J. David Shapiro

J. David Shapiro, sometimes known as J.D. Shapiro and JD Shapiro, [1], was born March 18, 1969. He is a screen-writer, actor, director and stand-up comedian. He is best known for his screenplays Robin Hood: Men in Tights and Battlefield Earth. Fans consider his best work to be We Married Margot, which he wrote, directed and starred in.

Biography

Jake David Shapiro is an American filmmaker. He grew up in North New Jersey and New York City's Hell's Kitchen. He is one of four children, having three sisters, Karen, Nancy and Pam. Shapiro is an accomplished and award winning screenwriter and director. In 2003, Shapiro became a stand-up comedian.

Movies

Shapiro has sold over a dozen screenplays to the major studios. His first major release was "Robin Hood: Men in Tights." After college Shapiro moved to LA and wrote "Men in Tights" on spec then sold it to Brooksfilms & Twentieth Century Fox. Shapiro was heavily involved in all decisions, from locations to casting. Shapiro convinced Mel to cast Carey Elwes as Robin Hood, and the then unknown Dave Chappelle as Achew. Shapiro's concept to Fox's release took a little over a year.

Shapiro was the original screenwriter of “Battlefield Earth.” Shapiro originally set up the project at MGM. After his first draft, John Travolta signed on to play the lead character, Johnny Goodboy Tyler. John Woo, Brian DePalma and Oliver Stone were all interested in directing Shapiro's draft. But when Shapiro disagreed with the notes he received from the studio, he was released from the project and a new writer was brought on board. The project went to Fox then Franchise Pictures, who financed the Warner Brothers distributed movie. The movie won 11 Raspberry Awards, tying for the most ever.

Shapiro wrote, directed and co-starred in the award winning movie, “We Married Margo.” It was made in 17 days, for around $230,000, and shot on 35mm film. “Margo” caught the eye of George Lucas. George invited Shapiro to Skywalker and gave him free post-production sound editing. New Line bought it and did a limited release. Then they sold it to IFC/Bravo, Comedy Central and recently to over 175 markets in syndication.

Some of the other scripts Shapiro has sold are:

• “Blast Off”: Sold it to Interscope.

• “Solo to Mars”: Commissioned by Paramount.

• “Fear”: A dark thriller he wrote for Miramax.

• “Signed, Sealed and Delivered”: Co-wrote with William Dozier. Sold it to Touchstone.

• “The Final Frontier”: Optioned to Warner Brothers.

• “Toy Soldiers”: Commissioned by New Wave Entertainment.

• “Working Class Hero”: Co-wrote with Jimmy Cummings. Optioned to Gale Anne Hurd.

• "Salvage": He and Dan Myrick are co-writing. Dan will direct and Mr. Shapiro will play one of the lead rolls.

• "Super Cops": Mr. Shapiro signed on to co-write with Jimmy Cummings, based on the book The Dark Side of the Force: A True Story of Corruption and Murder in the LAPD by Jan Golab. Nittolo Entertainment is producing.

• “Daddy’s Girl”: Optioned by New Line.

Mr. Shapiro was a creative consultant on several movies (two of which were hugely successful.)

Television

Shapiro’s writing has spilled over into the television arena. For television, Shapiro co-created and co-wrote with Stan Lee (Spider-Man, The Hulk, X-Men, The Fantastic Four), “Team Defenders,” a superhero series that uses sports as a backdrop.

He is developing “Inside/Out" a television series with Paul Rieser’s Nuance Pictures for him to star in.

He had a TV deal at Big Ticket to write and executive produce a TV series based on “We Married Margo.” Prior to that, he had an overall deal to create, write and executive produce a one-hour television series at Spelling Entertainment. Shapiro had a deal to create, write and co-executive producer a TV series for FOX called “Man Bites Dog.”

He is the producer of the TV movie, “Cupid’s Turn” that is currently set up at Disney.

Internet

Directed the pilot for the internet series “Testers.”

Created, and directed the pilot of the NBC on animated series, “FreakyDeak SkyLark.” Shapiro also plays the voice of FreakyDeak SkyLark.

Upcoming projects

Shapiro is working on a "Bust A Move" [2]. This is a coming of age musical comedy co-written with Aaron Priest. She is working on his first book. It's for women who are looking to get a man and keep him. He is creating an internet series called "A-Hole Man." In the vein of "Get Smart" it's about a superhero who has trouble controling his powers and who's destny is to go after assholes. His script, "Daddy's Girl" will go into production in 2008.

Acting

Shapiro can be found in the following:

• Featured in “First & Last" an independent movie directed by Bethany Wills.

• Starred in “We Married Margot.” (See above)

• A talent agent in the ensemble web series “The Strand Venice,” created and directed by Dan Myrick.

• Co-starred, along with Cary Elwes, in the Jon Bon Jovi, National Lampoon movie “Pucked"

• Appeared in "The Osbournes" in The Annoying Neighbor episode.

Other Appearances

Shapiro has also appeared on E!, CNN's Buzz Bizz, Showtime, MTV, Entertainment Tonight, Cinemax, and Comedy Central.

He appeared on Fox TV's Mike and Juliet Show in November 2007,[3], promoting his book and the website he is on,ask-a-man.com [4].

Stand-up Comedy

Shapiro’s work in comedy started when he was the MC for the 1st Annual Women in Film Awards at the Sundance Film Festival. Shapiro started doing Stand-Up Comedy in November of 2003. In January of 2005, Mitzi Shore made Shapiro a Paid Regular at The Comedy Store in record time. Shapiro has performed stand-up all over the United States. He has performed with such luminaries as Chris Rock, Carlos Mencia and Andrew Dice Clay.

Awards

Shapiro has been nominated for, and won several awards for “We Married Margot.” “We Married Margo” was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Slamdance and The HBO Comedy Festival in Aspen and won the Audience Award for Best Picture at the HBO Aspen Comedy Festival. Shapiro won Best Actor award for his role as Jake in “We Married Margo” at the Pi Phan Film Festival in Korea.

Shapiro created the character and was in a commercial for Sunkist Pistachio Nuts that won “Best Commercial” at the Cannes Film Festival.

In 2001, he won a Razzie Award for Battlefield Earth. Battlefield Earth went on to win 11 in total, tying for the most ever with "Show Girls."

Shapiro is a member of "Who's Who" in America.

Movie Reviews

"This [We Married Margo] is a tremendously funny film with solid direction and a clever, inventive screenplay" - Aint It Cool News

"'Battlefield Earth' is about the extinction of the human race. After seeing this movie I'm all for it." - NY Times

Personal Quotes

"I remember the night I was conceived. I had to swim like the dickens. I eventually won the race and enjoyed nine months of fantastic womb service. Then I was evicted without warning or notice."

"Who was the first person to see Jesus hanging from a cross and said that would make a good necklace."

"I love doing stand-up comedy. It's like walking a tightrope-- over a school of sharks...while people hack at the rope with machetes."

"I never met a hypocrite I liked. Oh, wait, I have."

"I wish I had a dollar for every dollar I don't have."

"Jersey gets no respect. It has two football teams, the New York Jets and the New York Giants."

"'Just' being a housewife is like 'just' being a carpenter. No one pays much attention to your work and everyone steps all over it." (When asked by a reporter about why he felt the Feminist Movement made mistakes in the way it portrayed certain women who "just" wanted to be housewives).

"I read The Bible on tape once. Jesus said 'Love they neighbor.' I never heard him say, 'Love thy neighbor unless he's different than you, then you can go and f--- 'em up."