Will Reiser

Will Reiser is an American screenwriter and producer. He is best known for writing the 2011 film 50/50, which was based on his own experience with cancer.

Will Reiser
OccupationScreenwriter, producer
LanguageEnglish
NationalityAmerican
Notable works50/50 (2011)
RelativesPaul Reiser (cousin)

Early life

He is the cousin of actor and comedian Paul Reiser.[1]

Reiser attended Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, graduating in 2003.[2]

Career

Reiser first worked as a producer in a number of TV productions, such as Da Ali G Show. In 2005, during his time working as an associate producer, he was diagnosed with a form of spinal cancer at the age of 25.[3][4][5] After he underwent surgery, he was urged by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, who also worked on Da Ali G Show, to write a screenplay based on his experiences.[6] In 2008 Reiser completed his first draft of 50/50,[5] his first screenplay.[7] With Rogen and Goldberg producing the film, the script was bought by Mandate Pictures with Rogen also attached to star in the film as the best friend of the protagonist, Adam (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt), and the film was released in September 2011.[6] At the time of the film's release, Reiser had been cancer-free for six years.[4] He won numerous awards for 50/50, including the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay and the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures award for Best Original Screenplay.[2] He was also honored at the 2012 Annual OMG! Cancer Summit for Young Adults for his "courage, irreverence and creativity in achieving meaningful and impactful change on behalf of the young adult cancer survivorship movement".[8]

In September 2011 it was reported that Reiser was working on an American version of the German comedy film Men...[9] That same month it was also reported that Reiser was working on a film titled Jamaica, based on a vacation he took to Jamaica with his grandma at the age of 14. Jonathan Levine, who directed 50/50, was attached to direct the film.[4]

Filmography

Film
YearFeature filmCredit/RoleNotesRef.
201150/50Writer, executive producer, actorIndependent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay
National Board of Review Award for Best Original Screenplay
Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Original Screenplay
Nominated – Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay
Nominated – San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Original Screenplay
Nominated – Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay		[10]
TBAJamaicaWriter

TV
YearTelevision ShowCredit/RoleNotesRef.
2003Da Ali G ShowAssociate producer
2004Best Week EverField producer
2004DistractionSegment producer
2005Red State DiariesProducer
2006Garage Band MakeoverProducer
2006Assume the Position with Mr. WuhlWriter, field producer, supervising producer
2006Talkshow with Spike FerestenField producerOne episode
2007The Unseen Kind-Hearted BeastAssociate producer

References
  1. "I am Paul Reiser - Actor, Comedian, Author, and Musician. Ask Me Anything! • /r/IAmA". reddit.com. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
  2. "In the Studio". Non Satis Scire. Hampshire College. December 6, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  3. "Will Reiser". imdb.com. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  4. Phillips, Michael (September 29, 2011). "A story of friends, co-starring cancer". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  5. Kohn, Eric (September 29, 2011). ""50/50" Screenwriter Will Reiser on Making Cancer Funny". IndieWire. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  6. Adams, Erik (September 29, 2013). "Will Reiser and Seth Rogen". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  7. Reiser, Will (December 15, 2011). "Is it true? Well, '50/50'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  8. ""50/50" Screenwriter Will Reiser to Be Honored at 5th Annual OMG! Cancer Summit for Young Adults" (Press release). I'm Too Young For This! Cancer Foundation. December 13, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  9. Macdonald, Moira (September 25, 2011). "Will Reiser's brush with cancer led to '50/50'". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  10. "50/50". 30 September 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2016 – via IMDb.
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