Name Geoffrey Fletcher | Role Screenwriter | |
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Full Name Geoffrey Shawn Fletcher Born October 4, 1970 (age 53) ( 1970-10-04 ) New London, Connecticut Alma mater Harvard,
NYUTisch School of the Arts Occupation Screenwriter,
Film Director and,
Adjunct Film Professor Employer Columbia University,
NYU/Tisch School of the Arts Parents Alphonse Fletcher, Sr., Bettye R. Fletcher Siblings Buddy Fletcher, Todd Fletcher Education Harvard University, Harvard College, Tisch School of the Arts, Choate Rosemary Hall, New York University Awards Academy Award for Best Writing Adapted Screenplay Movies Precious, Violet & Daisy, Room 8, The London Nobody K, REFLECTIONS Similar People Sapphire, Mo'Nique, Gary Magness, Sarah Siegel‑Magness, Lee Daniels | ||
Geoffrey Shawn Fletcher (born October 4, 1970) is an American screenwriter, film director, and adjunct film professor at Columbia University and New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in New York City, New York. Fletcher is the screenwriter of Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire and received an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on March 7, 2010. He is the first African American to receive an Academy Award for writing. In September 2010, Fletcher began shooting Violet & Daisy in New York City based on his original script as his directorial debut. It was released in a limited theatrical run in June 2013.
Contents
- Early life
- Career
- Filmography
- Screenwriting awards for Precious
- Screenwriting nominations for Precious
- Awards and Festivals for Magic Markers
- References
Early life
Fletcher was born in New London, Connecticut, one of three children of Alphonse Fletcher, Sr. and Bettye R. Fletcher. Alphonse Fletcher, Jr. and Todd Fletcher are his brothers. Fletcher attended Waterford High School in Waterford, Connecticut prior to completing his secondary education at Choate Rosemary Hall. Fletcher graduated from Harvard College where he concentrated in psychology and from NYU's Tisch School where he earned a Master of Fine Arts. His student film Magic Markers, which he wrote and directed, was shown at festivals and caught the attention of director John Singleton.
Career
Fletcher worked in a variety of temporary staff positions for years as he wrote and directed his own films. Eventually he was appointed an adjunct professor at Tisch and also at Columbia. In 2006, producer Lee Daniels viewed Magic Markers and asked Fletcher to adapt the book Push by Sapphire which became the film Precious. Daniels, well known to be "passionately dedicated" to artists "serious about their craft," considered several writers before choosing Fletcher according to a Variety article that included Fletcher among the "Ten Screenwriters to Watch." Fletcher is represented by his agents Billy Hawkins, Brian Siberell and Chris Till of CAA and by the law firm of Gang, Tyre, Ramer and Brown.
On February 16, 2010 director Doug Liman and Fletcher announced that they would be collaborating on a film re-creation of the 1971 Attica state prison rebellion. Fletcher said in a statement "Working with a remarkable director in Doug Liman whose family history binds him personally to this project, I hope to create opportunities for re-examination of this dramatic crossroad in our nation's history while contributing to the current dialogue on the value of protecting everyone's rights."
His brother Alphonse Fletcher Jr. has been involved in a hedge fund bankruptcy case. Money from his fund, Fletcher Asset Management, was used to fund his Violet movie project according to the bankruptcy court trustee.