Russo brothers
| Anthony and Joe Russo | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Film directors, producers, screenwriters, actors, editors |
| Years active | 1997 – present |
Anthony and Joe Russo, known together professionally as the Russo brothers, are Emmy Award-winning American film and television directors. The brothers direct most of their work jointly, and they also occasionally work as producers, actors, and editors. The Russos are from Cleveland, Ohio, and were born a year apart.[1] They are alumni of Case Western Reserve University.[2]
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[edit] Careers
Anthony and Joe Russo were graduate students at Case Western when they began directing, writing, and producing their first feature, Pieces. They financed the film with student loans and credit cards.[1] After viewing Pieces at a film festival, Steven Soderbergh approached the duo and offered to produce their next film, along with his producing partner George Clooney. This project was the crime comedy Welcome to Collinwood, starring William H. Macy, Sam Rockwell, and Clooney.
When TV exec Kevin Reilly was rebuilding the FX network, he sought out the Russos to direct the pilot for his flagship series Lucky, having liked the pair's work on Collinwood. Ron Howard was a fan of the pilot, and he had a hand in hiring the brothers to direct the pilot for Fox's Arrested Development.[1] The brothers won an Emmy for their work on the episode. Ever since, they have been sought after directors for TV pilots. They are credited with creating the visual style that made Arrested Development so popular with its rabid audience of TV critics and fans.
In 2006, the Russo brothers returned to film, directing the Owen Wilson comedy You, Me, and Dupree. The film grossed $140 million worldwide.[1] For the 2007-08 TV season, the Russos joined the crew of the ABC series Carpoolers as executive producers and directors. Since 2009, they have served as executive producers and directors on the NBC series Community.
The Russos cite classic sitcoms M*A*S*H, Taxi, and Cheers as influences.[2] Their younger sister Angela Russo-Ostot also is in television, having worked as a writer and producer on V and Trust Me, among other series.
[edit] Filmography
| Year | Title | Credit(s) |
| 1997 | Pieces | actor (Joe only), directors, editors, producers, writers |
| 2002 | Welcome to Collinwood | directors, writers |
| 2006 | You, Me and Dupree | directors |
| 2007 | Crashing | producers |
[edit] Short subject
| Year | Title | Credit(s) |
| 2002 | The Kiss | directors, producers, writers |
| 2006 | No. 6 | producer (Joe only) |
| 2008 | Square One | writer (Anthony only) |
| Carfuckers | directors | |
| 2009 | Donkey Punch | producer (Anthony only) |
[edit] Television work
| Year(s) | Program | Episode(s) | Credit(s) |
| 2003 | Lucky | "Calling Dr. Con" | directors |
| 2003-05 | Arrested Development | Both: "Pilot" Anthony only: "Top Banana," "Key Decisions," "The Immaculate Election," "Spring Breakout" Joe only: "Bringing Up Buster," "In God We Trust," "Pier Pressure," "Marta Complex," "Shock and Aww," "Missing Kitty," "Hand to God," "Motherboy XXX," "Meet the Veals" |
directors |
| 2004 | LAX | "Pilot" | directors |
| 2004-05 | all episodes | co-executive producers | |
| 2006 | Secrets of a Small Town | Failed ABC pilot | executive producers |
| What About Brian | "Pilot" | directors | |
| 2006-07 | all episodes | executive producers | |
| 2007-08 | Carpoolers | Both: "Pilot" Anthony only: "The Code," "The Recital" Joe only: "Laird of the Rings," "What Would You Do?," "Down for the Count," "The Seminar," "A Divorce to Remember," "The Handsomest Man," "Lost in America" |
directors |
| all episodes | executive producers | ||
| 2008 | Courtroom K | Failed Fox pilot | directors |
| 2009 | Untitled Family Pilot | Failed NBC pilot | directors |
| Comedy Showcase | "The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret" | directors | |
| 2009–present | Community | Both: "Pilot" Anthony only: "Introduction to Film," "Social Psychology," "Home Economics," "The Politics of Human Sexuality," "Physical Education," "Beginner Pottery," "The Psychology of Letting Go," "Basic Rocket Science," "Asian Population Studies," "Custody Law and Eastern European Diplomacy," "Biology 101," "Competitive Ecology," "Foosball and Nocturnal Vigilantism" Joe only: "Spanish 101," "Advanced Criminal Law," "Football, Feminism and You," "Debate 109," "Investigative Journalism," "Romantic Expressionism," "Pascal's Triangle Revisited," "Anthropology 101," "Accounting for Lawyers," "Cooperative Calligraphy," "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons," "Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking," "Comparative Wine Tasting," "A Fistful of Paintballs," "Geography of Global Conflict," "Advanced Gay," "Documentary Filmmaking: Redux" |
directors |
| all episodes | executive producers | ||
| 2010 | Running Wilde | "Pilot" | directors, executive producers |
| The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret | "In Which Claims are Made and a Journey Ensues" (original Comedy Showcase pilot, some footage reshot) | directors | |
| 2011 | The Council of Dads | Fox pilot | directors |
| 2011-present | Happy Endings | Both: "Pilot" Anthony only: "Barefoot Pedaler," "Blax, Snake, Home" Joe only: "Bo Fight," "Yesandwitch" |
directors |
| all episodes | executive producers | ||
| Up All Night | Joe only: "Cool Neighbors," "Working Late and Working It" | directors |
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Anthony Russo at the Internet Movie Database
- Joe Russo at the Internet Movie Database
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- American film editors
- American film directors
- American film producers
- American screenwriters
- American television directors
- American television producers
- Case Western Reserve University alumni
- Emmy Award winners
- English-language film directors
- Living people
- People from Cleveland, Ohio
- Sibling duos
- Sibling filmmakers
