Dan Mazer
Encyclopedia
Dan Mazer is a British screenwriter, TV/film producer, and comedian. He is best known as the long-time writing and production partner of Sacha Baron Cohen
and has worked with him on such characters as Ali G
and Borat
. Mazer co-wrote and co-produced the films Ali G Indahouse
(2002), Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
(2006) and Brüno
(2009).
Mazer attended Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School
, where he met Baron Cohen. He went on to read Law at Peterhouse
, Cambridge University
, and graduated in 1994. He was an active member of Cambridge Footlights while at university and was vice president from 1993 to 1994.
His early work includes production roles on The Word
, The Big Breakfast
and The 11 O'Clock Show.
In 2007, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
for co-writing the film Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
. He shared his nomination with Sacha Baron Cohen
, Ant Hines, Peter Baynham
, and Todd Phillips
. They ended up losing to The Departed
. He is currently co-writing Lost for Words with Jamie Curtis
.
He is married to Daisy Donovan
, with whom he has two daughters, Maisy and Mini Ivy.
Sacha Baron Cohen
Sacha Noam Baron Cohen is an English stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and voice artist. He is most widely known for his portrayal of three unorthodox fictional characters: Ali G, Borat, and Brüno...
and has worked with him on such characters as Ali G
Ali G
Ali G is a satirical fictional character invented and performed by English comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. Originally appearing on Channel 4's Eleven O'Clock show, Ali G is the title character of Channel 4's Da Ali G Show, original episodes of which aired in 2000 and on HBO in 2003–2004, and is the...
and Borat
Borat
Borat Sagdiyev is a satirical fictional character invented and performed by English comedian Sacha Baron Cohen...
. Mazer co-wrote and co-produced the films Ali G Indahouse
Ali G Indahouse
Ali G Indahouse is a British comedy film directed by Mark Mylod and starring the fictional character Ali G, who is performed by British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen...
(2002), Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, often referred to simply as Borat, is a 2006 mockumentary comedy film directed by Larry Charles and distributed by 20th Century Fox...
(2006) and Brüno
Brüno (film)
Brüno is a 2009 British mockumentary comedy film directed by Larry Charles and starring Sacha Baron Cohen, who produced, co-wrote, and starred as the gay Austrian fashion journalist Brüno...
(2009).
Mazer attended Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School
Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School
The Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School is a British independent school for boys aged 4–19. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and of the Haileybury Group....
, where he met Baron Cohen. He went on to read Law at Peterhouse
Peterhouse, Cambridge
Peterhouse is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the oldest college of the University, having been founded in 1284 by Hugo de Balsham, Bishop of Ely...
, Cambridge University
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, and graduated in 1994. He was an active member of Cambridge Footlights while at university and was vice president from 1993 to 1994.
His early work includes production roles on The Word
The Word (TV series)
The Word was a 1990s Channel 4 television programme in the United Kingdom.-Format:Its presenters included Mancunian radio presenter Terry Christian, comedian Mark Lamarr, Dani Behr, Katie Puckrik, Jasmine Dotiwala, Alan Connor, Amanda de Cadenet and "Huffty"...
, The Big Breakfast
The Big Breakfast
The Big Breakfast was a British light entertainment television show shown on Channel 4 and S4C each weekday morning from 28 September 1992 until 29 March 2002 during which period 2,482 shows were produced. The Big Breakfast was produced by Planet 24, the production company co-owned by former...
and The 11 O'Clock Show.
In 2007, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay
The Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay is one of the Academy Awards, the most prominent film awards in the United States. It is awarded each year to the writer of a screenplay adapted from another source...
for co-writing the film Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, often referred to simply as Borat, is a 2006 mockumentary comedy film directed by Larry Charles and distributed by 20th Century Fox...
. He shared his nomination with Sacha Baron Cohen
Sacha Baron Cohen
Sacha Noam Baron Cohen is an English stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and voice artist. He is most widely known for his portrayal of three unorthodox fictional characters: Ali G, Borat, and Brüno...
, Ant Hines, Peter Baynham
Peter Baynham
Peter Baynham is a screenwriter and a British comedian, writer, and performer. He often collaborates with Armando Iannucci and Chris Morris and has worked with Stewart Lee and Richard Herring. He is first heard on Morris' early radio DJ slots, often going out to places...
, and Todd Phillips
Todd Phillips
Todd Phillips is an American screenwriter and film director. He is best known for directing the comedy films Road Trip, Old School, The Hangover, and Due Date.-Early life:...
. They ended up losing to The Departed
The Departed
The Departed is a 2006 American crime thriller film, fashioned as a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs. The film was directed by Martin Scorsese and written by William Monahan...
. He is currently co-writing Lost for Words with Jamie Curtis
Jamie Curtis
Jamie Curtis is a British screenwriter. His credits include Spice World and Lost for Words . He also produced the TV series The Good Sex Guide .-External links:...
.
He is married to Daisy Donovan
Daisy Donovan
Daisy Donovan is an American-born British television presenter, actress and writer.-Early life:Donovan was born in Brooklyn, New York, USA. Her father was fashion photographer and film director Terence Donovan; her mother Diana Donovan, is chairwoman of the English National Ballet School...
, with whom he has two daughters, Maisy and Mini Ivy.
External links
- Agency page at United AgentsUnited AgentsUnited Agents is a British talent and literary agency founded in 2007. It is situated on Lexington Street in London, UK and was set up by agents who had left Peters, Fraser & Dunlop . It is chaired by Lindy King and the managing director is St...
- "Win no friends and influence nobody" (The Observer, 4 March 2007) – Mazer writes about his Academy Award nomination experience