2. About Mr. Russell
David Owen Russell (born August 20, 1958) is an
American film director, screenwriter, and producer.
Russell was born in New York City to Bernard and Maria
(née Muzio) Russell. His father was a sales executive
for Simon & Schuster. His father was from a Russian
Jewish family and his mother was Italian American.
Russell's maternal grandparents were Frank Muzio, born
in Craco and Philomena Brancata born in Ferrandina,
both in the Italian province of Matera. He was raised in an
atheist household. He graduated from Amherst College.
3. His early directing career includes works such as: Spanking the
Monkey (1994), Flirting with Disaster (1996), Three Kings (1999),
and I Heart Huckabees (2004).
4. Russell's three most recent films were critically acclaimed and
commercial hits: The Fighter (2010), Silver Linings Playbook (2012),
and American Hustle (2013).
5. These recent films have earned Russell three
consecutive Academy Award nominations for Best Director, as
well as a Best Adapted Screenplay and a Best Original
Screenplay nomination.
With three nominations of Best Director for his work on The
Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle. A
nomination of Best Adapted Screenplay for Silver Linings
Playbook and a nomination of Best Original Screenplay for
American Hustle.
He has also been nominated for 3 BAFTA Awards winning 2
for Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle.
6. Ghetto Film School
In 2002, Russell met Andrew Unger while receiving an honorary degree
at Amherst College. Unger introduced Russell to Joe Hall, president of
Ghetto Film School. After viewing some of the student work, Russell
immediately joined the board of Ghetto Film School, located in The Bronx,
New York. Along with fellow board members, Russell brought filmmaker
friends, movie studios, and industry professionals to donate money and
lend their time to teach classes and support the growth of young black and
Latino filmmakers from the South Bronx and Harlem.
One of the connections Russell brought to the school, Rachael Horovitz,
currently serves as the board chairman. In 2011, David O. Russell was
honored at the Ghetto Film School's Spring Benefit, where president Joe
Hall explained that the name was meant not to shy away from the notion of
the term 'ghetto' - to use it in a positive way, a creative and educational way.
On June 16, 2014, Ghetto Film School opened its new branch in Los
Angeles. Russell is serving on the Los Angeles branch's board and enabling
the school to host guest lecturers and accomplished film professionals. 21st
Century Fox is also a supporter and partner of the Los Angeles branch.
