Richard Martini

Richard Martini (born March 12 1955) is an American film director, producer and screenwriter.

Richard Martini grew up in Northbrook, Illinois. He made his feature film directorial debut with the “quintessential 80’s comedy” (TNT) "You Can’t Hurry Love," [http://movies2.nytimes.com/mem/movies/review.html?_r=1&res=9901E3DB1339F93AA15752C0A96E948260&oref=slogin] which featured the debut of Bridget Fonda. Martini was a Humanities Major at Boston University, attended USC Film School. His student short film "Lost Angels" ( [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-344185438752003728&hl=en view] ) was the film debut of fellow Chicago native Daryl Hannah, and his film "Special Olympians" ( [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3325688798504779868&hl=en view] ) won the 1980 Mexico City International Film Festival.

Martini left USC to work for writer/director Robert Towne ("Chinatown," "Ask The Dust") [http://members.aol.com/rwsmittjr/scripts/chinatown.txt] where he did everything from typing up Towne’s notes to walking Towne's Oscar nominated dog Hira. (Hira has the distinction of being the only dog ever nominated in the writing category; when Towne's script for "Greystoke" was nominated, he used the pseudonym P.H. Vazak, his dog's official name). [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087365/fullcredits#writers] It was after that Martini wrote his first feature “My Champion” [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087764/] which starred Christopher (son of Robert) Mitchum and Yoko Shimada (Shogun). He then wrote the Charlie Sheen comedy “Three For the Road” for Vista Films. [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094140/ ]

Martini directed a comedy short “Video Valentino” ( [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2361634104107662072&hl=en view] ) shot by fellow USC alum John Schwartzman (“Seabiscuit”) and produced by Jonathan Krane (“Face Off”) The short led to a deal with Vestron Pictures, where he made "You Can’t Hurry Love" based on the short. [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096483/ ]

Martini then co-wrote and directed two films for Producer Jonathan Krane; "Limit Up," [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097755/ ] starring Nancy Allen, Dean Stockwell and Ray Charles, and "Point of Betrayal," [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0121647/ ] with Rod Taylor and Dina Merril. Martini then worked on "Cannes Man" (also released as "Con Man" by Vanguard) [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115818/ ] starring Francesco Quinn and Seymour Cassel, with appearances by Johnny Depp and the "cast of characters who inhabit the film festival each year." Martini later directed the Dogme film "Camera – Dogme #15," ( [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9184330263672901544&hl=en view clip] ) shot on digital video; it follows the life of a video camera around the world. [http://www.dogme95.dk/dogme-films/filmlist.asp Dogme95 List]

He's also directed documentaries; "Tibetan Refugee" [http://www.vanguardcinema.com/tibetanrefugee/tibetanrefugee.html ] explores the Tibetan community in Dharamsala, "Sister Cities" [http://www.layalina.tv/programming/sistercities.asp ] explores the relationship between Chicago and Casablanca in the Eisenhower program, and "Journey Into Tibet" follows Buddhist scholar and author Robert Thurman [http://www.tibethouse.org/ Tibet House] on a sacred journey around Mt. Kailash in Western Tibet.

He recently co-wrote and produced “My Bollywood Bride” [http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117929393?categoryid=31&cs=1 Variety Review] starring Jason Lewis and Kashmera Shah. Among Martini’s television credits include producing segments and appearing on the award winning “Charles Grodin Show” on CNBC. He's also written freelance articles for Variety, Premiere, Inc.com, Epicurean Rendezvous and appears in USA Today as a commentator about "American Idol." [http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-04-25-idol-show-visit_x.htm Article]

He's married and has two children, lives in Santa Monica, California.

Filmography

My Bollywood Bride [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0397551/ ] – 2006 – Co-Writer, Associate Producer. DreamTeam Pictures. Jason Lewis, Kashmira Shah, Sanjay Suri, Golshen Grover. Hollywood meets Bollywood in a romantic comedy.

Cowboy Up [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0186202/ ] - Second Unit Dir. 2000 Xavier Koller, Kiefer Sutherland, Daryl Hannah. Orchid Prods. Championship Bull Riding.

Camera – Dogme #15 [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0278380/ ] – Director, Writer. Odyssey Pictures Prod. 2001 Carol Alt, Angie Everhart, Rebecca Broussard. Designated Dogme #15 by the Danish film group.

Cannes Man [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115818/] - Director, Co-Writer, Music. Rocket Pictures. 1997. Tom Coleman Prod. Seymour Cassel, Francesco Quinn. Guest appearances by Johnny Depp, John Malkovich. (“Hilarious” Hollywood Rep. “Fast, furious, fun satire” NY Post)

Point of Betrayal [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0121647/] - Director, Music. Trident/Dove International. 1996. Jonathan Krane Prod. Rod Taylor, Dina Merrill, Rebecca Broussard. Paramount Home Video (Rod Lurie - Buzz Magazine; “a terrific film” )

Limit Up [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097755/] - Writer/Director. MCEG. 1989 Jonathan Krane Prod. Nancy Allen, Dean Stockwell, Ray Charles. (Ent. Weekly - “Splendid, delightful, with good cast, good script, tidy direction.”)

You Can’t Hurry Love [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096483/] - Writer/Director. Vestron 1988 J.D. Krane Prod. Bridget Fonda, Charles Grodin. (`Three stars’ Chicago Sun Times.)

Three for the Road [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094140/] - Co-Writer, Story. Vista 1987 Charlie Sheen, Kerri Green. (“A jolly good time” NY Post “Charming” Newsday)

My Champion [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087764/] - Writer. Chris Mitchum, Yoko Shimada. Directed by Gwen Arner.

Documentaries

Journey into Tibet [http://hometown.aol.com/cktail/myhomepageindex.html ] - Director. Tibet House NY. Trip around Mt. Kailash (2006)

Sister Cities - [http://www.layalina.tv/programming/sistercities.asp ] Director. Layalina Productions. Chicago and Casablanca. (2005)

Tibetan Refugee [http://www.vanguardcinema.com/tibetanrefugee/tibetanrefugee.html ] - Director. Story of 50 new arrivals in Dharamsala. (2001)

External links

* [http://www.richmartini.com/ Richard Martini webpage]
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0553843/ IMDB article]
* [http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-04-25-idol-show-visit_x.htm USA Today article]
* [http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=martinifilms&hl=en Short films on Google]