Richard Schenkman (born March 6, 1958) is an American screenwriter, film producer, film director, and occasional actor. He has also been credited as director under the names George Axmith and R.D. Braunstein.
Early life and education Schenkman was born in New York in 1958. He was educated at Roosevelt High School. Later, he attended the University at Albany, SUNY, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in film in 1981.
Career Schenkman was the first production assistant at MTV: Music Television in 1981, where he directed, wrote and produced the first on-air promos that established the visual and aural vocabulary of the nascent cable network.
Schenkman's debut feature film, The Pompatus of Love, was co-written with Jon Cryer & Adam Oliensis, and directed by him. He then directed films such as October 22, Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God… Be Back by Five, and A Diva's Christmas Carol, for VH1.
Schenkman also developed content for television, including the sitcom pilot Us and Them for 20th Century Fox TV, and an animated series pilot for VH1 centered on Elvis. He also contributed dialogue to EA's video game 007 Racing.
After a hiatus, Schenkman directed more films including And Then Came Love, Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies, Mischief Night, I Spit on Your Grave III: Vengeance Is Mine, and Misfits.
In 2007, Schenkman directed The Man from Earth. The film, widely pirated upon its release that same year, became a success. In 2017, he made a sequel, The Man from Earth: Holocene. Two months prior to its April 3 digital and DVD release, the film was released on The Pirate Bay in resolutions up to 1080p HD, including a message from Schenkman and producer Eric D. Wilkinson, encouraging donations from viewers.
Prior to his involvement in feature films, Schenkman had a career in corporate media. He contributed to the early branding of MTV by creating promos. Schenkman also established a production company, which produced various forms of media content, including commercials for Nickelodeon. Later, he joined Playboy Enterprises, where he was responsible for updating the network's visual presentation and overseeing the production of various programs, eventually serving as Vice President of Production.
Writing As a writer, Schenkman is the author of the children's book The Girl From Atlantis. He co-wrote the film, Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God… Be Back by Five, with Jon Cryer. He also wrote the screenplay for the TV film, A Diva's Christmas Carol.
Awards and recognition Schenkman won seven awards at film festivals such as the Austin Film Festival, Oldenburg International Film Festival, Rhode Island International Film Festival and WorldFest Flagstaff.
Filmography Film Year Film Director Writer Producer Notes Reference(s)1993Angel IV: Assault with a Deadly Weapon Credited as "George Axmith"1996 The Pompatus of Love Also music supervisor1998 Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God... Be Back by Five October 22 2007And Then Came LoveThe Man from Earth Also song lyrics "Forever"2012 Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies2013100 Degrees Below Zero Mischief Night 2015I Spit on Your Grave III: Vengeance Is Mine2016 Hunt for Truth2017 The Man from Earth: Holocene 2017 Dead on Arrival2019Misfits Unreleased 2021 18 1/2 2023 Anantha 2023 Wineville
Television Year Film Director Writer Producer Notes Reference(s)19841st Annual MTV Vídeo Music Awards1986The SPIN New Music College Tour1987SNAFU: The World's Screwiest Foul Ups!Syndicated TV special1994Lusty Liaisons TV Anthology movieLusty Liaisons II2000A Diva's Christmas CarolTV movie 2006 Muckraker!TV Short2007 Fawlty TowersTV seriesEpisode A Touch of Class2009Flower Girl TV movie2012Layover TV movie2013Zombie Night TV movie2016A Father's Secret
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