Richard Brick
Encyclopedia
Richard Brick is an American film producer, professor of film at Columbia University
, and former Commissioner of New York City
’s Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting
.
As a producer, Brick is best known for his three pictures with Woody Allen
: Deconstructing Harry
, Celebrity
and Sweet and Lowdown
. He also was the Co-Producer of Emir Kusturica
’s only picture in the U.S., Arizona Dream
; Producer of Robert M. Young’s Caught
and Joseph Vasquez
’ Hangin' with the Homeboys
. In television Brick was senior producer of two network specials for Peter Jennings
: The JFK Assassination - Beyond Conspiracy and UFOs - Seeing is Believing.
Brick has had a long involvement with the graduate film program
at Columbia University, where he received his M.F.A.
degree in 1971. He joined the faculty and served as chairman and as co-chairman with Milos Forman
from 1987 through 1989, and since 1990 has remained an adjunct professor of producing. During his tenure Brick created the first Columbia University Film Festival, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2007.
Brick served as New York City’s first Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting from 1992 through 1994 (the Office was previously headed by a Director), following the studio boycott of New York City during 1990-91. Brick has also been involved with the labor side of the film industry as a member of the Producers Guild of America
and as a member of the Eastern Assistant Directors/Unit Production Managers Council, as a delegate to the 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011 National Conventions, as a member of the PAC National Leadership Council of the Directors Guild of America
, and as a member of the DGA National Negotiating Committee 2010-11.
He is married to the publisher of Metropolitan Books, Sara Bershtel.
Columbia University School of the Arts
The Columbia University School of the Arts , also known simply as the School of the Arts or as SoA, is the division of the university that offers Master of Fine Arts degrees in Film, Visual Arts, Theatre Arts, and Writing, as well as a Master of Arts degree in Film Studies...
, and former Commissioner of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
’s Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting
Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting
The Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting is the oldest film commission in the United States. It is New York City’s agency responsible for coordinating municipal support for film and television production, including approving film shoots and liaising with government agencies and promoting...
.
As a producer, Brick is best known for his three pictures with Woody Allen
Woody Allen
Woody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
: Deconstructing Harry
Deconstructing Harry
Deconstructing Harry is a black comedy film by Woody Allen released in 1997. This film tells the story of a successful writer called Harry Block, played by Allen himself, who draws inspiration from people he knows in real-life, and from events that happened to him, sometimes causing these people to...
, Celebrity
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
and Sweet and Lowdown
Sweet and Lowdown
Sweet and Lowdown is a 1999 American comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen which tells the story of a fictional arrogant, obnoxious, alcoholic jazz guitarist named Emmet Ray who regards himself as perhaps the best guitarist in the world, or second best, after his idol, Django Reinhardt...
. He also was the Co-Producer of Emir Kusturica
Emir Kusturica
Emir Nemanja Kusturica , is a Serbian filmmaker, actor and musician, recognized for several internationally acclaimed feature films...
’s only picture in the U.S., Arizona Dream
Arizona Dream
Arizona Dream is a 1993 film directed by Emir Kusturica and starring Johnny Depp, Jerry Lewis and Faye Dunaway.-Plot:Axel has a dream about an Eskimo who catches a rare halibut and brings it back to his family in an igloo...
; Producer of Robert M. Young’s Caught
Caught (1996 film)
Caught is a 1996 erotic thriller film about a drifter who disrupts the simple life of a fish market owner and his wife. The film was directed by Robert M. Young, and stars Edward James Olmos, Arie Verveen, María Conchita Alonso, and Bitty Schram....
and Joseph Vasquez
Joseph Vasquez
Joseph B. "Joe" Vasquez was an American independent filmmaker.Vasquez was born in the South Bronx, the son of two heroin addicts...
’ Hangin' with the Homeboys
Hangin' with the Homeboys
Hangin' with the Homeboys is a 1991 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by Joseph Vasquez. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 1991. It was released by New Line Cinema.-Synopsis:...
. In television Brick was senior producer of two network specials for Peter Jennings
Peter Jennings
Peter Charles Archibald Ewart Jennings, CM was a Canadian American journalist and news anchor. He was the sole anchor of ABC's World News Tonight from 1983 until his death in 2005 of complications from lung cancer...
: The JFK Assassination - Beyond Conspiracy and UFOs - Seeing is Believing.
Brick has had a long involvement with the graduate film program
Columbia University School of the Arts
The Columbia University School of the Arts , also known simply as the School of the Arts or as SoA, is the division of the university that offers Master of Fine Arts degrees in Film, Visual Arts, Theatre Arts, and Writing, as well as a Master of Arts degree in Film Studies...
at Columbia University, where he received his M.F.A.
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
degree in 1971. He joined the faculty and served as chairman and as co-chairman with Milos Forman
Miloš Forman
Jan Tomáš Forman , better known as Miloš Forman , is a Czech-American director, screenwriter, professor, and an emigrant from Czechoslovakia. Two of his films, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Amadeus, are among the most celebrated in the history of film, both gaining him the Academy Award for...
from 1987 through 1989, and since 1990 has remained an adjunct professor of producing. During his tenure Brick created the first Columbia University Film Festival, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2007.
Brick served as New York City’s first Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting from 1992 through 1994 (the Office was previously headed by a Director), following the studio boycott of New York City during 1990-91. Brick has also been involved with the labor side of the film industry as a member of the Producers Guild of America
Producers Guild of America
Producers Guild of America is a trade organization representing television producers, film producers and New Media producers in the United States. The PGA's membership includes over 4,700 members of the producing establishment worldwide...
and as a member of the Eastern Assistant Directors/Unit Production Managers Council, as a delegate to the 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011 National Conventions, as a member of the PAC National Leadership Council of the Directors Guild of America
Directors Guild of America
Directors Guild of America is an entertainment labor union which represents the interests of film and television directors in the United States motion picture industry...
, and as a member of the DGA National Negotiating Committee 2010-11.
He is married to the publisher of Metropolitan Books, Sara Bershtel.