Tommy O'Haver
Encyclopedia
Tommy O'Haver is an American
film director
and screenwriter
. He grew up in Carmel, Indiana
, a suburb of Indianapolis
. He graduated from Indiana University
with a degree in Journalism and Comparative Literature. During the mid-nineties, he attended the MFA Film program at the University of Southern California
School of Cinematic Arts
.http://cinema.usc.edu/alumni/alumni-history/ While there, he directed shorts that appeared at major festivals, including Sundance and The New York Film Festival.
Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss
, featuring Sean Hayes
, was O'Haver's directorial debut. The film focuses on a man, played by Hayes, who fixates on another man whose sexuality he doesn't know, played by Brad Rowe
. Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss played in competition at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival
. It is credited with helping Hayes win a role on the long running TV series Will and Grace. Get Over It
starred Kirsten Dunst, Ben Foster, Mila Kunis and Zoe Saldana in a teen comedy about a school theater production. O'Haver's third film Ella Enchanted
, features Anne Hathaway
, in a modern take on the princess fairy tale. Catherine Keener, Ellen Page and James Franco star in An American Crime
which premiered at Sundance in 2007. The film is based on a true story about an Indiana woman who in 1965 was charged with the murder of her neighbor's daughter. The initial reaction at Sundance was mixed, but the film went on to garner critical praise. Keener received an Emmy and Golden Globe nomination for her performance. O'Haver and his writing partner, Irene Turner, were nominated for a Writer's Guild Award for the film as well.
He is currently in pre-production on Golden Gate, a thriller for Summit Entertainment, produced by Neil Meron, Craig Zadan and Alison Rosensweig.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film 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 screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
. He grew up in Carmel, Indiana
Carmel, Indiana
Carmel is a city in Hamilton County, Indiana, United States located immediately north of Indianapolis, Indiana. The population was 79,191 at the 2010 census, and is one of the most affluent communities in the Midwest....
, a suburb of Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. He graduated from Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
with a degree in Journalism and Comparative Literature. During the mid-nineties, he attended the MFA Film program at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
School of Cinematic Arts
USC School of Cinematic Arts
The USC School of Cinematic Arts, until 2006 named the School of Cinema-Television , is a film school within the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. It is the oldest and largest such school in the United States, established in 1929 as a joint venture with the Academy of...
.http://cinema.usc.edu/alumni/alumni-history/ While there, he directed shorts that appeared at major festivals, including Sundance and The New York Film Festival.
Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss
Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss
Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss is a 1998 American independent, gay-themed romantic comedy film written and directed by Tommy O'Haver and starring Sean P. Hayes, Brad Rowe, and Meredith Scott Lynn...
, featuring Sean Hayes
Sean Hayes (actor)
Sean Patrick Hayes is an American actor and comedian. He is widely known for his role as Jack McFarland in the NBC sitcom Will & Grace, for which he won an Emmy Award, four SAG Awards, one American Comedy Award, and six Golden Globes nominations.He also portrayed comedian Jerry Lewis in the...
, was O'Haver's directorial debut. The film focuses on a man, played by Hayes, who fixates on another man whose sexuality he doesn't know, played by Brad Rowe
Brad Rowe (actor)
Brad Rowe is an American film and television actor who began his career in movies such as Invisible Temptation and Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss ....
. Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss played in competition at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
. It is credited with helping Hayes win a role on the long running TV series Will and Grace. Get Over It
Get Over It (film)
Get Over It is a 2001 American romantic comedy film about a teenage boy whose girlfriend ends their relationship. The film was directed by Tommy O'Haver for Miramax Films. The film stars Ben Foster, Kirsten Dunst, Melissa Sagemiller, Sisqó, Colin Hanks, Shane West, and Martin Short. R. Lee Fleming,...
starred Kirsten Dunst, Ben Foster, Mila Kunis and Zoe Saldana in a teen comedy about a school theater production. O'Haver's third film Ella Enchanted
Ella Enchanted
Ella Enchanted is a Newbery Honor book written by Gail Carson Levine and published in 1997. The story is a retelling of Cinderella featuring various mythical creatures including fairies, elves, ogres, gnomes, and giants...
, features Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway (actress)
Anne Jacqueline Hathaway is an American actress. After several stage roles, she appeared in the 1999 television series Get Real. She played Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries...
, in a modern take on the princess fairy tale. Catherine Keener, Ellen Page and James Franco star in An American Crime
An American Crime
An American Crime is a 2007 American crime-drama film starring Ellen Page and Catherine Keener. The film is based on the true story of the torture and murder of Sylvia Likens by Indianapolis housewife Gertrude Baniszewski...
which premiered at Sundance in 2007. The film is based on a true story about an Indiana woman who in 1965 was charged with the murder of her neighbor's daughter. The initial reaction at Sundance was mixed, but the film went on to garner critical praise. Keener received an Emmy and Golden Globe nomination for her performance. O'Haver and his writing partner, Irene Turner, were nominated for a Writer's Guild Award for the film as well.
He is currently in pre-production on Golden Gate, a thriller for Summit Entertainment, produced by Neil Meron, Craig Zadan and Alison Rosensweig.
Filmography
- Golden GateGolden GateThe Golden Gate is the North American strait connecting San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean. Since 1937 it has been spanned by the Golden Gate Bridge...
(2010) pre-production - An American CrimeAn American CrimeAn American Crime is a 2007 American crime-drama film starring Ellen Page and Catherine Keener. The film is based on the true story of the torture and murder of Sylvia Likens by Indianapolis housewife Gertrude Baniszewski...
(2008) - Ella EnchantedElla Enchanted (film)Ella Enchanted is a 2004 British-American romantic-comedy film loosely based on Gail Carson Levine's 1997 novel of the same name. The film stars Anne Hathaway as Ella and Hugh Dancy as Prince Charmont. It plays with the usual fairy-tale genre...
(2004) - Get Over ItGet Over It (film)Get Over It is a 2001 American romantic comedy film about a teenage boy whose girlfriend ends their relationship. The film was directed by Tommy O'Haver for Miramax Films. The film stars Ben Foster, Kirsten Dunst, Melissa Sagemiller, Sisqó, Colin Hanks, Shane West, and Martin Short. R. Lee Fleming,...
(2001) - Billy's Hollywood Screen KissBilly's Hollywood Screen KissBilly's Hollywood Screen Kiss is a 1998 American independent, gay-themed romantic comedy film written and directed by Tommy O'Haver and starring Sean P. Hayes, Brad Rowe, and Meredith Scott Lynn...
(1998)