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Brett Haley

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Brett Haley
Haley at the 2017 Montclair Film Festival
Born1983 or 1984 (age 40–41)
Alma materUniversity of North Carolina School of the Arts
Occupations
  • Director
  • writer
  • editor
RelativesJoshua Ferris (brother)

Brett Haley (born 1983/1984)[1] is an American film director, writer and editor best known for his work on The Hero and Hearts Beat Loud.

Early life

Haley was born in Illinois[failed verification] and raised in Key West, Florida and Pensacola, Florida.[2] Haley developed an interest in filmmaking from childhood, making films with a VHS camera from age 9, recalling, "From a young age, I was a storyteller. I just knew it was what I wanted to do".[3] Haley credits his older brother, Joshua Ferris, for introducing him to movies like True Romance and Angel Heart.[3] He was also influenced by 80s and 90s action movies, such as Alien, Terminator and Die Hard through his childhood.

Education

Haley began his formal filmmaking education at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts School of Filmmaking in 2001, with a concentration in directing. He worked toward making a feature every summer, working with fellow UNCSA students to make up his crew. Of his time as a student, he says, "I learned a lot about what it means to be a collaborator at UNCSA. You learn quickly that film is very collaborative."[3] Upon graduating in 2005, he moved to Los Angeles to work as a production assistant, but quickly relocated to Brooklyn when he realized that approach wasn't for him.

Career

Haley's first feature film, The New Year, was co-written with his sister-in-law, novelist Elizabeth Kennedy, and made for $5,000. Although he considers himself a director first and foremost, Haley says, "I learned very young that if I wanted to make independent films and get those films off the ground, then I needed to be a writer. For me, it was important to start writing and discover: what am I going to write about? How am I going to write it?...That’s when I learned that I needed a writing partner. I write better with a partner and highly recommend that to those who are struggling".[4] The New Year premiered at the Sarasota Film Festival in 2010 and won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Film.[5]

In 2015, he co-wrote, edited, and directed I'll See You in My Dreams. Marc Basch was his co-writer.[4] It premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival,[6] and went on to win awards for Best Actress and Best Director at the Louisiana Film Festival. Additionally, Blythe Danner was nominated for the Best Actress Award at the Gotham Awards for her role.[7] In an interview, Sam Elliott says he "jumped at the chance to play a romantic lead"; "it's always been what's on the page for me," says Elliott. "I don't know how this kid came up with such a gem about 70-year-olds at 29, or whatever he was when he wrote it."[8]

Haley and his co-writer, Marc Basch, wrote The Hero specifically for Sam Elliott, who starred alongside Blythe Danner in I'll See You in My Dreams. Haley describes The Hero as his love letter to Elliott, saying that "Sam is the best. He is a true collaborator and an incredible actor and human being. He is so passionate about his work and, in my mind, he is an icon."[9] The Hero also stars Laura Prepon, Nick Offerman, Katharine Ross and Krysten Ritter, and premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition category at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. It was released in the U.S. by The Orchard in June 2017.[10]

He co-wrote and directed the 2018 film Hearts Beat Loud. It premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, and also played at the 2018 South By Southwest Film Festival. It was released in the US on June 8, 2018.[11]

On July 20, 2020 it was announced that Haley would direct the Grease prequel Summer Lovin'.[12]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Director Writer Producer Role
2003 The Company You Keep No No No Nate
2007 Reservation Road No No No Brett
2010 The New Year Yes Yes Yes
2015 I'll See You in My Dreams Yes Yes Yes Karaoke singer (uncredited)
2017 The Hero Yes Yes No
And Then I Go No Yes Yes
2018 Hearts Beat Loud Yes Yes No
2020 All the Bright Places Yes No No
All Together Now Yes Yes No

Television

Year Title Note(s)
2014 Barmaids 5 episodes
No Limits 11 episodes
2019 Looking for Alaska Episode: "I've Never Felt Before"

References

  1. ^ Bahr, Lindsay (June 8, 2018). "The nice-guy director who actors can't get enough of". Associated Press. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  2. ^ IndieWire
  3. ^ a b c Uncsa.edu
  4. ^ a b Creativescreenwriting.com
  5. ^ Filmschoolrejects.com
  6. ^ Deadline.com
  7. ^ Vanity Fair
  8. ^ Bostonglobe.com
  9. ^ Efilmcritic.com
  10. ^ Deadline.com
  11. ^ Lang, Brent (March 20, 2018). "Sundance Favorite 'Hearts Beat Loud' Scores Summer Release Date". Variety. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  12. ^ https://deadline.com/2020/07/grease-prequel-summer-lovin-brett-haley-director-paramount-1202988943/#comments


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