John O'Brien (born 1962) is an American film director, sheep farmer, Justice of the Peace and politician.
Early life and education O'Brien grew up in Tunbridge, the son of State Senator Bob O’Brien. He attended Chelsea High School and graduated from Harvard University in 1986.
Film career O'Brien is the director of the Tunbridge Trilogy, three films that focus on the rural life of Tunbridge, Vermont. The director refers to his style of filmmaking as "community cinema"Joseph Gallivan, The Independent: "Run Tuttle Run", November 15, 1998 and his films as "anthropological comedies"Sara Rimer, The New York Times: "A Vermont Town Turns Schwab's Lunch Counter", September 3, 2001 as his cast consists mostly of local friends and neighbors from Tunbridge who play themselves in fictional stories.Michael Colton, The Washington Post: "A Running Gag?", September 04, 1998 The most famous of these, Man with a Plan, starred the dairy farmer and one-time politician, Fred Tuttle. According to O'Brien, the film, in which Tuttle runs successfully for Congress, was inspired by 1979's Being There, a movie in which Peter Sellers plays a gardener named Chance, who becomes a trusted adviser to the presidency. In 2001, it was reported that Man With a Plan had sold 40,000 copies, most of them to Vermonters. O'Brien's other films include Vermont Is for Lovers and Nosey Parker.
Political career In 2015, O'Brien was elected to the Town of Tunbridge, Vermont selectboard. In 2018 he was the successful Democratic nominee for a seat in the Vermont House of Representatives.
Filmography The Big Dis (1989) Vermont Is for Lovers (1992) Man with a Plan (1996) Nosey Parker (2003)
References
External links
Official legislature page