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{{sprotected2}}'''Don Murphy''' is an ] ] who rose to prominence with the film '']''. He is seen as a producer who, while hard to work with, has a drive to get results. Murphy grew up in ] and attended film school at the ]. He collaborated with ] to set up JD Productions, and he later created his own company, Angry Films. He was attached as a producer to the 2007 big-budget film '']'', though he was criticized by the studios for using his personal website as a vehicle for ''Transformers'' fans to discuss the film, which had numerous negative postings. Murphy has several films in development with Angry Films.
'''Don Murphy''' is an ] ] (born on ]<ref name=BMZ> {{cite news |title=Producer Profile:Don Murphy |url=http://www.bigmoviezone.com/filmsearch/producers/producer_display.html?uniq=343 |publisher= |location=Big Movie Zone |accessdate=2008-03-24 }} </ref>, ]) <ref name=IGN>{{cite news |author= "Stax"|title= 10 Questions: Don Murphy|url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/380/380337p1.html |publisher=IGN Movies|date=2008-12-17 |accessdate=2008-03-24 |language= |quote= |archiveurl= |archivedate= }} </ref> who produced the film '']''.<ref name="Ammo">{{cite news
| first = Anne | last = Thompson |
|url=http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/news/va/20060113/113714458500p.html
|title=For producer Murphy, 'no' is not an answer
|date=] ]
|publisher='']''
|accessdate=2007-04-16}}</ref>


==Personal life== ==History==
Don Murphy received his graduate degree from ] in ], he went on to establish JD Productions with fellow USC graduate ], subsequently optioning and producing the then unknown ]'s script for '']'' with director ]. The production was later documented in detail by Hamsher in her book ''Killer Instinct''.<ref>{{cite news | first = Dana | last = Kennedy | title = Natural Born Killers producer Jane Hamsher savages director Oliver Stone and screenwriter Quentin Tarantino in a brutally candid tell-all about the making of an American psychodrama | url = | work = Entertainment Weekly | publisher = | pages = | page = 74 | date = 1997-09-19 | accessdate = | language = English}}</ref>
Don Murphy grew up in ] in the 1970s,<ref name="new york times">{{cite news |first=Laura M. |last=Holson |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title= Fans Get to Talk About ' Transformers ,' and the Knives Are Unsheathed |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/09/business/media/09fans.html?pagewanted=1 |format= |work=] |publisher=] |location=New York |id= |pages= |page= |date=] |accessdate=2008-03-16 |language= |quote= |archiveurl= |archivedate= }}</ref> He was an undergraduate student at ], where he was the film critic for the school's newspaper and also the head of the student film program. Though he almost attended ],<ref name="la weekly">{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Cullum |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=The Misfits |url=http://www.laweekly.com/news/features/the-misfits/3407/ |work=] |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2008-03-16 }}</ref> he instead attended the ] at the ] with ].<ref>{{cite news |first=Craig |last=Lindsey |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title=Producer crafts petty Hollywood stab-and-tell story |url= |format= |work=] |publisher=] |location=Texas |id= |pages= |page= |date=] |accessdate=2008-03-16 |language= |quote= |archiveurl= |archivedate= }}</ref> He has been called a "comic-book lover".<ref name="new york times"/> Murphy has called Springsteen cover of "]" a favorite and also explained, "There's a lot of weird strange music I like." His favorite old-school film is '']'', and his favorite new-school film is '']''. He also enjoys watching the TV show '']''. His favorite books include '']'' and '']''.<ref name="ign"/> Murphy is 6'2" tall and has an Irish background.<ref name="la weekly"/>


Murphy and Hamser went on to produce several more films, including '']'', '']'', and '']'', which attracted generally positive reviews and a number of awards. Murphy then formed his own company, Angry Films, which, beginning with '']'', has produced a number of films and has others in various stages of production ],<ref name=Ammo /> including '']'' with ] and '']'', a ] film, as well as '']'' with ]. He is one of the originating producers of the 2007 '']'' ] film, along with ].<ref name=Ammo />
Murphy collaborated with Hamsher in writing her book, ''Killer Instinct'', about their roles as producers in '']'' and beyond. Director ], who scripted ''Natural Born Killers'', was given an "unflattering portrayal", and the director attacked Murphy at a Los Angeles restaurant in October 1997.<ref>{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Caro |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title=Gunning for Tarantino |url= |format= |work=] |publisher=] |location=Illinois |id= |pages= |page= |date=] |accessdate=2008-03-16 |language= |quote= |archiveurl= |archivedate= }}</ref> ] brokered a truce between the two, and no charges were filed, though Murphy was reported to consider legal action.<ref>{{cite news |first=Joel |last=Stein |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title=Live Pulp |url= |format= |work=] |publisher=] |location= |id= |pages= |page= |date=] |accessdate=2008-03-16 |language= |quote= |archiveurl= |archivedate= }}</ref> Murphy later said of the ordeal, "I didn't say I wished Quentin Tarantino was dead. I didn't say I wanted him dead. I just said I'd celebrate his death."<ref>{{cite news |first=Joel |last=Stein |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title= Sound Bites 1990-2000 |url= |format= |work=] |publisher=] |location= |id= |pages= |page= |date=] |accessdate=2008-03-16 |language= |quote= |archiveurl= |archivedate= }}</ref>


'']'' reports, AngryFilms is set to produce: an adaptation of '']'', a ] miniseries, for ].<ref>{{cite news | first = Ben | last = Fritz | coauthors = Claude Brodesser | title = New Line takes on 'We3' killer cuties | url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117924066.html?categoryid=1238&cs=1 | work = Variety Magazine | publisher = Reed Elsevier Inc. | pages = | page = | date = 2005-06-07 | accessdate = 2007-03-23 | language = English | quote = Don Murphy is producing the pic with his AngryFilms shingle along with Susan Montford and Rick Benattar. }}</ref>; an adaptation of ''Second Sight'', a ] miniseries, for ].<ref>{{cite news | first = Dianne | last = Garrett | title = Universal Eyes Sight | url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117963982.html?categoryid=1970&cs=1| work = Variety Magazine | publisher = Reed Elsevier Inc. | pages = | page = | date = 2007-04-29 | accessdate = 2007-09-17 | language = English | quote = Don Murphy is producing the pic with his AngryFilms shingle along with Susan Montford }}</ref>; and ''Gemini Man'', for ].<ref>{{cite news | first = Peter | last = Gilstrap | title = Bruckheimer Finds HIs Gemini Man| url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117964381.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1| work = Variety Magazine | publisher = Reed Elsevier Inc. | pages = | page = | date = 2007-05-06 | accessdate = 2007-09-17 | language = English | quote = Don Murphy is producing the pic with his AngryFilms shingle along with Jerry Bruckheimer }}</ref>
Murphy is married to Susan Montford, with whom he has professionally partnered. He is also friends with ], a director who also attended USC in the 1980s.<ref name="la weekly"/>


'']'' reports, that AngryFilms is also set to executive produce '']'', with director ].<ref>{{cite news | first = Borys | last = Kit| title = Natali in Lab | url = http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i594095f6e6009d787b36c7e4f8be2f06| work = Hollywood Reporter | publisher = Reed Elsevier Inc. | pages = | page = | date = 2007-04-20 | accessdate = 2007-09-17 | language = English | quote = Don Murphy is producing the pic with his AngryFilms shingle along with Susan Montford }}</ref>
==Career==
Don Murphy partnered with University of Southern California ] to form JD Productions. They rose to prominence as producers of the controversial 1994 film '']'', the making of which Hamsher later chronicled in her book ''Killer Instinct''. JD Productions continued to produce a string of films including the 1998 films '']'' and '']''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.imdb.com/company/co0044968/ |title=JD Productions |accessdate=2008-03-16 |format= |work=] }}</ref> Don Murphy formed his own company, Angry Films, in 1998.<ref name="ign">{{cite news |first=Stax |last= |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title=10 Questions: Don Murphy |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/380/380337p1.html |format= |work=] |publisher=] |location= |id= |pages= |page= |date=] |accessdate=2008-03-16 |language= |quote= |archiveurl= |archivedate= }}</ref> The company's first production was '']'' in 2003. The company's sophomore effort was '']'' in 2007. Don Murphy and his Angry Films are involved in developing numerous projects, including:
*A film adaptation of the comic book miniseries '']''<ref>{{cite news |first=Claude |last=Brodesser |authorlink= |author= |coauthors=Ben Fritz |title=New Line takes on 'We3' killer cuties |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117924066.html?categoryid=1238&cs=1 |format= |work=] |publisher=] |location= |id= |pages= |page= |date=] |accessdate=2008-03-16 |language= |quote= |archiveurl= |archivedate= }}</ref>
*A film adaptation of '']'', a 1999 BBC miniseries<ref>{{cite news |first=Diane |last=Garrett |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title=Universal eyes 'Sight' |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117963982.html?categoryid=1970&cs=1 |format= |work=] |publisher=] |location= |id= |pages= |page= |date=] |accessdate=2008-03-16 |language= |quote= |archiveurl= |archivedate= }}</ref>
*A film adaptation of the TV series '']''<ref>{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Gilstrap |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title=Bruckheimer finds his 'Gemini Man' |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117964381.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1 |format= |work=] |publisher=] |location= |id= |pages= |page= |date=] |accessdate=2008-03-16 |language= |quote= |archiveurl= |archivedate= }}</ref>
*A film adaptation of '']''<ref name="la weekly"/>
*''Speed Tribes'', an update of the 1969 film '']''<ref name="la weekly"/>

===Reputation===
Don Murphy is infamous as an "angry young producer" who started his career strongly with ''Natural Born Killers''.<ref name="hollywood reporter">{{cite news |first=Anne |last=Thompson |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=For producer Murphy, 'no' is not an answer |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001843484 |work=] |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2008-03-16 }}</ref> Murphy acknowledged, "I know what my reputation is in town—difficult, great taste, gets movies made. To me, that's fine. I'm not trying to win a popularity contest." Director ] said of the producer, "I think he's a great producer and a really good guy. I like him a lot." Screenwriter ] had his own take: "He certainly wants to make good movies, but I think he's trying to appeal to his own sense of what's good and what's not, and he really doesn't give a shit what other people think. Sometimes it makes him reckless, and sometimes it makes him his own worst enemy, but he really fights for this, and he doesn't care about the politics. The funny thing is, he's actually a huge softie." Screenwriter ] compared Murphy to mavericks ] and ], explaining, "Don's a throwback to the old days of the bombastic, bellicose, belligerent producer. Takes no shit from anybody. Does not suffer fools gladly. But at the same time, he has this incredible taste for the most out-there, insane stuff." Murphy did not get along well with Bill Mechanic in producing ''The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen'', which had resulted in Murphy's ban from the set. Mechanic said of the ordeal, There were some behavioral issues, in terms of what I thought was inappropriate for somebody who was making a movie for us. But, Don and I made peace."<ref name="la weekly"/>

Murphy accepts the reputation he has found in Hollywood: "'You have the best taste in town, you actually get movies made, but you can be hard to handle.' It's an assessment I can live with, especially since I'm not sure which good producer in Hollywood is easy to handle. Talent goes a long way, but tenacity is the only way a film gets made." His drive to pursue his interest in comic books has been a successful endeavor for him. Murphy introduced the graphic novel '']'', which was produced into a ]. Murphy explained his foresight: "The established properties with valuable names were already tapped. DC and Marvel have 100 properties each with good stories, but you wouldn't know what they were. If something is a good idea, it doesn't matter where it comes from." The producer also attracted attention to the graphic novel '']'', which is currently in development under director ]. Murphy has also produced what '']'' calls "edgy production pieces" such as '']'' and '']'' (2001). Murphy's personal ambition is to film ''A Cool Breeze on the Underground'', which had struggled in ] with numerous actors attached to the project.<ref name="hollywood reporter" />

===''Transformers'' involvement===
In June 2003, Murphy set up a forum on his personal website, donmurphy.net, to foment discussion among fans about the then-upcoming film ''Transformers''. Murphy said of his goal, "With ''Transformers'', we had this really rabid following. To be frank, I wanted to have some way where we could at least hear what people think." Murphy's behavior on the forum was viewed as combative, and Murphy described his approach: "I had my own persona, the angry sheriff. I will mock fans if that is what I have to do." He and fellow producer ] shopped a ] based on the ] toy line with little success. When ] later sought to develop ''Transformers'', ] purchased Murphy and DeSanto's treatment and set up a partnership between ] and Paramount to co-finance the project. Murphy and DeSanto were both named producers for ''Transformers''. With Murphy's active involvement, the studios expressed concern about how donmurphy.net might be perceived. As a result, Murphy distanced his website from the studios with an official disclaimer. In 2007, however, Murphy was nearly forced to shut down the website when "vitriolic fans criticized every aspect of the production".<ref name="new york times"/> According to ''The New York Times'', "Don Murphy... is widely reviled by executives at Paramount and DreamWorks for allowing his personal Web site (donmurphy.net) to be used by ''Transformers'' fans to attack the two studios, and the movie's lead producer, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, in vicious personal terms... Asked if he would offer an apology to Mr. di Bonaventura for the nasty posts, Mr. Murphy, whose production company is called Angry Films, bluntly said, 'Nope.'"<ref>{{cite news |first=David M. |last=Halbfinger |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title=How a Fan of Comic Books Transformed Himself Into a Hollywood Player |url= |format= |work=] |publisher=] |location=New York |id= |pages= |page= |date=] |accessdate=2008-03-16 |language= |quote= |archiveurl= |archivedate= }}</ref>

Director ] of ''Transformers'' criticized on his own message board that Murphy and DeSanto had tried to claim creative credit for the film. Though the post was removed shortly after, its appearance and removal was revealed on fan sites and blogs. With producer di Bonaventura's publicist questioning the coverage of Murphy and DeSanto, Paramount issued a statement to ''The New York Times'', crediting only producers di Bonaventura and Bryce as doing work on ''Transformers''. In an interview, Murphy did not claim creative credit but instead identified himself as a "liaison" to ''Transformers'' fans.<ref name="new york times"/>


==Filmography== ==Filmography==
Don Murphy has been involved as a producer in the following films:


* ''Monday Morning'' (1990) * ''Monday Morning'' (1990)
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* '']'' (2007) * '']'' (2007)
* '']'' (2007) * '']'' (2007)
* '']'' (unknown) * '']'' (2007?)

Murphy has also made minor appearances in two films, including an uncredited appearance as a prison guard in ''Natural Born Killers'' and as "Creep at Restaurant" in the 1998 film '']''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006613/ |title=Don Murphy (III) |accessdate=2008-03-16 |format= |work=] }}</ref>


== References == == References ==
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
*{{cite book |title=Killer Instinct |last=Hamsher |first=Jane |authorlink=Jane Hamsher |coauthors= |year=1998 |publisher=Broadway |location= |isbn=0767900758 |pages= }}


== External links == == External links ==

Revision as of 16:48, 29 March 2008

Don Murphy is an American film producer (born on Long Island, New York) who produced the film Natural Born Killers.

History

Don Murphy received his graduate degree from USC School of Cinematic Arts in Los Angeles, California, he went on to establish JD Productions with fellow USC graduate Jane Hamsher, subsequently optioning and producing the then unknown Quentin Tarantino's script for Natural Born Killers with director Oliver Stone. The production was later documented in detail by Hamsher in her book Killer Instinct.

Murphy and Hamser went on to produce several more films, including Apt Pupil, Permanent Midnight, and From Hell, which attracted generally positive reviews and a number of awards. Murphy then formed his own company, Angry Films, which, beginning with The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, has produced a number of films and has others in various stages of production as of 2007, including Shoot 'em Up with Clive Owen and Torso, a David Fincher film, as well as While She Was Out with Kim Basinger. He is one of the originating producers of the 2007 Transformers live action film, along with Tom DeSanto.

Variety reports, AngryFilms is set to produce: an adaptation of We3, a Vertigo Comics miniseries, for New Line Cinema.; an adaptation of Second Sight, a BBC miniseries, for Universal Studios.; and Gemini Man, for Walt Disney Company.

Hollywood Reporter reports, that AngryFilms is also set to executive produce Splice, with director Vincenzo Natali.

Filmography

References

  1. "Producer Profile:Don Murphy". Big Movie Zone. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  2. "Stax" (2008-12-17). "10 Questions: Don Murphy". IGN Movies. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  3. ^ Thompson, Anne (January 13 2006). "For producer Murphy, 'no' is not an answer". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2007-04-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. Kennedy, Dana (1997-09-19). "Natural Born Killers producer Jane Hamsher savages director Oliver Stone and screenwriter Quentin Tarantino in a brutally candid tell-all about the making of an American psychodrama". Entertainment Weekly. p. 74.
  5. Fritz, Ben (2005-06-07). "New Line takes on 'We3' killer cuties". Variety Magazine. Reed Elsevier Inc. Retrieved 2007-03-23. Don Murphy is producing the pic with his AngryFilms shingle along with Susan Montford and Rick Benattar. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  6. Garrett, Dianne (2007-04-29). "Universal Eyes Sight". Variety Magazine. Reed Elsevier Inc. Retrieved 2007-09-17. Don Murphy is producing the pic with his AngryFilms shingle along with Susan Montford
  7. Gilstrap, Peter (2007-05-06). "Bruckheimer Finds HIs Gemini Man". Variety Magazine. Reed Elsevier Inc. Retrieved 2007-09-17. Don Murphy is producing the pic with his AngryFilms shingle along with Jerry Bruckheimer
  8. Kit, Borys (2007-04-20). "Natali in Lab". Hollywood Reporter. Reed Elsevier Inc. Retrieved 2007-09-17. Don Murphy is producing the pic with his AngryFilms shingle along with Susan Montford

External links

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