Fran Rubel Kuzui
Encyclopedia
Fran Rubel Kuzui is an American
movie director
and producer
. She received her Masters degree from New York University
and was a script supervisor
for a decade, prior to her first film, 1988's Tokyo Pop
, which she co-wrote and directed. The movie received critical acclaim for its depiction of an American woman trying to make sense of the Japanese
youth culture.
However, she is best known as the director of the light-hearted 1992 Buffy the Vampire Slayer
film—whose much-darker original screenplay was the basis for the television series of the same name. She discovered the screenplay
of then unknown television writer Joss Whedon
and put together the financing to produce the picture. Her vision of the film did not match Whedon's, and the film received mixed reviews, which noted the uneven direction and comic timing.
She, along with her husband Kaz Kuzui
founded Kuzui Enterprises, which distributes
US films in Japan, and imports Japanese films for the US market. In addition to holding a portion of rights to the Buffy character, Kuzui Enterprises were also given executive producer
credits for the TV series and its spin-off Angel
, although they had no practical involvement in the productions. In 2003, the Kuzuis were among the executive producers for the Thai-Japanese film Last Life in the Universe
. In 1997, Kuzui Enterprises was among the producers for Orgazmo
and Telling Lies in America. In 2009, Kuzui announced that she is creating a "re-booted" version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, with no involvement from Joss Whedon or any other characters from the popular TV series.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
movie director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
. She received her Masters degree from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
and was a script supervisor
Script supervisor
A script supervisor is a member of a film crew responsible for maintaining the motion picture's internal continuity and for recording the production unit's daily progress in shooting the film's screenplay...
for a decade, prior to her first film, 1988's Tokyo Pop
Tokyo Pop
is a music-centric movie from 1988 that tells the story of a girl from the USA, a boy from Japan, and a briefly successful pop band. The movie contrasts American customs with Tokyo lifestyles, as it presents an evolving love story between the two main characters....
, which she co-wrote and directed. The movie received critical acclaim for its depiction of an American woman trying to make sense of the Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
youth culture.
However, she is best known as the director of the light-hearted 1992 Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a 1992 American action/comedy/horror film about a Valley girl cheerleader named Buffy who learns that it is her fate to hunt vampires. The original script for the film was written by Joss Whedon, who later created the darker and more acclaimed TV series of the same name...
film—whose much-darker original screenplay was the basis for the television series of the same name. She discovered the screenplay
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
of then unknown television writer Joss Whedon
Joss Whedon
Joseph Hill "Joss" Whedon is an American screenwriter, executive producer, director, comic book writer, occasional composer and actor, founder of Mutant Enemy Productions and co-creator of Bellwether Pictures...
and put together the financing to produce the picture. Her vision of the film did not match Whedon's, and the film received mixed reviews, which noted the uneven direction and comic timing.
She, along with her husband Kaz Kuzui
Kaz Kuzui
Katsusuke Kuzui is a Japanese film producer. His wife, Fran Rubel Kuzui has also directed movies.Along with his wife, Kaz founded Kuzui Enterprises, which distributes US films in Japan, and imports Japanese films for the US market...
founded Kuzui Enterprises, which distributes
Film distributor
A film distributor is a company or individual responsible for releasing films to the public either theatrically or for home viewing...
US films in Japan, and imports Japanese films for the US market. In addition to holding a portion of rights to the Buffy character, Kuzui Enterprises were also given executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
credits for the TV series and its spin-off Angel
Angel (TV series)
Angel is an American television series, a spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series was created by Buffys creator, Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt, and first aired on October 5, 1999...
, although they had no practical involvement in the productions. In 2003, the Kuzuis were among the executive producers for the Thai-Japanese film Last Life in the Universe
Last Life in the Universe
Last Life in the Universe is a 2003 Thai film directed by Pen-Ek Ratanaruang. The film is notable for being trilingual; the two main characters flit from Thai to Japanese to English as their vocabulary requires...
. In 1997, Kuzui Enterprises was among the producers for Orgazmo
Orgazmo
Orgazmo is a 1997 comedy film written by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of the animated series South Park, and directed by Parker.-Plot:...
and Telling Lies in America. In 2009, Kuzui announced that she is creating a "re-booted" version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, with no involvement from Joss Whedon or any other characters from the popular TV series.