James Gunn (film maker)

James Gunn (born August 5, 1970, Saint Louis, Missouri) is an American writer, film maker, actor, musician, and cartoonist.

He is the brother of actor Sean Gunn, actor and political writer Matt Gunn, producer Patrick Gunn (previously Vice President of Artisan Entertainment), and writer Brian Gunn, who usually works with their cousin, Mark Gunn. He is married to actress and cartoonist Jenna Fischer. James and all of his male siblings attended the same high school, St. Louis University High.

Gunn began his film making career with Troma Entertainment, for whom he wrote and co-directed Tromeo and Juliet (1996). After contributing to several other Troma films, Gunn wrote, produced and performed in his own superhero comedy, The Specials, directed by Craig Mazin and featuring several notable actors including Rob Lowe, Thomas Haden Church, Melissa Joan Hart (in a brief cameo), Judy Greer and Jamie Kennedy. Kennedy was instrumental in getting the film made, having been shown the script by James' brother Sean. The film was made very quickly on a very low budget, and was moderately successful, but the quality of the screenplay got James noticed and, in his own words, launched his career. Gunn also met his wife, Jenna Fischer, on the film.

Gunn's first major Hollywood project was Scooby-Doo (2002). He has since written a number of films, including the 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead, and Monsters Unleashed (2004). Gunn became the first screenwriter in cinema history to write back-to-back #1 for the weekend box office hits, with Dawn of the Dead on March 19, 2004 and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed on March 26, 2004.

Gunn wrote and directed the critically acclaimed Slither (2006), a horror movie about an alien plague starring Nathan Fillion, Michael Rooker, Elizabeth Banks and Gregg Henry, as well as his wife.

Gunn has also written a novel, The Toy Collector, and, with Lloyd Kaufman, All I Need to Know about Filmmaking I Learned from the Toxic Avenger a book about Kaufman and Troma. During his college years, he also wrote comics for several college newspapers and underground magazines.

As a musician, Gunn released one album with his band, The Icons, Mom, We Like It Here on Earth (1994). He has written music for the films The Low Life (1994), as well as Scooby-Doo and Scooby-Doo 2.

Partial filmography

Slither (2006)
LolliLove (2006)
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004)
Dawn of the Dead (2004)
Tube (2004)
Scooby-Doo (2002)
The Specials (2000)
Tromeo and Juliet (1996)

Bibliography

All I Need to Know About Filmmaking I Learned from the Toxic Avenger with Lloyd Kaufman (1998)
The Toy Collector (2000)
Make Your Own Damn Movie: Secrets of a Renegade Director (introduction) (2003)

External links

Gourt Home::Gourt :: James Gunn (film maker)

Partial filmography

Bibliography

External links