Neil Kopp
Encyclopedia
Neil Kopp is an American
film, commercial and music video producer best known for his work on the films Old Joy (2006) and Paranoid Park
(2007).
Born and raised in Portland, Oregon
, Kopp attended the Vancouver Film School
in British Columbia
, Canada
where he majored in Film Production. He spent his next five years after graduating in Texas
and Oregon
working as a production manager for commercial and music video production companies including Dallas
' Big Fish Films and Portland's Food Chain Films. While with Food Chain, and with director and fellow Vancouver Film School alumnus Dennis Fitzgerald
, he produced a number of music videos for Portland-based artists such as The Shins
, The Dandy Warhols
and The Decemberists
.
Kopp's feature film debut was Kelly Reichardt
's Old Joy, a 2006 film about two reunited friends based in Mount Hood
in Southeast Portland, where he grew up. After reading the film's script, he came aboard the project due to his familiarity with the story's locations, describing Mount Hood and the Bagby Hot Springs
area as his "stomping grounds". He was predominantly active in the pre-production of the film, acting as a location scout
and location manager
, using the back roads and camping grounds he was familiar with from his childhood and young adulthood. As the only producer aboard during filming, Kelly Reichardt has said about Kopp, "He would become the [assistant director]. He was our grip, he learned how to do the car rigging, and he found the stand-ins and the locations. I could not have made this film without [him]." He and the other principal Old Joy crew members were nominated for the Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award
.
Kopp later produced Gus Van Sant
's 2007 film Paranoid Park
, which, combined with his work on Old Joy, earned him an Independent Spirit Producers Award as well as a nomination for Paranoid Park as Best Film
. He also produced Kelly Reichardt's 2008 film Wendy and Lucy
, also known under the working titles of Wendy and Train Choir.; and Reichardt's 2010 film Meek's Cutoff.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film, commercial and music video producer best known for his work on the films Old Joy (2006) and Paranoid Park
Paranoid Park (film)
Paranoid Park is a 2007 American drama film written and directed by Gus Van Sant. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Blake Nelson and takes place in Portland, Oregon. It stars Gabe Nevins as a teenage skateboarder who accidentally kills a security guard.Van Sant wrote the draft...
(2007).
Born and raised in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, Kopp attended the Vancouver Film School
Vancouver Film School
Vancouver Film School is a private entertainment arts school located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 1987, it has achieved international recognition. The Vancouver Film School has campus locations around Downtown Vancouver and comprises six buildings...
in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
where he majored in Film Production. He spent his next five years after graduating in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
working as a production manager for commercial and music video production companies including Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
' Big Fish Films and Portland's Food Chain Films. While with Food Chain, and with director and fellow Vancouver Film School alumnus Dennis Fitzgerald
Dennis Fitzgerald
Joseph Dennis Fitzgerald was an American Freestyle wrestler and football player and coach. Fitzgerald played college football as a halfback at the University of Michigan and was selected as named the most valuable player on the 1960 Michigan Wolverines football team...
, he produced a number of music videos for Portland-based artists such as The Shins
The Shins
The Shins are an American indie rock band comprising singer, songwriter, and guitarist James Mercer, guitarist/bassist Dave Hernandez, Eric Johnson of Fruit Bats, drummer Joe Plummer and bassist Ron Lewis. Their sound draws on several musical genres, including pop, alternative rock, indie rock,...
, The Dandy Warhols
The Dandy Warhols
The Dandy Warhols are an American alternative rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1994. The band was founded by singer-guitarist Courtney Taylor-Taylor and guitarist Peter Holmström, with keyboardist Zia McCabe and drummer Eric Hedford later joining. Hedford left in 1998 and was replaced by...
and The Decemberists
The Decemberists
The Decemberists are an indie folk rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States, fronted by singer/songwriter Colin Meloy. The other members of the band are Chris Funk , Jenny Conlee , Nate Query , and John Moen .The band's...
.
Kopp's feature film debut was Kelly Reichardt
Kelly Reichardt
Kelly Reichardt is a screenwriter and film director working within American indie cinema. Her debut film River of Grass was released in 1994. It was nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards, as well as the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. In 1999, she completed her sophomore...
's Old Joy, a 2006 film about two reunited friends based in Mount Hood
Mount Hood
Mount Hood, called Wy'east by the Multnomah tribe, is a stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc of northern Oregon. It was formed by a subduction zone and rests in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States...
in Southeast Portland, where he grew up. After reading the film's script, he came aboard the project due to his familiarity with the story's locations, describing Mount Hood and the Bagby Hot Springs
Bagby Hot Springs
The Bagby Hot Springs are natural hot springs located in the Mount Hood National Forest about southeast of Portland, Oregon, United States and about east of Salem, Oregon. The springs are within the Cascade Mountains in a heavily forested area at elevation 2280 ft...
area as his "stomping grounds". He was predominantly active in the pre-production of the film, acting as a location scout
Location scouting
Location scouting is a vital process in the pre-production stage of filmmaking and commercial photography. Once scriptwriters, producers or directors have decided what general kind of scenery they require for the various parts of their work that is shot outside of the studio, the search for a...
and location manager
Location manager
The Location Manager is responsible for the finding and securing locations to be used and coordinating the logistics involved for the production to successfully complete its necessary work...
, using the back roads and camping grounds he was familiar with from his childhood and young adulthood. As the only producer aboard during filming, Kelly Reichardt has said about Kopp, "He would become the [assistant director]. He was our grip, he learned how to do the car rigging, and he found the stand-ins and the locations. I could not have made this film without [him]." He and the other principal Old Joy crew members were nominated for the Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award
Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award
The Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award is presented to the creative team of a film budgeted at less than $500,000 by Film Independent, a non-profit organization dedicated to independent film and independent filmmakers...
.
Kopp later produced Gus Van Sant
Gus Van Sant
Gus Green Van Sant, Jr. is an American director, screenwriter, painter, photographer, musician, and author. He is a two time nominee of the Academy Award for Best Director for his 1997 film Good Will Hunting and his 2008 film Milk, both of which were also nominated for Best Picture, and won the...
's 2007 film Paranoid Park
Paranoid Park (film)
Paranoid Park is a 2007 American drama film written and directed by Gus Van Sant. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Blake Nelson and takes place in Portland, Oregon. It stars Gabe Nevins as a teenage skateboarder who accidentally kills a security guard.Van Sant wrote the draft...
, which, combined with his work on Old Joy, earned him an Independent Spirit Producers Award as well as a nomination for Paranoid Park as Best Film
Independent Spirit Award for Best Film
The Independent Spirit Award for Best Film is one of the annual Independent Spirit Awards.-1980s:* 1985: After Hours - Martin Scorsese** Blood Simple - Joel and Ethan Coen** Smooth Talk...
. He also produced Kelly Reichardt's 2008 film Wendy and Lucy
Wendy and Lucy
Wendy and Lucy is a 2008 American drama film directed by Kelly Reichardt. Reichardt and Jon Raymond adapted the screenplay from his short story "Train Choir". The film stars Michelle Williams and Will Patton...
, also known under the working titles of Wendy and Train Choir.; and Reichardt's 2010 film Meek's Cutoff.