Christopher B. Landon
Encyclopedia
Christopher Beau Landon (born February 27, 1975 in Los Angeles) is an American screenwriter best known as the writer of 2007 film Disturbia
and as the son of filmmaker Michael Landon
.
's footsteps in filmmaking, studied screenwriting at Loyola Marymount University
, but dropped out three years into the course to pursue a career when film director Larry Clark
offered him a writing job after reading one of his scripts. He went on to co-write the script of Another Day in Paradise
with Eddie Little
and Stephen Chin. After writing Another Day in Paradise, he came out
as gay, aware that homophobia
may have harmed his potential in the industry. "I may fall off some list because of my sexuality. But if that happens, then I really don't want to be on that list anyway," he said, speaking of homophobia in Hollywood and the film industry. "I was the flavor of the month, and then I was quickly dismissed. I reached a point in my career when I couldn't get a meeting anywhere." He moved from Los Angeles to Austin
, Texas, contemplating the future of his career, which he revived only a few years later.
Most of Landon's films deal with gay themes and issues, including $30, one of five components in Boys Life 3
, a collection of short films dealing with issues faced by gays, and a spec script
about the relationship between a straight man and a gay man. More recently, he has written the screenplays of the 2007 films Blood and Chocolate
, The Flock
and the acclaimed Disturbia
. Disturbia was one of his spec scripts which was brought to Montecito Pictures and subsequently DreamWorks Pictures
, and went on to become No. 1 in cinemas upon its release. He is currently working on The Lesson, an upcoming film for DreamWorks, and the 2007 television series Dirty Sexy Money
, his first television project, eager to expand his repertoire. He is currently working on the screenplay of the film adaption of Lisa McMann
's young adult novel Wake.
and Lynn Noe, the youngest of four children produced by their marriage. His parents divorced in 1980 when he was only four years old and he proceeded to live with his father, until he died of pancreatic cancer
when Christopher was sixteen. One of his brothers was Michael Landon Jr.
, an actor, and one of his half-sisters is Jennifer Landon
, an actress. He is friends with Sara Gilbert
and Angelina Jolie
, the latter having been in his grade at Beverly Hills High School
.
Landon came out as gay in 1999 having only written the script of Another Day in Paradise, unafraid of his sexuality harming his career potential. He says that growing up he was labeled a faggot by peers at his high school. His mother, a Christian, initially hesitated to accept his sexuality, but he told her, "I don't even know if I believe in God, but if I do, he gave you a gay son so that you can start confronting some of these issues and get yourself out of the box you've placed yourself in for so long." His stepmother, Cindy Clerico, his father's next wife, told him that both she and his father suspected he was gay.
Disturbia (film)
Disturbia is a 2007 American thriller film directed by D. J. Caruso and executive produced by Ivan Reitman. It is an updated version of Alfred Hitchcock's classic film Rear Window...
and as the son of filmmaker Michael Landon
Michael Landon
Michael Landon was an American actor, writer, director, and producer. He is widely known for his roles as Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza , Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie , and Jonathan Smith in Highway to Heaven...
.
Career
Landon, following his father Michael LandonMichael Landon
Michael Landon was an American actor, writer, director, and producer. He is widely known for his roles as Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza , Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie , and Jonathan Smith in Highway to Heaven...
's footsteps in filmmaking, studied screenwriting at Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University is a comprehensive co-educational private Roman Catholic university in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions located in Los Angeles, California, United States...
, but dropped out three years into the course to pursue a career when film director Larry Clark
Larry Clark
Lawrence Donald "Larry" Clark is an American film director, photographer, writer and film producer who is best known for the movie Kids and his photography book Tulsa...
offered him a writing job after reading one of his scripts. He went on to co-write the script of Another Day in Paradise
Another Day in Paradise (film)
Another Day in Paradise is a 1998 drama film directed by Larry Clark, and released by Trimark Pictures. It is based on the novel Another Day in Paradise written by Eddie Little.-Plot:...
with Eddie Little
Eddie Little
Eddie Little was a writer most associated with the books Another Day in Paradise and Steel Toes, as well as various articles in the LA Weekly...
and Stephen Chin. After writing Another Day in Paradise, he came out
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
as gay, aware that homophobia
Homophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
may have harmed his potential in the industry. "I may fall off some list because of my sexuality. But if that happens, then I really don't want to be on that list anyway," he said, speaking of homophobia in Hollywood and the film industry. "I was the flavor of the month, and then I was quickly dismissed. I reached a point in my career when I couldn't get a meeting anywhere." He moved from Los Angeles to Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, Texas, contemplating the future of his career, which he revived only a few years later.
Most of Landon's films deal with gay themes and issues, including $30, one of five components in Boys Life 3
Boys Life 3
Boys Life 3 is a compilation of five short films that deal with coming-out and the trials and tribulations of being gay in America.-See also:* List of American films of 2000* Boys Life* Boys Life 2* Boys Life 4: Four Play* Boys Life 5...
, a collection of short films dealing with issues faced by gays, and a spec script
Spec script
A spec script, also known as a speculative screenplay, is a non-commissioned unsolicited screenplay. It is usually written by a screenwriter who hopes to have the script optioned and eventually purchased by a producer, production company, or studio....
about the relationship between a straight man and a gay man. More recently, he has written the screenplays of the 2007 films Blood and Chocolate
Blood and Chocolate (film)
Blood & Chocolate is a 2007 film directed by Katja von Garnier, produced by Lakeshore Entertainment and distributed by MGM. It is very loosely based on the young-adult novel of the same name by Annette Curtis Klause, which was adapted into a screenplay by Ehren Kruger. The movie was released on DVD...
, The Flock
The Flock (film)
The Flock is a 2007 American thriller film directed by Andrew Lau, the co-director of the Infernal Affairs trilogy. The film, which marks his first English-language film, stars Richard Gere and Claire Danes.-Plot:...
and the acclaimed Disturbia
Disturbia (film)
Disturbia is a 2007 American thriller film directed by D. J. Caruso and executive produced by Ivan Reitman. It is an updated version of Alfred Hitchcock's classic film Rear Window...
. Disturbia was one of his spec scripts which was brought to Montecito Pictures and subsequently DreamWorks Pictures
DreamWorks
DreamWorks Pictures, also known as DreamWorks, LLC, DreamWorks SKG, DreamWorks II Distribution Co., LLC, DreamWorks Studios or DW Studios, LLC, is an American film studio which develops, produces, and distributes films, video games and television programming...
, and went on to become No. 1 in cinemas upon its release. He is currently working on The Lesson, an upcoming film for DreamWorks, and the 2007 television series Dirty Sexy Money
Dirty Sexy Money
Dirty Sexy Money is an American prime time drama series created by Craig Wright, which ran on the ABC from September 26, 2007 to August 8, 2009. The series was produced by ABC Studios, Bad Hat Harry Productions, Berlanti Television and Gross Entertainment...
, his first television project, eager to expand his repertoire. He is currently working on the screenplay of the film adaption of Lisa McMann
Lisa McMann
Lisa McMann is an American author.McMann was born in Holland, Michigan and now lives in the Phoenix, Arizona area. Her first novel, WAKE, debuted on the New York Times Best Seller list for children's chapter books...
's young adult novel Wake.
Personal life
Landon is the son of Michael LandonMichael Landon
Michael Landon was an American actor, writer, director, and producer. He is widely known for his roles as Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza , Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie , and Jonathan Smith in Highway to Heaven...
and Lynn Noe, the youngest of four children produced by their marriage. His parents divorced in 1980 when he was only four years old and he proceeded to live with his father, until he died of pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
when Christopher was sixteen. One of his brothers was Michael Landon Jr.
Michael Landon Jr.
Michael Landon, Jr. is an American actor, director, writer and producer.- Biography :Born as Michael Graham Landon, Landon is the son of the late actor Michael Landon and his second wife, Marjorie Lynn Noe. Michael is the brother of Christopher B...
, an actor, and one of his half-sisters is Jennifer Landon
Jennifer Landon
Jennifer Landon is an American actress. She is known for her role as Gwen Norbeck Munson on As the World Turns .-Private life:...
, an actress. He is friends with Sara Gilbert
Sara Gilbert
Sara Gilbert is an American actress best known for her role as Darlene Conner from 1988–1997 in the U.S. sitcom Roseanne.-Early life:Gilbert was born Sara Rebecca Abeles in Santa Monica, California. Her parents are Barbara Crane and Harold Abeles. Her two older siblings, Melissa Gilbert and...
and Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie is an American actress. She has received an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards, and was named Hollywood's highest-paid actress by Forbes in 2009 and 2011. Jolie is noted for promoting humanitarian causes as a Goodwill Ambassador for the...
, the latter having been in his grade at Beverly Hills High School
Beverly Hills High School
Beverly Hills High School is the only major public high school in Beverly Hills, California. Beverly is part of the Beverly Hills Unified School District and located on on the west side of Beverly Hills, at the...
.
Landon came out as gay in 1999 having only written the script of Another Day in Paradise, unafraid of his sexuality harming his career potential. He says that growing up he was labeled a faggot by peers at his high school. His mother, a Christian, initially hesitated to accept his sexuality, but he told her, "I don't even know if I believe in God, but if I do, he gave you a gay son so that you can start confronting some of these issues and get yourself out of the box you've placed yourself in for so long." His stepmother, Cindy Clerico, his father's next wife, told him that both she and his father suspected he was gay.