James Richard Kelly better known as Richard Kelly, is an American film director and writer, known for writing and directing the cult classic Donnie Darko in 2001. Kelly was born James Richard Kelly in Newport News, Virginia, the son of Lane and Ennis Kelly. He grew up in Midlothian, Virginia, where he attended Midlothian High School and graduated in 1993. When he was a child, his father worked for NASA on the Mars Viking Lander program. He won a scholarship to the University of Southern California to study at the USC School of Cinema-Television where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He made two short films at USC, The Goodbye Place and Visceral Matter, before graduating in 1997.
Born James Richard Kelly, son of Lane Kelly and Ennis Kelly. Grew up in Midlothian, Virginia.
1997 Graduate of University of Southern California, where he studied Film.
Received only $9,000 to write and direct Donnie Darko with a budget of 4.5 million dollars.
Two of his favorite films are Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back and Mad Max 2 . He has posters for them in his house.
His father worked for NASA on the Mars Viking Lander program in the 70s, developing the camera that made the first pictures from the Mars surface.
Wrote an unproduced script for Hal Lieberman and Jonathan Mostow s production company called "House at the End of the Street".
Originally wrote the screenplay for the movie Holes but after it was turned down, they had Louis Sachar do it instead. Kellys script can be found on his website.
He was originally offered the chance to direct Valentine , but turned the offer down.
Is good friends with film director Kevin Smith. He was a judge for Smiths short film contest Movies Askew when the twelve finalists were screened in Hollywood in 2006.
(August 2008) Currently producing 3 films ( Rogues Gallery - Worlds Greatest Dad - I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell ) and finishing post-production on his third feature length film The Box
(May 2004) Writing Domino a True Romance-style action/crime film for Tony Scott.
(July 2007) Casting is underway for The Box a high-concept, supernatural/thriller, that will begin filming in November.
. . . . . . at this point I was just desperately trying to salvage the film,before they take it away from me and it debuts on the STARZ! Network,and my career is over.
