Michael Meredith (film director)

Michael Shane Meredith (born September 22, 1967 in Dallas, Texas) is an American independent film director, screenwriter and producer. He frequently collaborates with German director Wim Wenders. Meredith is the son of the late former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and football commentator Don Meredith. He was the oldest of two children from Don Meredith's second marriage to the artist Cheryl King.

For the American politician, see Michael Meredith (politician). For the American architect, see Michael Meredith (architect).

Michael Meredith
Born
Michael Shane Meredith

(1967-09-22) September 22, 1967
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Film director, screenwriter, producer
Years active1990s–present

Background

Meredith was born at Baylor Hospital in Dallas on September 22, 1967. He is married to Amit Nizan Meredith who is the mother of his children as well as his business partner.[1] His film work includes Wim Wenders' Land of Plenty for which he co-wrote. He also wrote and directed Three Days of Rain and The Open Road.[2]

He founded Maximon Pictures,[3][4] a production company which has produced work that has won awards.[5] The company is said to be named after the patron saint of good times and good luck.

Career

Film

Meredith's first feature film was Three Days of Rain,[6] which starred Peter Falk, Blythe Danner, Lyle Lovett, Jason Patric and Don Meredith.[7] Wim Wenders was also involved with the film.[8]

In 2006, Meredith wrote the screenplay for Wenders' Land of Plenty, which earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Michelle Williams.[9][10]

Meredith wrote and directed The Open Road, starring Jeff Bridges, Justin Timberlake, Kate Mara, and Mary Steenburgen. Wenders was executive producer and Charlie Sexton did the score for the film.[11]

In 2014, Alex Gibney and Wim Wenders partnered with Meredith to make a documentary feature, "Return To Timbuktu",[2] centered on the efforts of Malian musicians trying to restore peace in the war torn Sahara. As of June 2022, IMDb, AllMovie, Variety Insight and other online film databases show that this film has not moved forward.

Other work

Meredith served as producer, director and narrator of the Ice Bowl episode for NFL Films series The Timeline. The one-hour episode examines the historic game played between the Packers and Cowboys for the 1967 NFL Championship. The one-hour show features Meredith's journey over four years and nine states to interview surviving members of the Ice Bowl, and to understand more about the game's legacy and significance 50 years after it took place. The Ice Bowl features interviews with players such as Bart Starr, Jerry Kramer, Dave Robinson, Mel Renfro, Pettis Norman, Chuck Mercein, Lance Rentzel and Donny Anderson, former Cowboys Director of Player Personnel Gil Brandt, Cowboys broadcaster Bill Mercer, Meredith's former spouse Cheryl King, and more.[12]

In 2017, it was announced that Meredith was producing and directing a documentary film titled "First Cowboys"[13][14] on the origins of the Dallas Cowboys. Roger Staubach, Walt Garrison, Mel Renfro, Pettis Norman Gary Cartwright, Rayfield Wright, and Ralph Neely, among others, were featured. Willie Nelson and Alicia Landry, wife of the late Coach Tom Landry, were to make appearances.[15] As of June 2022, IMDb, AllMovie, Variety Insight and other online film databases show that this film has not moved forward.

Filmography
Films Director, producer, writer
Title Role Year
Three Days of Rain Director 2002
Land of Plenty Writer 2004
The Open Road Director, writer, producer 2009
Martha Graham's Celebration Director 2010
Hands & Eyes Director 2010

References
  1. Dallas News, Jul 8, 2017 - Arts, The filmmaker son of 'Dandy' Don Meredith descends on Dallas for 'First Cowboys' - Michael Granberry
  2. Variety, March 4, 2014 - Alex Gibney, Wim Wenders to Produce ‘Timbuktu’ Doc (EXCLUSIVE) By Dave McNary
  3. The Baltimore Sun, October 17, 2018 - Fabled 1963 Navy football team to be subject of documentary film by Michael Meredith - Bill Wagner
  4. Maximon Pictures website - Maximon Pictures Archived March 3, 2021, at the Wayback Machine
  5. East Texas Journal - Meredith’s Son Lands NFL Film for Home Team Archived October 26, 2018, at the Wayback Machine
  6. AllMovie - 3 Days of Rain (2002), Synopsis by Josh Ralske
  7. Rotten Tomatoes - Three Days of Rain (2005), Cast
  8. British Film Institute - Three Days of Rain (2002), Cast & Credits, Production: Presented by
  9. Film Journal, Oct 18, 2005 - LAND OF PLENTY, NR By Eric Monder Archived October 26, 2018, at the Wayback Machine
  10. Broadway World, Sep. 4, 2013 - It's Official! Michelle Williams to Star Opposite Alan Cumming in CABARET, Opening April 24 at Studio 54 by BWW News Desk
  11. Variety, August 30, 2009 - FILM, REVIEWS, The Open Road, Pic gets respectable mileage from a familiar story - By Joe Leydon
  12. NFL Communications - NFL Films' 'The Timeline' Examines the Ice Bowl Between the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys
  13. Arts, The filmmaker son of 'Dandy' Don Meredith descends on Dallas for 'First Cowboys' - Michael Granberry
  14. Star Telegram, July 14, 2017 - Don Meredith’s filmmaker son found an ideal subject: his dad By Mac Engel (subscription required)
  15. Dallas Morning News, Oct 1, 2017 - Blast from the past: The 1960s Cowboys, the 'First Cowboys,' descend on AT&T Stadium

Further reading
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