Rex Pickett
Encyclopedia
Rex Pickett is an American writer best known for his popular novel Sideways
. Before publishing the book, he worked as a screenwriter and director in film.
graduate film school, he left and, with his then wife Barbara Schock, wrote, directed and edited two independent feature films: California Without End ($60K budget) and From Hollywood to Deadwood ($650K budget). The former was sold to Bavarian Radio Television in Germany and the latter was bought and theatrically released by Island Pictures.
Pickett then returned to writing, optioning original scripts, adapting novels and doing rewrites for hire. A short he wrote, My Mother Dreams the Satan's Disciples in New York, was directed by Schock as her American Film Institute
thesis project. The film was awarded the 2000 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short.
Pickett worked with David Fincher
on the screenplay for Alien 3, but his script was ultimately rejected by producers David Giler
and Walter Hill. Pickett's greatest success came with his novel Sideways
. Though originally rejected by 15 different publishers in three submissions, to date Sideways has sold over 150,000 copies in the English-language edition, and has been translated into 11 other languages. The film version, directed by the critically acclaimed Alexander Payne
, won over 350 awards in major categories from various critics and awards organizations, including five New York Film Critics awards, including best picture, screenplay, and director; five L.A. Film Critics awards, again all in major categories; six Indie Spirit awards, for best picture, screenplay, supporting actor and actress, and best actor; two Golden Globe awards, for best picture musical or comedy, and best screenplay; five Broadcast Critics awards; and the SAG award for best ensemble cast. Pickett also figures on-screen: In the scene in which Miles (played by Paul Giamatti
) hits the ball at the other golfers, it was actually Pickett who performed the shot, due to Giamatti's poor golf abilities. Sideways was also made into a Japanese film, Saidoweizu.
Pickett is currently represented by Trident Media on the publishing front, Endeavor (now WME) on the film literary front, and the Joel Gotler Agency on the book-to-film front. He is currently under contract with Alfred A. Knopf
(Random House
's literary division) for his next novel, a sequel of sorts to Sideways. The novel is now written and completed, titled Vertical, a copy of which the author carries in his car on his travels through central California for interviews and business.
Sideways (novel)
Sideways is a 2004 novel by Rex Pickett.-Plot introduction:The novel is the story of two friends, Miles and Jack, who go away together for the last time to steep themselves in everything that makes it good to be young and single...
. Before publishing the book, he worked as a screenwriter and director in film.
Career
Pickett graduated summa cum laude from the University of California in San Diego. After a brief stint at the University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity 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...
graduate film school, he left and, with his then wife Barbara Schock, wrote, directed and edited two independent feature films: California Without End ($60K budget) and From Hollywood to Deadwood ($650K budget). The former was sold to Bavarian Radio Television in Germany and the latter was bought and theatrically released by Island Pictures.
Pickett then returned to writing, optioning original scripts, adapting novels and doing rewrites for hire. A short he wrote, My Mother Dreams the Satan's Disciples in New York, was directed by Schock as her American Film Institute
American Film Institute
The American Film Institute is an independent non-profit organization created by the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established in 1967 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act...
thesis project. The film was awarded the 2000 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short.
Pickett worked with David Fincher
David Fincher
David Andrew Leo Fincher is an American film and music video director. Known for his dark and stylish thrillers, such as Seven , The Game , Fight Club , Panic Room , and Zodiac , Fincher received Academy Award nominations for Best Director for his 2008 film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and...
on the screenplay for Alien 3, but his script was ultimately rejected by producers David Giler
David Giler
David Giler is an American filmmaker who has been active in the motion picture industry since the early 1960s.He started his career as a writer, providing scripts for television programs such as Kraft Suspense Theatre and The Man from U.N.C.L.E....
and Walter Hill. Pickett's greatest success came with his novel Sideways
Sideways (novel)
Sideways is a 2004 novel by Rex Pickett.-Plot introduction:The novel is the story of two friends, Miles and Jack, who go away together for the last time to steep themselves in everything that makes it good to be young and single...
. Though originally rejected by 15 different publishers in three submissions, to date Sideways has sold over 150,000 copies in the English-language edition, and has been translated into 11 other languages. The film version, directed by the critically acclaimed Alexander Payne
Alexander Payne
Alexander Payne, born Alexander Constantine Papadopoulos is an American film director and screenwriter. His films are noted for their dark humor and satirical depictions of contemporary American society.- Early life :...
, won over 350 awards in major categories from various critics and awards organizations, including five New York Film Critics awards, including best picture, screenplay, and director; five L.A. Film Critics awards, again all in major categories; six Indie Spirit awards, for best picture, screenplay, supporting actor and actress, and best actor; two Golden Globe awards, for best picture musical or comedy, and best screenplay; five Broadcast Critics awards; and the SAG award for best ensemble cast. Pickett also figures on-screen: In the scene in which Miles (played by Paul Giamatti
Paul Giamatti
Paul Edward Valentine Giamatti is an American actor. Giamatti began his career as a supporting actor in several films produced during the 1990s including Private Parts, The Truman Show, Saving Private Ryan, The Negotiator, and Man on the Moon, before earning lead roles in several projects in the...
) hits the ball at the other golfers, it was actually Pickett who performed the shot, due to Giamatti's poor golf abilities. Sideways was also made into a Japanese film, Saidoweizu.
Pickett is currently represented by Trident Media on the publishing front, Endeavor (now WME) on the film literary front, and the Joel Gotler Agency on the book-to-film front. He is currently under contract with Alfred A. Knopf
Alfred A. Knopf
Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. is a New York publishing house, founded by Alfred A. Knopf, Sr. in 1915. It was acquired by Random House in 1960 and is now part of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group at Random House. The publishing house is known for its borzoi trademark , which was designed by co-founder...
(Random House
Random House
Random House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...
's literary division) for his next novel, a sequel of sorts to Sideways. The novel is now written and completed, titled Vertical, a copy of which the author carries in his car on his travels through central California for interviews and business.
Director
- California Without End (1984) (Bavarian Radio Television)
- From Hollywood to Deadwood (1989) (theatrically released by Island Pictures)
Screenplays
- California Without End (1984)
- From Hollywood to Deadwood (1989)
- My Mother Dreams the Satan's Disciples in New YorkMy Mother Dreams the Satan's Disciples in New YorkMy Mother Dreams the Satan's Disciples in New York is a 1999 short film directed by Barbara Schock. It won an Academy Award in 2000 for Best Short Subject...
(1998) - Repairman (2010) (as writer/director/producer)