Chris Weitz is an Oscar-nominated writer and director. His films include The Twilight Saga: New Moon, A Better Life, About a Boy, The Golden Compass, and American Pie. The Young World is his first novel.
Son of Susan Kohner.
Younger brother of Paul Weitz.
Nephew of producer Pancho Kohner.
Son of the late fashion designer and novelist John Weitz.
Graduated from Cambridge University, where he was a classmate of Rachel Weisz.
Grandson of Paul Kohner and Lupita Tovar.
Started reading The Golden Compass while he was filming About a Boy .
He graduated with a degree in English Literature from Trinity College, Cambridge.
Before he was going to direct The Golden Compass , he was invited by director Peter Jackson to visit the set of King Kong in order to gain insight into directing a big-budget film.
In 2005 Weitz announced his departure from the The Golden Compass , citing the enormous technical challenged involved, and the fear being denounced by both the books fans and detractors. He was replaced by British director Anand Tucker. Ironically, Tucker left the project in 2006 over creative differences with New Line and Weitz returned to the directors chair, after receiving a letter from Philip Pullman asking him to reconsider.
In 2007 he and his brother, Paul Weitz , met with Michael Moorcock the writer of the Elric of Melnibone books, to talk about a movie adaptation. Chris had been a fan of the books since childhood, and Moorcock trusted him with the project.
Has worked on 9 projects where John Cho stars.
Got the directing job of The Twilight Saga: New Moon after Catherine Hardwicke backed out.
His movie About a Boy is one of author Stephenie Meyer s favorite movies. Shes the author of The Twilight Saga: New Moon which he is set to direct.
Originally offered Brad Pitt the lead in About a Boy but he turned it down. However, they later worked together on Mr. & Mrs. Smith .
His first movie experience was Midway .
Lived by the sea when he was a kid. Thats the reason why he didnt like the movie Jaws .
Saw Star Wars for the first time, when he was 7 years old.
Has directed 1 actor to an Oscar nomination: Demin Bichir (Best Actor, A Better Life ).
His father was a German Jewish immigrant, his maternal grandfather was a Czech Jewish immigrant, and his maternal grandmother was Mexican.
You avoid human contact. I read New Moon over the course of a day and a,half in Ojai, Calif.
at a very crunchy retreat that included a sweat,lodge. Actually, my only pause was for a sweat lodge during which I,asked the Quileute ancestors to come and give me good luck. Somewhere,Jacob Black was pleased. I was channeling Team Jacob because he needs,it in this movie. Everyone already knows about Edward.
We had an inferior product, which was trying to avoid anything with any,religious content in it, which emasculated the film. I think there were,some very unwise decisions that led to its financial ruin here, and in,turn, to the destruction of New Line as we knew it.
An accessible introduction to the nature of political thought. Just what I always wanted.
