Christopher Chulack
Encyclopedia
Christopher Chulack is an American television producer and director. He has worked extensively on ER
and has won several awards.
medical drama ER as a director and producer with the first season. He was promoted to co-executive producer midway through the third season. Chulack became an executive producer during the fifth season, but relinquished the position in the sixth season in order to focus on the development of Third Watch
. He remained a consulting producer on ER until he returned to the position of executive producer at the start of the tenth season. Chulack was an executive producer from the tenth season until the series ended with the fifteenth season. He continued to regularly direct episodes throughout the series run and has helmed a total of 41 episodes as of the close of the fourteenth season.
Chulack and the rest of the producers of ER were nominated for an Emmy award
for Outstanding Drama Series
for their work on the first season at the 1995 awards
. The series won the award the following year
and Chulack was personally nominated for the Emmy award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing for a Drama Series
for his work on the episode "Hell and High Water". Chulack won the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series for his work on "Hell and High Water" in 1996
. Chulack won the award again in 1997
for his work on the episode "Fear of Flying" and also received a DGA diversity award along with John Wells
for their promotion of a diverse workforce in the television industry.
Chulack was nominated for two prizes at the 1997 Emmy awards
- the outstanding drama series award and the directing award. Chulack and the other ER producers were nominated for the Outstanding Drama Series award twice more (in 1998
and 1999
). Chulack was personally nominated for the Directing Emmy again in 2004
for his work on the episode "The Lost".
Chulack was also nominated for two further DGA Awards for his directing work on ER. He was nominated in 1998
for the episode "Fathers and Sons" and in 2005
for the episode "Time of Death".
and enlisted Chulack to direct the pilot episode. Chulack came on board as an executive producer on the series from the pilot until its cancellation at the close of its sixth season in 2005. Chulack directed several episodes of Third Watch and was executive producer for all of its episodes. Due to his pressing duties on Third Watch, Chulack had to cut back on his ER production duties, moving from executive producer to consulting producer. Jonathan Kaplan
became ERs producer/director in Chulack's place.
In 2005 Wells created a new series named Smith and again recruited Chulack to direct the pilot episode. Chulack directed four episodes of Smith and was again credited as an executive producer but the series was cancelled shortly after it began airing. The series star Ray Liotta
was also directed by Chulack as a special guest star in the "Time of Death" ER episode that earned Chulack a DGA award nomination.
for NBC. He worked with writing partner John Wells
and creator Ann Biderman
. Chulack, Wells and Biderman were executive producer for the first season and Chulack directed the pilot episode "Unknown Trouble". The series was picked up and aired as a midseason replacement. Chulack directed the episodes "See the Woman", "Sally in the Alley" and the season finale "Derailed".
The series was renewed for a second season and Chulack remained an executive producer and regular director. He helmed the season premiere "Phase Three" and the episode "U-Boat". NBC canceled the series before any episodes from the second season had aired. The six produced episodes were picked up by TNT and aired as the second season. TNT renewed the series for a third season and Chulack returned in the same role. He directed the season premiere "Let It Snow", the episodes "Punching Water", "The Winds" (which featured the departure of starring cast member Kevin Alejandro), "Fixing A Hole" and the season finale "Graduation Day".
ER (TV series)
ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
and has won several awards.
ER
Chulack began working on the NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
medical drama ER as a director and producer with the first season. He was promoted to co-executive producer midway through the third season. Chulack became an executive producer during the fifth season, but relinquished the position in the sixth season in order to focus on the development of Third Watch
Third Watch
Third Watch is an American television drama series which first aired on NBC from 1999 to 2005 for a total of 132 episodes, broadcast in 6 seasons of 22 episodes each....
. He remained a consulting producer on ER until he returned to the position of executive producer at the start of the tenth season. Chulack was an executive producer from the tenth season until the series ended with the fifteenth season. He continued to regularly direct episodes throughout the series run and has helmed a total of 41 episodes as of the close of the fourteenth season.
Chulack and the rest of the producers of ER were nominated for an Emmy award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for Outstanding Drama Series
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series
This page lists the winners and nominees for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, since its institution in 1951. The award is often cited as one of the "main awards" at the Emmys ceremonies, and has changed names many times in its history. It was first called Best Dramatic Show...
for their work on the first season at the 1995 awards
47th Primetime Emmy Awards
The 47th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were held Sunday, September 10, 1995. The awards show was hosted by Jason Alexander and Cybill Shepherd. It was broadcast on Fox...
. The series won the award the following year
48th Primetime Emmy Awards
The 48th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California, USA. They were presented in two ceremonies, one untelevised on September 7, 1996 and other televised on September 8, 1996. It was hosted by Michael J...
and Chulack was personally nominated for the Emmy award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing for a Drama Series
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series is an Emmy presented to the best directing of a television drama series.-Best Direction of a Single Program of a Drama Series:*1959: Jack Smight – Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre ...
for his work on the episode "Hell and High Water". Chulack won the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series for his work on "Hell and High Water" in 1996
Directors Guild of America Awards 1996
The 49th Directors Guild of America Awards, given in 1997, honored the best film and television directors of 1996.-Film:*Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Picture:**Anthony Minghella - The English Patient-Televion:...
. Chulack won the award again in 1997
Directors Guild of America Awards 1997
The 50th Directors Guild of America Awards, given on 7 March 1998, honored the best film and television directors of 1997.-Film:*Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Picture:**James Cameron - Titanic...
for his work on the episode "Fear of Flying" and also received a DGA diversity award along with John Wells
John Wells (TV producer)
John Marcum Wells is an American theater and television producer, writer and director. He is best known for his role as executive producer and show runner of the television series ER, Third Watch, and The West Wing. His company, John Wells Productions, is currently based at Warner Bros. studios in...
for their promotion of a diverse workforce in the television industry.
Chulack was nominated for two prizes at the 1997 Emmy awards
49th Primetime Emmy Awards
The 49th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California in 1997. They were presented in two ceremonies hosted by Bryant Gumbel, one on September 13 and another on September 14...
- the outstanding drama series award and the directing award. Chulack and the other ER producers were nominated for the Outstanding Drama Series award twice more (in 1998
50th Primetime Emmy Awards
The 50th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were held Sunday, September 13, 1998. It was broadcast on NBC. Nominees and winners are listed below, winners are in bold.- Outstanding Comedy Series :*3rd Rock from the Sun, NBC*Ally McBeal, FOX...
and 1999
51st Primetime Emmy Awards
The 51st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were held Sunday, September 12, 1999. The awards show was hosted by Jenna Elfman and David Hyde Pierce. It was broadcast on Fox...
). Chulack was personally nominated for the Directing Emmy again in 2004
56th Primetime Emmy Awards
The 56th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were held Sunday, September 19, 2004. The awards show was hosted by Garry Shandling and was broadcast on ABC...
for his work on the episode "The Lost".
Chulack was also nominated for two further DGA Awards for his directing work on ER. He was nominated in 1998
Directors Guild of America Awards 1998
The 51st Directors Guild of America Awards, given on 6 March 1999, honored the best film and television directors of 1998.-Film:Best Director - Motion Picture* Steven Spielberg - Saving Private Ryan...
for the episode "Fathers and Sons" and in 2005
Directors Guild of America Awards 2005
The 58th Directors Guild of America Awards, given on January 28, 2006, honored the best film and television directors in 2005.-Film:Best Director - Motion PictureAng Lee - Brokeback Mountain*George Clooney - Good Night, and Good Luck....
for the episode "Time of Death".
Third Watch
In 1999 Chulack's fellow ER producer John Wells created Third WatchThird Watch
Third Watch is an American television drama series which first aired on NBC from 1999 to 2005 for a total of 132 episodes, broadcast in 6 seasons of 22 episodes each....
and enlisted Chulack to direct the pilot episode. Chulack came on board as an executive producer on the series from the pilot until its cancellation at the close of its sixth season in 2005. Chulack directed several episodes of Third Watch and was executive producer for all of its episodes. Due to his pressing duties on Third Watch, Chulack had to cut back on his ER production duties, moving from executive producer to consulting producer. Jonathan Kaplan
Jonathan Kaplan
Jonathan Kaplan is an American film producer and director.Kaplan was born in Paris, France. He is the son of film composer Sol Kaplan and actress Frances Heflin; the nephew of actor Van Heflin. He is the brother of actresses Nora Heflin and Mady Kaplan...
became ERs producer/director in Chulack's place.
Other Wells Production series
In 2001 Chulack directed the pilot episode and executive produced Wells Production's next two series Citizen Baines (in 2001) and Presidio Med (in 2002). Both series were short-lived and were cancelled before completing their first seasons.In 2005 Wells created a new series named Smith and again recruited Chulack to direct the pilot episode. Chulack directed four episodes of Smith and was again credited as an executive producer but the series was cancelled shortly after it began airing. The series star Ray Liotta
Ray Liotta
[File:Ray Liotta is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of Henry Hill in the crime-drama Goodfellas, directed by Martin Scorsese and his role as Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams...
was also directed by Chulack as a special guest star in the "Time of Death" ER episode that earned Chulack a DGA award nomination.
Southland
In the 2008 to 2009 television season Chulack developed the police drama series SouthlandSouthland (TV series)
Southland is an American drama series created by writer Ann Biderman and produced by Warner Bros. Television. It premiered on NBC on April 9, 2009...
for NBC. He worked with writing partner John Wells
John Wells (TV producer)
John Marcum Wells is an American theater and television producer, writer and director. He is best known for his role as executive producer and show runner of the television series ER, Third Watch, and The West Wing. His company, John Wells Productions, is currently based at Warner Bros. studios in...
and creator Ann Biderman
Ann Biderman
Ann Biderman is an American film and television writer. She is the creator and executive producer of the critically acclaimed NBC/TNT series Southland, and won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Drama Series for an episode of NYPD Blue.-Career:In the 2008 to 2009...
. Chulack, Wells and Biderman were executive producer for the first season and Chulack directed the pilot episode "Unknown Trouble". The series was picked up and aired as a midseason replacement. Chulack directed the episodes "See the Woman", "Sally in the Alley" and the season finale "Derailed".
The series was renewed for a second season and Chulack remained an executive producer and regular director. He helmed the season premiere "Phase Three" and the episode "U-Boat". NBC canceled the series before any episodes from the second season had aired. The six produced episodes were picked up by TNT and aired as the second season. TNT renewed the series for a third season and Chulack returned in the same role. He directed the season premiere "Let It Snow", the episodes "Punching Water", "The Winds" (which featured the departure of starring cast member Kevin Alejandro), "Fixing A Hole" and the season finale "Graduation Day".
Director
| Year | Show | Episode | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Homefront | "Signed, Crazy in Love" | Season 2, episode 34 |
| 1995 | ER ER (TV series) ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television... |
"Sleepless in Chicago" | Season 1 ER (season 1) The first season of the American fictional drama television series ER aired from 1994–1995 with 25 episodes.The 2-hour pilot episode aired on September 19, 1994 and was followed by 24 other episodes, including the season finale that aired on May 18, 1995.-Plot:In ERs first season, the core cast... , episode 18 |
| "Men Plan, God Laughs" | Season 1, episode 22 | ||
| "Hell and High Water" | Season 2 ER (season 2) The second season of the American fictional drama television series ER first aired on September 21, 1995 and concluded on May 16, 1996... , episode 7 |
||
| 1996 | "It's Not Easy Being Greene" | Season 2, episode 13 | |
| "John Carter, M.D." | Season 2, episode 22 | ||
| "Doctor Carter, I Presume" | Season 3 ER (season 3) The third season of the American fictional drama television series ER first aired on September 26, 1996 and concluded on May 15, 1997. The third season consists of 22 episodes.- Plot :... , episode 1 |
||
| "Fear of Flying" | Season 3, episode 6 | ||
| 1997 | "The Long Way Around" | Season 3, episode 15 | |
| "You Bet Your Life" | Season 3, episode 18 | ||
| "One More For The Road" | Season 3, episode 22 | ||
| "Something New" | Season 4 ER (season 4) The fourth season of the American fictional drama television series ER first aired on September 25, 1997 and concluded on May 14, 1998. The fourth season consists of 22 episodes.- Plot :... , episode 2 |
||
| "Fathers and Sons" | Season 4, episode 7 | ||
| 1998 | "Sharp Relief" | Season 4, episode 12 | |
| "Exodus" | Season 4, episode 15 | ||
| "Day For Knight" | Season 5, episode 1 | ||
| "The Good Fight" | Season 5, episode 8 | ||
| 1999 | "Choosing Joi" | Season 5, episode 13 | |
| "The Storm: Part 2" | Season 5, episode 15 | ||
| Third Watch Third Watch Third Watch is an American television drama series which first aired on NBC from 1999 to 2005 for a total of 132 episodes, broadcast in 6 seasons of 22 episodes each.... |
"Welcome to Camelot" | Season 1, episode 1 | |
| 2000 | ER | "Rescue Me" | Season 7, episode 13 |
| 2001 | Third Watch | "In Their Own Words" | Season 3, episode 1 |
| Citizen Baines | "A Day Like No Other" | Season 1, episode 1 | |
| "The Whole Thump-Thump-Thump" | Season 1, episode 2 | ||
| "A Song That Never Ends" | Season 1, episode 8 (Unaired) | ||
| 2002 | Presidio Med Presidio Med Presidio Med is an American Television series which aired 2002–2003, centering around a San Francisco hospital. It was created by John Wells and Lydia Woodward, who also created ER.-Series premise:... |
"This Baby's Gonna Fly" | Season 1, episode 1 |
| "Second Chance" | Season 1, episode 2 | ||
| "Once Upon a Family" | Season 1, episode 7 | ||
| ER | "A Simple Twist of Fate" | Season 8 ER (season 8) The eighth season of the American fictional drama television series ER first aired on September 27, 2001 and concluded on May 16, 2002. The eighth season consists of 22 episodes.-Plot:... , episode 14 |
|
| 2003 | Presidio Med | "Suffer Unto Me the Children..." | Season 1, episode 9 |
| ER | "Kisangani" | Season 9, episode 22 | |
| "The Lost" | Season 10, episode 2 | ||
| "Dear Abby" | Season 10, episode 3 | ||
| "Freefall" | Season 10, episode 8 | ||
| "Makemba" | Season 10, episode 10 | ||
| 2004 | Third Watch | "More Monsters" | Season 6, episode 1 |
| ER | "Forgive and Forget" | Season 10, episode 16 | |
| "One For The Road" | Season 11, episode 1 | ||
| "Time of Death" | Season 11, episode 6 | ||
| 2005 | "The Providers" | Season 11, episode 12 | |
| "Here and There" | Season 11, episode 16 | ||
| "Carter est Amoureux" | Season 11, episode 21 | ||
| "Canon City" | Season 12, episode 1 | ||
| "Man With No Name" | Season 12, episode 3 | ||
| "Two Ships" | Season 12, episode 8 | ||
| 2006 | "There Are No Angels Here" | Season 12, episode 20 | |
| Smith Smith (TV series) Smith is an American television drama that premiered on September 16, 2006 at 10:00 PM ET on CBS and on September 18, 2006 on CTV in Canada... |
"Pilot" | ||
| "Two" | |||
| "Three" | |||
| 2007 | "Seven" | Online only | |
| ER | "Murmurs of the Heart" | Season 13, episode 14 | |
| "The Honeymoon is Over" | Season 13, episode 23 | ||
| "Officer Down" | Season 14, episode 3 | ||
| "Blackout" | Season 14, episode 7 | ||
| 2008 | "Owner of a Broken Heart" | Season 14, episode 14 | |
| "The Chicago Way" | Season 14, episode 19 | ||