Tim Calpin
Encyclopedia
Timothy Calpin, Jr. is an American
screenwriter
best known for writing the 2009 film
Assassination of a High School President
.
from which he graduated in 1997. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree
in film at Syracuse University
. Calpin wrote his first script while at Syracuse. After leaving college, he relocated to New York City
where he worked mainly as a production assistant on commercials and short films, he moved to Los Angeles
, California
in November 2003 after getting an agent.
In Los Angeles, he met Kevin Jakubowski, who helped him get a job on the television comedy series South Park
for two seasons, first as a production assistant
and later as a personal assistant
to executive producer
Anne Garefino. Working on South Park, Calpin says he and Jakubowski "picked up plenty" from watching Trey Parker
and Matt Stone
and the other staff writers at work, and the pair realized that they shared similar writing styles and "comedic sensibilities". The pair first wrote and collaborated on Your Ex-Girlfriend's Cat, which was optioned by Rogue Pictures
but has still not been greenlight
ed. In December 2005, while South Park was on hiatus, Calpin and Jakubowski began writing Assassination of a High School President
, a screenplay which evolved from high school-related stories they had been working on separately. When the completed script was given to film studios in April 2006, despite receiving a generally positive response, companies were reluctant to produce the film as it was not conventionally mainstream, until film producer
Roy Lee
brought the script to Yari Film Group
, who signed on to produce, and Brett Simon
soon after signed on to direct.
In September 2007 Calpin wrote and directed the short film Gentleman Jack, about two men trying to pick up the same girl in a bar, which was Agapic Films' first feature.
Calpin is currently working with Jakubowski on a film for Lions Gate Entertainment
about two professional pool players, and a script for MTV Films
, possibly about the local music scene in a small town.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
best known for writing the 2009 film
2009 in film
The year 2009 saw the release of many films. Seven made the top 50 list of highest-grossing films, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that as of this year, their Best Picture category would consist of ten nominees, rather than five .- Highest-grossing films :Please note...
Assassination of a High School President
Assassination of a High School President
Assassination of a High School President is a 2008 American neo noir comedy film, directed by Brett Simon, written by Tim Calpin and Kevin Jakubowski, and starring Reece Thompson, Bruce Willis, Mischa Barton and Michael Rapaport...
.
Biography
Calpin first became interested in writing while attending Scranton Preparatory SchoolScranton Preparatory School
Scranton Preparatory School is a Catholic and Jesuit college preparatory day school for boys and girls. The current enrollment is 860 students. Prep is fully accredited by the Pennsylvania State Department of Public Instruction and by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools...
from which he graduated in 1997. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in film at Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
. Calpin wrote his first script while at Syracuse. After leaving college, he relocated to 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...
where he worked mainly as a production assistant on commercials and short films, he moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in November 2003 after getting an agent.
In Los Angeles, he met Kevin Jakubowski, who helped him get a job on the television comedy series South Park
South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
for two seasons, first as a production assistant
Production assistant
A production assistant, also known as a PA, is a job title used in filmmaking and television for a person responsible for various aspects of a production...
and later as a personal assistant
Personal assistant
A personal assistant or personal aide is someone who assists in daily business or personal tasks. It is common in design to have a PDA, or personal design assistant....
to executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
Anne Garefino. Working on South Park, Calpin says he and Jakubowski "picked up plenty" from watching Trey Parker
Trey Parker
Trey Parker is an American animator, screenwriter, director, producer, voice artist, musician and actor, best known for being the co-creator of the television series South Park along with his creative partner and best friend Matt Stone.Parker started his film career in 1992, making a holiday short...
and Matt Stone
Matt Stone
Matthew Richard "Matt" Stone is an American screenwriter, producer, voice artist, musician and actor, best known for being the co-creator of South Park along with creative partner and best friend, Trey Parker....
and the other staff writers at work, and the pair realized that they shared similar writing styles and "comedic sensibilities". The pair first wrote and collaborated on Your Ex-Girlfriend's Cat, which was optioned by Rogue Pictures
Rogue Pictures
Rogue is a subsidiary of Relativity Media. The company has about 25 titles in its library.- Background :In 1997, Rogue Pictures was formed as a division of PolyGram Pictures but the name was dropped in 2000 after Universal Pictures bought PolyGram...
but has still not been greenlight
Greenlight
To green-light a project is to give permission or a go ahead to move forward with a project. In the context of the movie and TV businesses, to green-light something is to formally approve its production finance, thereby allowing the project to move forward from the development phase to...
ed. In December 2005, while South Park was on hiatus, Calpin and Jakubowski began writing Assassination of a High School President
Assassination of a High School President
Assassination of a High School President is a 2008 American neo noir comedy film, directed by Brett Simon, written by Tim Calpin and Kevin Jakubowski, and starring Reece Thompson, Bruce Willis, Mischa Barton and Michael Rapaport...
, a screenplay which evolved from high school-related stories they had been working on separately. When the completed script was given to film studios in April 2006, despite receiving a generally positive response, companies were reluctant to produce the film as it was not conventionally mainstream, until film producer
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...
Roy Lee
Roy Lee
Roy Lee is an American film producer who regularly takes well known Asian films and remakes them for American audiences. Examples include The Ring, The Grudge and The Departed...
brought the script to Yari Film Group
Yari Film Group
The Yari Film Group is an independent film company founded in 2002, and headed by producer Bob Yari, which deals in financing, production, acquisition, sales and distribution of theatrical feature films....
, who signed on to produce, and Brett Simon
Brett Simon
Brett Simon is an American commercial, music video and film director.-Career:Simon graduated from Princeton University summa cum laude in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Comparative Literature and Creative Writing, and later graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 2002 with...
soon after signed on to direct.
In September 2007 Calpin wrote and directed the short film Gentleman Jack, about two men trying to pick up the same girl in a bar, which was Agapic Films' first feature.
Calpin is currently working with Jakubowski on a film for Lions Gate Entertainment
Lions Gate Entertainment
Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation is a North American entertainment company. The company was formed in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1997, and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California...
about two professional pool players, and a script for MTV Films
MTV Films
MTV Films is the motion picture production arm of cable channel MTV. Founded in 1996, it has produced films based on MTV programs such as Beavis and Butt-head Do America and Jackass: The Movie, as well as other adaptations and original projects. Its films are released by fellow Viacom division...
, possibly about the local music scene in a small town.