Scott Sanders (director)

Scott Sanders (born June 10, 1968) is an American screenwriter and film director. He is best known for his work on the films Black Dynamite and Thick as Thieves.

Scott Sanders
Scott Sanders at the San Diego Comic-Con International in July 2011.
Born (1968-06-10) June 10, 1968
Elizabeth City, North Carolina, United States
NationalityAmerican
Alma materThe University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Occupation(s)Screenwriter, writer, film director
Known forBlack Dynamite
Thick as Thieves

Early life

Sanders was born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina and raised in Washington, DC.[1] His mother is Mrs. Estelle "Bunny" Sanders, the current mayor of Roper, North Carolina and a member of the UNC Board of Governors.[2][3] His father, John Thomas Sanders (deceased), was an employee of IBM and also owned and operated a popular D.C. area barbecue pit, Scott's BBQ, which he named after his son.[4] Scott's BBQ was a popular eatery for local politicians; regular patrons included Thurgood Marshall and Walter Mondale.[4]

Sanders attended Sidwell Friends School where he graduated in 1986. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating in 1991 with a degree in radio, TV, and Motion Pictures.[1][5]

One of Scott's closest childhood friends is actor Ben Shenkman. He went to middle school with Saturday Night Live cast member Ana Gasteyer; they had a scene together in a 7th-grade production of the play Auntie Mame.

Career

Television

Sanders first job upon arrival in Hollywood was working at United Talent Agency.[5] When he was fired from that job, he started writing a spec script for a television show which led to him getting signed and becoming a television writer for TV shows such as A Different World, Roc, and The Wayans Brothers.[5][6] He also did a commercial for Motorola.[7]

Thick as Thieves

Sanders' film directorial debut came in 1998 with Thick as Thieves, starring Alec Baldwin, Michael Jai White, Rebecca De Mornay, and Janeane Garofalo.[8][5] Based on the novel of the same name by Patrick Quinn, the film was adapted for the screen by Sanders and Arthur Krystal.[8] It premiered at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival and was distributed by HBO.[9][10] One reviewer noted "the distinctive contribution of young, gifted writer-director Scott Sanders."[8]

Black Dynamite

Black Dynamite premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and was picked up for distribution by Sony Pictures Entertainment for worldwide distribution.[11][12] Scott Sanders directed the film and co-wrote the screenplay along with its star Michael Jai White and Byron Minns.[7][6] One critic described Black Dynamite as, "Scott Saunders' wickedly silly '70s-style blaxploitation spoof…that's intentionally and often delightfully shlocky; not to mention murky-looking as if its been sitting on shelf for a few decades."[13]

In addition to Sundance, Black Dynamite appeared in many film festivals throughout 2009, including Seattle International, Tribeca, Karlovy Vary International, Munich, Edinburgh International, Copenhagen Film Festival, Melbourne International, and Deauville American.[14][5][6][15] At the 2009 Seattle International Film Festival, Black Dynamite won the 2009 Golden Space Needle Award for Best Film.[12] Black Dynamite was released by Sony Pictures on October 16, 2009.[12]

Sanders and others adapted Black Dynamite as an animated series for the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim.[5] The animated Black Dynamite ran for two seasons from 2012 to 2014.[16][17]

Aztec Warrior

In 2012, Sanders directed the comedy-action film, Aztec Warrior, starring Luis Guzman as a washed-up Lucha Libre wrestler who comes out of retirement[18][19] The script was co-written by Sanders and Don Handfield, based on a story.[20] Aztec Warrior was expected to be released in 2013, but "details on the Lionsgate project have been mum: production got underway in June of 2012, there is no release date and not much news in the in what should have been its year of release.".[18][19][20] The film was finally released in 2016.

Personal life

Sanders lives in Los Angeles, California.[1] In addition to writing and directing, he is also a popular Los Angeles DJ, spinning under the name Suckapunch.[21][7][6]

Filmography

As writer/director:

References

Notes

  1. Manconi, David (October 1, 2009). "The Players: Tar Heel Edition". The News and Observer. p. D10. Retrieved February 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "UNC Re-Elects Board of Governors". The News and OBserver. June 12, 2010. p. B2. Retrieved February 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Data". The News and Observer. March 15, 2015. p. A7. Retrieved February 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. Sargent, Edward D. (November 13, 1983). "Patrons Sorry to See Scott's Barbecue Go". Washington Post.
  5. Price, Jason (October 15, 2009). "Director Scott Sanders Talks 'Black Dynamite' Film and Animated Series". Icon vs. Icon. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  6. "Black Dynamite | 2009 Tribeca Festival". Tribeca. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  7. Viera, Lauren (October 17, 2009). "'Black Dynamite' Creators Thrive in Formula". Chicago Tribune. p. 23. Retrieved February 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. Levy, Emanuel (February 18, 1999). "Thick as Thieves". Variety. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  9. "Fiction Book Review: Thick as Thieves by Patrick Quinn". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  10. "Festival Roundup: Sundance Film Festival". Filmmaker Magazine. Spring 1999. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  11. "Can you dig it? Black Dynamite to premiere at Sundance + Red band trailer!". IMDb.
  12. "Black Dynamite". Segal NYC Productions. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  13. MacDonald, Moira (November 13, 2009). "'Black Dynamite' a Throwback to the '70s". Weekend. The Desert Sun. p. 10. Retrieved February 7, 2002 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. Meza, Ed (June 19, 2009). "Munich fest attracts global fare". Variety.
  15. "Sundance 2009 Review: Scott Sanders' Black Dynamite | FirstShowing.net". www.firstshowing.net. January 20, 2009. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  16. "Black Dynamite". Adult Swim. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  17. "Western Animation: Black Dynamite". TV Tropes. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  18. Patten, Dominic (June 28, 2012). "Luis Guzman Suits Up for Scott Sanders' 'Aztec Warrior'". Deadline. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  19. Rivera, Zayda (August 7, 2013). "Drawing Up a New Plan". Viva New York. Daily News (New York). p. 4. Retrieved February 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. Lavallée, Eric (November 18, 2013). "2014 Sundance Film Festival Predictions: Scott Sanders' Aztec Warrior". Ion Cinema. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  21. "BLACK DYNAMITE Afterparty with DJ Suckapunch - the GlassLands Gallery, Brooklyn | Going.com". Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
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