jules Director Marc Turtletaub on How a Little Blue Alien Can Be a Mirror for the Human Experience |url=https://www.moviemaker.com/jules-director-marc-turtletaub-aliens/ |access-date=2023-10-24 |website=www.moviemaker.com |language=en-US}} and are either life-affirming in some way, or life-revealing.{{Cite web |last=Tapia |first=Nancy |date=2023-08-15 |title=Marc Turtletaub Talks About Heart, Meaning And Entertainment In Jules |url=https://lrmonline.com/news/marc-turtletaub/ |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=LRM |language=en-US}} He prefers script writers and directors who are doing their first films, as he is looking for a fresh perspective.[http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews46_34/page48.cfm Producing style] sgn.org/sgnnews46_34/page48, Retrieved November 17, 2018{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjeAB6O8roI|title=Marc Turtletaub (Sunshine Cleaning)|date=October 5, 2008 |via=www.youtube.com}} Turtletaub's approach to filmmaking has been described as always "more idealistic than opportunistic."{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/big-beach-films-execs-talk-gay-conversion-therapy-drama-transgender-teen-film-three-generations|title=Berlin: Big Beach Films Execs Talk Gay Conversion Therapy Drama and Transgender Teen Film 'Three Generations' (Q&A)|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=2018-03-12|language=en}} Before entering the film world, Turtletaub spent almost a year meeting people in the film industry. He commented that he used the instincts he developed as a reporter to ask questions and learn the craft of filmmaking.{{Cite news|url=http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2018/aug/31/puzzle-director-learned-craft-by-asking|title=Puzzle director learned craft by asking questions|work=NWADG.com|access-date=2018-09-20|language=en}} In 2000 he teamed with producer David Friendly, forming Deep River Productions. The original plan was to use Turtletaub's resources to buy material to develop, then taking the properties to the studios for production. This modus operandi has been called "a recipe for disaster" and by 2005 he had scaled back and moved away from this strategy after an initial spending spree.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/19/movies/hollywood-welcomes-new-crop-of-moguls.html|title=Hollywood Welcomes New Crop of Moguls|last=Waxman|first=Sharon|date=2005-04-19|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-02-27|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} Several movies were produced by Deep River, most notably Little Miss Sunshine, a 2006 Academy Award nominee for best picture. Turtletaub originally bought Michael Arndt's repeatedly rejected script{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/sunshine-repeatedly-rejected-before-getting-made-1117957748/|title='Sunshine' repeatedly rejected before getting made|last=Barker|first=Andrew|date=2007-01-19|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2019-09-09}} for $250,000, repurchased it two years later for $400,000 and then paid the $8 million costs of production.{{Cite web|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2006-08-27-sunshine-hit_x.htm|title='Sunshine,' out of the shadows |website=USA Today}} The film was a box-office success{{Cite news|url=https://www.hypable.com/10-block-buster-movies-with-tiny-budgets/|title=20 low budget movies that became massive blockbusters|date=2014-02-11|work=Hypable|access-date=2018-03-18|language=en-US}} and critically acclaimed. Friendly and Turtletaub split after a six-year run.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2007/film/features/fox-friendly-ink-production-pact-1117972655/|title=Fox, Friendly ink production pact|first1=Michael|last1=Fleming|date=September 25, 2007}}

He joined with Peter Saraf in 2004 to form Big Beach Films, with Turtletaub realizing the "need to specialize."{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2004/film/news/turtletaub-surfs-big-beach-with-saraf-1117910720/|title=Turtletaub surfs Big Beach with Saraf|last=Fleming|first=Michael|date=2004-09-22|work=Variety|access-date=2018-02-25|language=en-US}} He describes himself and Saraf as creative producers, involved in every stage of the filmmaking, from the original idea through the editing process. They have produced over 20 movies, and, are best known for lower budget comedy-drama films,{{Cite web|url=https://www.siff.net/festival/puzzle|title=Puzzle|website=www.siff.net|language=en|access-date=2018-06-16}} such as Little Miss Sunshine and Safety Not Guaranteed. Safety Not Guaranteed has been called "one of the most influential films of the last decade." Made in 2012 with a first-time director and writer and costing less than a million dollars, this character driven indie caught the eye of Netflix, foreshadowing the role of streaming in film creation and distribution.{{Cite news|url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/06/how-safety-not-guaranteed-influenced-the-future-of-film.html|title=The Micro-Budget Indie That Foreshadowed the Next 5 Years of Film|last=Lincoln|first=Kevin|work=Vulture|access-date=2018-09-14|language=en}} Turtletaub produced the 2019 Sundance breakout The Farewell starring Awkwafina.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/awkwafina-drama-farewell-lands-at-a24-1179548|title=Sundance: Awkwafina Drama 'The Farewell' Lands at A24|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 27, 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-02-26}} Critically and financially successful,{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/08/luce-the-farewell-sundance-box-office-1202163126/|title='Luce' Opens Strong, 'The Farewell' Is Here to Stay as Sundance Makes Box-Office Comeback|last=Brueggemann|first=Tom|date=2019-08-04|website=IndieWire|language=en|access-date=2019-08-04}}{{Citation|title=The Farewell (2019)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_farewell_2019|language=en|access-date=2019-07-21}} The Farewell has been called a groundbreaking work for bringing a broad based Asian-American narrative to Hollywood, allowing members of the community "to see their own experiences and their own stories on the screen."{{Cite web|url=https://readysteadycut.com/2019/08/05/the-farewell-review-authentic-and-deeply-affecting/|title=The Farewell Review: Authentic and Deeply Affecting|last=Miller|first=M. N.|date=2019-08-05|website=Ready Steady Cut|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-09-15}} Another 2019 release was Marielle Heller's biographical film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/a-beautiful-day-neighborhood-review-1237823|title='A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood': Film Review {{!}} TIFF 2019|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=September 7, 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-09-11}} with Tom Hanks portraying Mr. Rogers.{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/tom-hanks-mister-rogers-image-a-beautiful-day-in-the-neighborhood/|title=Tom Hanks Is Mister Rogers in New Image from 'A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood'|last=Chitwood|first=Adam|date=2019-02-18|website=Collider|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-26}} The scripted drama premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival; it had made the 2013 Black List of the best unproduced screenplays.{{Cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/features/toronto-2019-preview-screens-guide-to-the-gala-titles/5142034.article|title=Toronto 2019 preview: Screen's guide to the Gala titles|date=2019-08-30|website=Screen|language=en|access-date=2019-08-31}} The story about a man dedicated to radical kindness has been viewed as a politically trenchant movie of the Trump era.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/13/movies/joker-toronto-film-festival.html?action=click&module=Features&pgtype=Homepage|title=Onscreen in Toronto|last=Manohla|first=Dargis|date=September 13, 2019|website=The New York Times|access-date=September 14, 2019}} These two 2019 releases have been described as humanistic and life affirming. The Farewell won the 2019 Spirit Award for best independent feature;{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmindependent.org/blog/here-are-the-winners-of-the-35th-film-independent-spirit-awards/|title=Here are the Winners of the 35th Film Independent Spirit Awards.|date=2020-02-09|website=Film Independent|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-11}} and, the two films were nominated for a total of three Golden Globe awards and one Academy Award. Turtletaub commented: "We have specific taste. People want to see stories that touch their heart. That's hard to define."{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2020/01/big-beach-the-farewell-a-beautiful-day-in-the-neighborhood-golden-globes-oscars-1202199860/|title=How Big Beach Backed Two 2020 Golden Globe Contenders|last=Thompson|first=Anne|date=2020-01-02|website=IndieWire|language=en|access-date=2020-01-03}} Documentary productions include Seed: The Untold Story, earning him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Nature Documentary;{{Citation|title=Seed: The Untold Story - IMDb|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5971724/awards|access-date=2019-08-23}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.seedthemovie.com/filmmaking-team|title=Filmmaking Team|website=Seed: The Untold Story|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-23}} Sheila Nevins and Davy Rothbart's 17 Blocks, the winner of multiple film festival awards;{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/07/mtv-documentary-films-sheila-nevins-17-blocks-st-louis-superman-1202653198/|title=MTV Documentary Films Sets First Two Pics Under Sheila Nevins|last= Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|date=2019-07-25|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=2019-08-23}}{{Cite web|last1=Keizer|first1=Mark|date=2020-07-04|title='17 Blocks': Film Review|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/17-blocks-review-1234698297/|access-date=2020-08-06|website=Variety|language=en}} and, an as yet untitled Led Zeppelin feature, told in their own voices for the first time.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/05/led-zeppelin-feature-doc-cannes-1202609671/|title=Led Zeppelin Gets Feature Doc Treatment From Team Behind 'American Epic' – Cannes|last=White|first=Peter|date=2019-05-08|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=2019-08-23}}

In 2014 Turtletaub started a TV division, Big Beach TV,{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2016/12/big-beach-robin-schwartz-head-tv-division-1201867140/|title=Big Beach Taps Robin Schwartz To Head TV Division|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=2016-12-08|work=Deadline|access-date=2018-03-31|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/sundance-london-audience-winner-the-farewell-director-lulu-wang-sets-sci-fi-feature/5141051.article|title=Sundance London audience winner 'The Farewell' director Lulu Wang sets sci-fi feature|last=Kay|date=2019-07-08|first=Jeremy|website=Screen|language=en|access-date=2019-08-05}} which works closely with his L.A. affiliate, Beachside,{{Cite news|url=https://www.lafilm.edu/blog/beachside-films-seeks-interns/|title=Beachside Films Seeks Interns|date=2015-04-14|work=The Los Angeles Film School|access-date=2018-03-18|language=en-US}} focusing on micro-budget features and digital content.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2014/tv/news/big-beach-films-launches-tv-division-headed-by-ifcs-dan-pasternack-exclusive-1201259794/|title=Big Beach Films Launches TV Division Headed by IFC's Dan Pasternack (EXCLUSIVE)|first1=Cynthia|last1=Littleton|date=July 9, 2014}} Through Big Beach TV, Turtletaub has produced the Starz drama Vida and Elizabeth Olsen's "engrossing" Sorry for Your Loss.{{Cite web |last=Keene |first=Allison |date=2018-09-21 |title=Sorry for Your Loss Review: Facebook Watch Just Became Essential |url=https://collider.com/sorry-for-your-loss-review/ |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=Collider |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/02/five-women-limited-series-marielle-heller-sexual-harassment-big-beach-this-american-life-1202863930/|title='Five Women': Marielle Heller & Big Beach Reteam For Limited Series About How Serial Sexual Harasser Affects Employees|last=Pedersen|first=Erik|date=2020-02-20|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=2020-02-27}} Vida has been described as groundbreaking; it has the first all-Latinx writers room on TV, with several queer writers and all but one writer identifying as female.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/05/vida-season-two-review-starz.html|title=Vida's Latinx, Queer Perspective Is More Distinctive, and Vital, Than Ever|last=Chaney|first=Jen|date=2019-05-23|website=Vulture|language=en-us|access-date=2020-04-01}} It has created "a safe space for stories regarding Latinx and freedom of sexual identity." A critical and ratings success,{{Cite web|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/tv/trailers/1127680-vida-ending-with-season-3|title=Starz's Groundbreaking Drama Vida Ending With Season 3|date=2020-03-18|website=ComingSoon.net|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-01}} it has allowed the Mexican-American and queer "communities to feel recognized in a way that the vast majority of television does not." In 2021 Vida received an Imagen nomination for Best Primetime Program – Comedy.{{Cite web|last=Schneider|first=Michael|date=2021-08-02|title=2021 Imagen Awards Film and TV Nominations Announced (Full List)|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/awards/imagen-awards-nominations-2021-list-1235033023/|access-date=2021-08-04|website=Variety|language=en-US}} Turtletaub was executive producer of the filmed version of the Obie and New York Drama Critics' Circle award-winning Broadway play What the Constitution Means to Me, starring Heidi Schreck.{{Cite web|title='What the Constitution Means to Me' Gets Filmed Treatment at Amazon {{!}} Hollywood Reporter|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/what-the-constitution-means-to-me-gets-filmed-treatment-at-amazon|access-date=2020-10-14|website=Hollywood Reporter|date=September 17, 2020 }} It began streaming on Amazon Prime October 16, 2020. The production has been described as a "flashing catastrophe alert."{{Cite web|date=2020-10-13|title=What the Constitution Means to Me: Heidi Schreck Tells Us What We Need to Hear|url=http://nystagereview.com/2020/10/13/what-the-constitution-means-to-me-heidi-schreck-tells-us-what-we-need-to-hear/|access-date=2020-10-14|website=New York Stage Review|language=en-US}} In 2021 Turtletaub, along with Alex Turtletaub and Saraf, was an executive producer of the IDA Award nominee{{Cite web|last=Carey|first=Matthew|date=2021-11-15|title='Summer of Soul,' 'Not Going Quietly,' 'Faya Dayi' Lead Pack As IDA Awards Nominations Announced|url=https://deadline.com/2021/11/ida-awards-nominations-announced-summer-of-soul-not-going-quietly-faya-dayi-news-1234874203/|access-date=2021-11-30|website=Deadline|language=en-US}} HBO documentary series Nuclear Family; Big Beach was one of the production companies.

In February, 2022, Big Beach moved its headquarters to Los Angeles and laid off an unknown number of staff. Saraf had "quietly" left in 2021. The cuts have been described as a sign of the difficulty facing indie filmmakers, "even those with awards pedigree and decades of survival."{{Cite web |last=Donnelly |first=Matt |date=2022-02-17 |title=Big Beach Hit With Layoffs, Shutters New York Headquarters (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/big-beach-films-layoffs-new-york-office-closed-1235182762/ |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} Big Beach announced in 2024 that they had fully relocated to Los Angeles, and that their films Out of My Mind (film) and Winner (2024 film) would premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.{{Cite web |last=Lang |first=Brent |date=2024-01-05 |title='Little Miss Sunshine Producer Big Beach Staffs Up After Los Angeles Move' (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/big-beach-new-hires-los-angeles-move-sundance-1235862447/|access-date=2022-05-18 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

His theatrical producing debut was in 2009, the Off-Broadway Sleepwalk with Me.{{Cite news|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/97978/mike-birbiglias-sleepwalk-with-me-extends-off-broadway/|title=Mike Birbiglia's Sleepwalk With Me Extends Off-Broadway|work=Broadway.com|access-date=2018-05-01|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Marc-Turtletaub/|title=Marc Turtletaub Theatre Credits|website=www.broadwayworld.com|language=en|access-date=2018-05-01}} Broadway productions include the revivals of Of Mice and Men, Sylvia, Burn This (2019){{Cite web|url=https://bigbeach.com/work/|title=Work {{!}} Big Beach|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-05}} and Les Liaisons Dangereuses.{{Cite web|title=Big Beach Stage Productions, New York, New York, NY, NY|url=https://www.theatricalindex.com/company/view/id/2512|access-date=2021-09-02|website=www.theatricalindex.com|language=en}}

In 2011 he directed Gods Behaving Badly, a film adaption of the 2007 satirical novel of the same name. The film was never released,{{Cite web|last=Adams|first=Lee|date=2022-02-04|title=Gods Behaving Badly: The Unreleased Christopher Walken Project We've Never Seen|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/757274/gods-behaving-badly-the-unreleased-christopher-walken-project-weve-never-seen/|access-date=2022-02-14|website=SlashFilm.com|language=en-US}} and played only once, at the 2013 Rome Film Festival, where it received negative reviews.{{Cite web |last=Weissberg |first=Jay |date=2013-11-24 |title=Rome Film Review: 'Gods Behaving Badly' |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/gods-behaving-badly-review-rome-1200876268/ |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2013/film/markets-festivals/gods-behaving-badly-review-rome-1200876268/|title=Rome Film Review: 'Gods Behaving Badly'|first1=Jay|last1=Weissberg|date=November 24, 2013}}

He directed the 2018 film Puzzle, an English-language remake of the 2010 Argentinian film. Described as a lovely, gentle movie,{{Cite web|title=Power Through January Thanks To These 5 Inspirational Films|url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/best-inspirational-films|access-date=2021-01-16|website=British Vogue|date=January 11, 2021 |language=en-GB}} it received generally excellent reviews with a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 83%. It has been credited as having "broken a glass ceiling" when it had an Asian Indian, Irfan Khan, as a romantic lead in an American film.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/entertainment/dear-irrfanan-open-letter-from-subhash-k-jha-on-his-birthday|title=Dear Irrfan…An open letter from Subhash K Jha on his birthday|website=National Herald|date=January 7, 2020 |language=en|access-date=2020-01-07}} Puzzle was chosen to open the 2018 Edinburgh Film Festival.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/tag/edinburgh-international-film-festival/|title=Edinburgh International Film Festival|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=2018-05-01}} This was Khan's last role in an American movie, as the acclaimed actor died shortly later.{{Cite web|title=Naseeruddin Shah: 'Irrfan's legacy is like a constellation of stars for every actor to take inspiration from'|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/naseeruddin-shah-irrfan-khan-death-6390360/|date=2020-05-03|website=The Indian Express|language=en|access-date=2020-05-28}} Turtletaub was motivated to direct Puzzle for a personal reason. Puzzle was dedicated to his mother, Beatrice Ann Turtletaub.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/every-time-i-cast-an-actor-there-is-a-birth-that-occurs-marc-turtletaub-on-puzzle|title=Every Time I Cast an Actor, There Is a Birth That Occurs: Marc Turtletaub on Puzzle {{!}} Interviews {{!}} Roger Ebert|last=Fagerholm|first=Matt|website=www.rogerebert.com|date=July 18, 2018 |language=en|access-date=2018-07-28}}

"It’s a story about a woman who’s a mother and a wife living in suburban Connecticut, doting on her husband and her sons. And I knew that woman – it was my mother. I grew up in suburban New Jersey, and she doted on my dad and me. When I read [the screenplay], I felt like it was a story I could tell."{{Cite news|url=https://www.theupcoming.co.uk/2018/06/22/puzzle-interview-director-marc-turtletaub-discusses-the-power-of-spontaneity/|title=Puzzle interview: Director Marc Turtletaub discusses the power of spontaneity|work=The Upcoming|access-date=2018-06-26}}

He directed (and produced) Jules, a movie starring Ben Kingsley and Jane Curtin. Filming started September 10, 2021, in Boonton, New Jersey. It is about an unusual visitor to a small western Pennsylvania town.{{Cite web|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=2021-09-09|title=Ben Kingsley, Jane Curtin & More Board Marc Turtletaub's Feature 'Jules'|url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/ben-kingsley-jane-curtin-more-board-marc-turtletaub-movie-jules-1234829650/|access-date=2021-10-29|website=Deadline|language=en-US}} The film had its world premier at the 2023 Sonoma International Film Festival in March, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Ravindran |first=Manori |date=2023-04-26 |title=Bleecker Street Buys UFO Drama 'Jules' Starring Ben Kingsley |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/global/ben-kingsley-bleecker-street-jules-1235595389/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} It was the opening night film and won the Stolman Audience Award for Best Feature.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-23 |title=Film festival kicks off with star-studded premiere |url=https://www.sonomanews.com/article/news/sonoma-international-film-fest-opens-wednesday-night/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=Sonoma Index-Tribune |language=en-US}} At the 18th Rome Film Festival, the film was awarded the Ugo Tognazzi Prize for Best Comedy.{{Cite news |title=ROME FILM FEST |url=https://my.romacinemafest.org/media/16547/winners-2023.pdf}} Bleecker Street released the film in theaters August 11, 2023.{{Cite web |title=Jules - Movie Reviews - Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/jules/reviews |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}

Borges and Me: An Encounter, Jay Parini’s novelized memoir about his 1970 road trip through the Scottish Highlands with Jorge Luis Borges, is being adapted into a film directed by Turtletaub.{{Cite web |last=Barraclough |first=Leo |date=2024-10-02 |title=Fionn Whitehead, Luis Gnecco, Alan Cumming to Star in 'Borges and Me' Film Adaptation |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/global/fionn-whitehead-luis-gnecco-alan-cumming-borges-and-me-1236162853/ |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

Marie Phillips, the author of the novel Gods Behaving Badly, described Turtletaub on-set as genial, good-natured and friendly.{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/when-hollywood-comes-a-calling-think-twice-9657055.html|title=When Hollywood comes a-calling... think twice|date=2014-08-10|work=The Independent|access-date=2018-03-23|language=en-GB}}

His style is radical and unique.{{Cite web|url=http://www.filmjournal.com/features/picking-pieces-marc-turtletaubs-puzzle-stars-kelly-macdonald-housewife-who-finds|title=Picking Up the Pieces: Marc Turtletaub's 'Puzzle' stars Kelly Macdonald as a housewife who finds fulfillment in jigsaws {{!}} Film Journal International|website=www.filmjournal.com|language=en|access-date=2018-07-25}} he does no rehearsals, and, allows the "actors free to bring in what they can bring in" and surprise him.{{Cite web |title=Marc Turtletaub on Jules |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/ridiculously-imaginative-grounded-and-poetic-director-marc-turtletaub-on-jules |access-date=October 12, 2023 |website=Rogerebert.com|date=August 10, 2023 }} He only does a few takes, at most, which he feels allows "something fresh to come in," not necessarily his original vision.{{Citation|last=Park City Television|title=Puzzle|date=2018-02-02|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fP-cbQaeLU&t=373s|access-date=2018-03-23}}

Turtletaub has two sons{{Cite web|title=Q&A with producer Marc Turtletaub|url=https://www.daily-journal.com/life/entertainment/q-a-with-producer-marc-turtletaub/article_e48fd260-8e85-11e8-be1f-3fd8fd4477f8.html|website=The Daily Journal|date=July 27, 2018 |language=en|access-date=2020-05-27}} and is married to Maureen Curran-Turtletaub,{{Cite web|title=being human spring-fall 2019|url=https://issuu.com/anthrousa/docs/bh23-web/16|website=Issuu|date=June 24, 2019 |language=en|access-date=2020-05-27}} a movement educator for over 30 years{{Cite web|title=Summer 2013 Course Book - Rudolf Steiner College|url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/30709708/summer-2013-course-book-rudolf-steiner-college|access-date=2020-08-26|website=yumpu.com|language=en}} and founder and director of Movement as a Path for Transformation.{{Cite web|title=the-art-of-waldorf-education-rudolf-steiner-college|url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/28068560/the-art-of-waldorf-education-rudolf-steiner-college|access-date=2020-08-23|website=yumpu.com|language=en}} p.32 Described as "prominent Sacramento philanthropists," they established Meristem in 2014 on 13 "bucolic" acres near the American River.{{Cite web|title=Autism Transition: Returning To Craft And The Land - Forbes|url=https://www.dgw.tv/exercise-programs/autism-transition-returning-to-craft-and-the-land-forbes.php|date=2020-02-13|website=The Weight Loss And Diet Portal|access-date=2020-05-29}} Inspired by and using John Ruskin's "craft and land" philosophy of education,{{Cite web|last=Gordon|first=Anghus|title=Ruskin in Today's World|url=https://www.guildofstgeorge.org.uk/media/1426/thecompanion12.pdf|website=Guild of St. George|pages=12}} Meristem educates young adults with ASD and other developmental differences, transitioning them so they will better succeed as adults in an evolving post-industrial society.{{Cite web |date=May 1, 2023 |title=MERISTEM |url=https://www.comstocksmag.com/sponsored/meristem |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=Comstock's magazine |language=en}}

He has remained politically active since leaving The Money Store. He has supported Democratic candidates at many levels of office, from city to federal.{{Cite web|title=Rep. Doris O Matsui - California District 05|url=https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/contributors?cid=N00027459&cycle=2008&recs=100&type=I|website=OpenSecrets|language=en|access-date=2020-05-28|last3=info|first3=DC 20005 telelphone857-0044}}{{Cite web|title=Marc Turtletaub donates $5,600 to Chris Pappas' campaign committee from January to June|url=https://hillsboroughsun.com/stories/550218113-marc-turtletaub-donates-5-600-to-chris-pappas-campaign-committee-from-january-to-june|access-date=2021-09-16|website=Hillsborough Sun|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Hillary Victory Fund|url=https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00010603/1100849/sa/12/1|date=2016}}{{Cite web|title=Follow the money|url=https://mauitime.com/news/follow-the-money/|website=mauitime.com|access-date=2020-05-28}} In addition to Sacramento, since 2000 Turtletaub has had residences in Los Angeles, the West Village, Orcas Island,{{Cite web|date=2019-10-02|title=Orcas Island Film Festival: How this remote spot in Puget Sound attracts such high-caliber fare|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/movies/orcas-island-film-festival-how-this-remote-spot-in-puget-sound-attracts-such-high-caliber-fare/|access-date=2020-08-22|website=The Seattle Times|language=en-US}} and Makena, Hawaii.

He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.

;As director

;As writer

;As an actor

;Thanks

• Independent Spirit Award for Best Film, 2006, Little Miss Sunshine
• Producers Guild of America Award for Best Theatrical Motion Picture, 2006, Little Miss Sunshine
• Producers Guild of America Award, 2016 - The Stanley Kramer Award,[https://variety.com/2016/film/news/loving-producers-guild-stanley-kramer-award-1201936561/ Kramer Award] 2016 Loving
• Independent Spirit Award for Best Film, 2019, The Farewell

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb name}}
• [https://filmschoolrejects.com/filmmaking-tips-marc-turtletaub/ Six moviemaking tips from Marc Turtletaub]

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Category:1946 births

Category:Living people

Category:Film producers from New Jersey

Category:New York University School of Law alumni

Category:People from Perth Amboy, New Jersey

Category:People from Woodbridge Township, New Jersey

Category:Rutgers Preparatory School alumni

Category:Wharton School alumni

Category:The Daily Pennsylvanian people

Category:American chief executives of financial services companies

Category:American newspaper reporters and correspondents

Category:California lawyers

Category:People from Lakewood Township, New Jersey

Category:Film directors from New Jersey

Category:American film production company founders