Angelo Pizzo
Encyclopedia
Angelo Pizzo is an American screen writer and film producer
, best known for Hoosiers
and Rudy
. Pizzo grew up in Bloomington, Indiana
, the son of a Sicilian immigrant, and attended Indiana University
where he received his bachelor degree in political science
. He and his family lived in Ojai, California
and attended film school at the University of Southern California
. He is also a graduate of Indiana University. After living in California for about 30 years, he and his family moved back to Bloomington, IN to raise their kids. He is an avid Indiana University basketball supporter and season ticket holder.
Pizzo received an honorary doctorate from Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana
, was named Sagamore of the Wabash
, the highest civilian of Indiana and various other awards.
Angelo has two sons, ages 11 and 14 (as of 2009).
fraternity brother from IU, David Anspaugh
, to create Hoosiers.
Hoosiers earned Pizzo two Oscar Award nominations. Hoosiers was named best sports film of all time by both ESPN
and USA Today
. It is also in the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry.
Pizzo wrote and produced various screenplays, usually based on a true story, and usually about athletics. He was writer and producer for Hoosiers
, his first film about a small-town Indiana
school winning the state basketball title; Rudy
, about a young man with dreams of playing football
at the University of Notre Dame
; and The Game of Their Lives, about the U.S. Soccer Team
beating the English team against all odds. He also was an associate producer on the made-for-TV movie Father Figure.
He is working on various projects, including a movie based on the life of baseball player Ricky Hill and also serves on the boards of the Heartland Film Festival
, Kinsey Institute, and the New Harmony Writers’ Project.
Is a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity.
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
, best known for Hoosiers
Hoosiers
Hoosiers is a 1986 sports film about a small-town Indiana high school basketball team that wins the state championship. It is loosely based on the Milan High School team that won the 1954 state championship....
and Rudy
Rudy (film)
Rudy is a 1993 American sports film directed by David Anspaugh. It is an account of the life of Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, who harbored dreams of playing football at the University of Notre Dame despite significant obstacles...
. Pizzo grew up in Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the southern region of the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 80,405 at the 2010 census....
, the son of a Sicilian immigrant, and attended 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...
where he received his bachelor degree in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. He and his family lived in Ojai, California
Ojai, California
Ojai is a city in Ventura County, California, USA. It is situated in the Ojai Valley , surrounded by hills and mountains. The population was 7,461 at the 2010 census, down from 7,862 at the 2000 census.-History:Chumash Indians were the early inhabitants of the valley...
and attended film school 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...
. He is also a graduate of Indiana University. After living in California for about 30 years, he and his family moved back to Bloomington, IN to raise their kids. He is an avid Indiana University basketball supporter and season ticket holder.
Pizzo received an honorary doctorate from Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana
Franklin, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,463 people, 6,824 households, and 4,872 families residing in the city. The population increased by more than 50% during the 1990s , with new residents attracted by jobs in the community, as well as some people commuting to Indianapolis for work. The...
, was named Sagamore of the Wabash
Sagamore of the Wabash
The Sagamore of the Wabash is an honorary award created by the state of Indiana during the term of Governor Ralph F. Gates . A tri-state meeting was to be held in Louisville with officials from Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Aides to Gates learned that the governor of Kentucky was preparing...
, the highest civilian of Indiana and various other awards.
Angelo has two sons, ages 11 and 14 (as of 2009).
Profession
Angelo was originally going to become a lawyer, but his father encouraged him to do something he enjoyed. He began his film/television career with Warner Brothers Television in the story development group, then moved to Time Life Films. After serving as Vice President of Feature Film Productions there he worked with his former Sigma NuSigma Nu
Sigma Nu is an undergraduate, college fraternity with chapters in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia...
fraternity brother from IU, David Anspaugh
David Anspaugh
David Anspaugh is an American television and film director.Born in Decatur, Indiana, Anspaugh studied at Indiana University and the USC School of Cinematic Arts, after which he taught high school in Colorado. His work as an associate producer on television movies led to his producing and directing...
, to create Hoosiers.
Hoosiers earned Pizzo two Oscar Award nominations. Hoosiers was named best sports film of all time by both ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
and USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
. It is also in the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry.
Pizzo wrote and produced various screenplays, usually based on a true story, and usually about athletics. He was writer and producer for Hoosiers
Hoosiers
Hoosiers is a 1986 sports film about a small-town Indiana high school basketball team that wins the state championship. It is loosely based on the Milan High School team that won the 1954 state championship....
, his first film about a small-town Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
school winning the state basketball title; Rudy
Rudy (film)
Rudy is a 1993 American sports film directed by David Anspaugh. It is an account of the life of Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, who harbored dreams of playing football at the University of Notre Dame despite significant obstacles...
, about a young man with dreams of playing football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
; and The Game of Their Lives, about the U.S. Soccer Team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
beating the English team against all odds. He also was an associate producer on the made-for-TV movie Father Figure.
He is working on various projects, including a movie based on the life of baseball player Ricky Hill and also serves on the boards of the Heartland Film Festival
Heartland Film Festival
The Heartland Film Festival is a film festival held each October in Indianapolis, Indiana. First held in 1992, its goal is to "recognize and honor filmmakers whose work explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life."In May 2007, Heartland...
, Kinsey Institute, and the New Harmony Writers’ Project.
Is a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity.
External links
- Heartland Film Festival
- Angelo Pizzo at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...