Don Handfield

Don Handfield is an American filmmaker, author, and producer.

Education and acting career

Handfield studied theater and film at Ohio State University,[1] graduating with a degree in journalism in 1993. His first job in media after college was as a production assistant at E! Entertainment Television.[2] After moving to Los Angeles, his acting career included the role of Dwight Tanner, (Robert Duvall's son) in the 1998 film Deep Impact,[3] and Pete Bradley in the 1997 film Defying Gravity.[4][5] His films as an actor also include Captain Jack, Cause N' Effect, and A Reason to Believe.[6] He has also appeared on television, including the shows Saved by the Bell: The New Class,[7] Profiler, and JAG.[6]

Directing, producing, and writing

Don Handfield is a partner of the film production company The Combine, which he founded with actor Jeremy Renner.[8] In 2005 he wrote and produced the short film My Name Is...,[6] which was awarded the Grand Jury Prize for a Narrative Short at the 2005 Atlanta Film Festival,[9] which qualified the film for consideration by the Academy Awards.[10] That year he was named Filmmaker Magazine as one of the "25 new faces of independent film".[1]

In 2012 the film Touchback was written and directed by Handfield, starring actors Kurt Russell and Brian Presley. The movie was the first in history to film scenes inside Ohio Stadium during a live football game.[7] The film was his first major motion picture as screenwriter and director. He was also the author of the novel Touchback, based on the movie, which has received a starred review from Publishers Weekly.[11] He was also the writer of the UPN television series Seven Days.[6] In 2011 he was announced as the screenwriter and producer for the upcoming Paramount film Slingshot.[12] In 2013 he would produce the film Aztec Warrior.[6]

Handfield produced The Founder, starring Michael Keaton, Nick Offerman, Laura Dern, John Carroll Lynch and Linda Cardellini. The film came about after Handfield tracked down the family of Richard "Dick" McDonald, one of the creators of the famous fast food chain, and optioned the McDonald brothers life rights.[13]

Handfield is the co-creator and Executive Producer of the upcoming History Channel scripted series Knightfall from A & E Studios.

Lawsuit

Handfield, Malpaso Productions (Clint Eastwood's production company), Warner Brothers, UTA and Randy Brown were all sued for copyright infringement by producer Ryan A. Brooks, who claimed the film "Trouble with the Curve" was based on a screenplay Brooks owned. Brooks' lawsuit was thrown out by the court, after the judge deemed it "frivolous" and "insulting".[14]

Filmography
YearFilmDirectorProducerWriterActorNotes
1995 Captain Jack Yes Played the character Zack
1995 A Reason to Believe Yes Played the character Nuj
1997 Defying Gravity Yes Played the character Pete Bradley
1998 Cause N' Defect Yes Played the character Danny Baker
1998 Deep Impact Yes Played the character Dwight Tanner
1999 Captain Jack Yes Played the character Dave
2005 Inside/Out Yes Played the character Shrink #2
2011 Touchback Yes Yes
2013 Aztec Warrior Yes
2013 Slingshot Yes Yes
2014 Kill the Messenger Yes
2016 The Founder Yes

References
  1. "25 NEW FACES OF INDEPENDENT FILM 2005: No. 14". Filmmaker Magazine. Summer 2005. Archived from the original on September 18, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
  2. "Football: Take One". The Ohio State University. Summer 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
  3. Charles Mitchell (2001). A Guide to Apocalyptic Cinema. Greenwood Publishing. p. 49. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
  4. John Conklin (2008). Campus Life in the Movies: A Critical Survey from the Silent Era to the Present. McFarland. p. 114. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
  5. Kevin Thomas (October 15, 1999). "Movie Review; Collegian Confronted With Reality in Subtle 'Gravity'". LA Times. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
  6. "Don Handfield". IMDb. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
  7. Hugh Armitage (March 1, 2012). "Touchback': Kurt Russell gives advice in the new trailer". Digital Spy. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
  8. Liza Foreman (August 23, 2012). "Lisa Cholodenko set to direct 'November Criminals'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
  9. "MEET ATLANTA'S WINNERS". Film Threat. Archived from the original on May 21, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
  10. "2013 Submissions". Archived from the original on August 21, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
  11. "Touchback". Retrieved August 30, 2012.
  12. Eric Eisenberg (June 11, 2011). "Jeremy Renner To Produce And Star in Rally Racing Movie Slingshot". Cinema Blend. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
  13. "Jeremy Renner, Don Handfield on More 'Avengers' and 'Bourne' Films, and Making a Movie About McDonald's". The Hollywood Reporter.
  14. "Trouble with the Curve theft lawsuit dismissed". Los Angeles Times. February 25, 2014.
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