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Fran Rubel Kuzui is a Director, Writer and Producer American
Fran Rubel Kuzui is an American movie director and producer. She received her Masters degree from New York University and was a script supervisor for a decade, prior to her first film, 1988's Tokyo Pop, which she co-wrote and directed. The movie was shown at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival and received critical acclaim for its depiction of an American woman trying to make sense of the Japanese youth culture.
However, she is best known as the director of the light-hearted 1992 Buffy the Vampire Slayer film—whose original screenplay was the basis for the television series of the same name. She discovered the screenplay of then unknown television writer Joss Whedon, expanded the Buffy character with him and then put together the financing to produce the picture.
Fran was credited as an Executive Producer on the TV series and its spin-off Angel, having packaged "Buffy" along with Sandollar TV's Gail Berman and Sandy Gallin. She, along with her husband Kaz Kuzui founded one of Japan's leading film distribution companies Kuzui Enterprises, a pioneer in Independent Film distribution in Japan and which distributes US films in Japan, and imports Japanese films for the US market. In 2003, the Kuzuis were among the executive producers for the Thai-Japanese film Last Life in the Universe. In 1997, Fran began working with Trey Parker and Matt Stone and produced their film "Orgazmo". Kaz and Fran then localized and distributed Trey and Matt's TV series "South Park" in Japan. Kuzui Enterprises was among the financiers for Orgazmo and Telling Lies in America.
Both Fran and Kaz worked with the artist Keith Haring to establish Pop Shop Tokyo, an art project that has been recognized by museums around the world.
Source : Wikidata
Fran Rubel Kuzui
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Fran Rubel Kuzui is an American movie director and producer. She received her Masters degree from New York University and was a script supervisor for a decade, prior to her first film, 1988's Tokyo Pop, which she co-wrote and directed. The movie was shown at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival and received critical acclaim for its depiction of an American woman trying to make sense of the Japanese youth culture.
However, she is best known as the director of the light-hearted 1992 Buffy the Vampire Slayer film—whose original screenplay was the basis for the television series of the same name. She discovered the screenplay of then unknown television writer Joss Whedon, expanded the Buffy character with him and then put together the financing to produce the picture.
Fran was credited as an Executive Producer on the TV series and its spin-off Angel, having packaged "Buffy" along with Sandollar TV's Gail Berman and Sandy Gallin. She, along with her husband Kaz Kuzui founded one of Japan's leading film distribution companies Kuzui Enterprises, a pioneer in Independent Film distribution in Japan and which distributes US films in Japan, and imports Japanese films for the US market. In 2003, the Kuzuis were among the executive producers for the Thai-Japanese film Last Life in the Universe. In 1997, Fran began working with Trey Parker and Matt Stone and produced their film "Orgazmo". Kaz and Fran then localized and distributed Trey and Matt's TV series "South Park" in Japan. Kuzui Enterprises was among the financiers for Orgazmo and Telling Lies in America.
Both Fran and Kaz worked with the artist Keith Haring to establish Pop Shop Tokyo, an art project that has been recognized by museums around the world.
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Filmography of Fran Rubel Kuzui (5 films)
Director
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
, 1h26Directed by Fran Rubel Kuzui
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Horror comedy, Action, Horror
Themes Feminist films, Films about magic and magicians, Sports films, Martial arts films, Vampires in film, Political films, Kung fu films, Comedy horror films, Children's films
Actors Kristy Swanson, Donald Sutherland, Paul Reubens, Rutger Hauer, Luke Perry, Hilary Swank
Rating56%
High school senior Buffy Summers (Kristy Swanson) is introduced as a stereotypical, shallow cheerleader at Hemery High School in Los Angeles. She is a carefree popular mean girl whose main concerns are shopping and spending time with her rich, snooty friends and her boyfriend, Jeffrey. While at school one day, she is approached by a man who calls himself Merrick (Donald Sutherland). He informs her that she is The Slayer, or Chosen One, and he is a Watcher whose duty it is to guide and train her. She initially rebukes his claims, but finally becomes convinced that he is right when he is able to describe a recurring dream of hers in detail. In addition, Buffy is exhibiting uncanny abilities not known to her, including heightened agility, senses, and endurance, yet she repeatedly tries Merrick's patience with her frivolous nature and sharp-tongued remarks.
Tokyo Pop (1988)
Directed by Fran Rubel Kuzui
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Musical, Romance
Themes Musical films
Actors Carrie Hamilton, Diamond Yukai, Rome Kanda, Taiji Tonoyama, Masumi Harukawa, Hiroshi Mikami
Rating66%
This is the story of a girl named Wendy Reed, who leaves the USA and her boyfriend, a musician played by Michael Cerveris, and travels to Tokyo, Japan. She plans to visit a girlfriend but cannot find her. Instead she meets a young man named Hiro (pronounced hero), who is the leader of an unsuccessful pop band. As Wendy is blonde and tall by local standards, she attracts attention. She falls in love with Hiro and develops a music career as the movie advances. With some tricks they manage to catch the eye of a record label producer and achieve success for a short time. The song, which is played throughout, is a cover version from John Sebastian's Do you believe in magic? While they top the charts, there is some luxury in their lives, but the blossoming relationship of the main couple starts breaking apart.
Scriptwriter
Tokyo Pop (1988)
Directed by Fran Rubel Kuzui
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Musical, Romance
Themes Musical films
Actors Carrie Hamilton, Diamond Yukai, Rome Kanda, Taiji Tonoyama, Masumi Harukawa, Hiroshi Mikami
Roles Writer
Rating66%
This is the story of a girl named Wendy Reed, who leaves the USA and her boyfriend, a musician played by Michael Cerveris, and travels to Tokyo, Japan. She plans to visit a girlfriend but cannot find her. Instead she meets a young man named Hiro (pronounced hero), who is the leader of an unsuccessful pop band. As Wendy is blonde and tall by local standards, she attracts attention. She falls in love with Hiro and develops a music career as the movie advances. With some tricks they manage to catch the eye of a record label producer and achieve success for a short time. The song, which is played throughout, is a cover version from John Sebastian's Do you believe in magic? While they top the charts, there is some luxury in their lives, but the blossoming relationship of the main couple starts breaking apart.
Production
Last Life in the Universe (2003)
, 1h52Directed by Pen-ek Ratanaruang
Origin Thailande
Genres Drama, Thriller, Comedy-drama, Action, Romance
Actors Tadanobu Asano, Laila Boonyasak, Yutaka Matsushige, Takashi Miike, Riki Takeuchi, Yōji Tanaka
Roles Executive Producer
Rating74%
Kenji is a lonely librarian in the Japan Foundation in Bangkok. Living in an apartment full of precise stacks of books, his half-hearted attempts to kill himself are continually interrupted by the people around him. Kenji's most notable obstacle is his self-absorbed brother, Yukio, a yakuza, or Japanese gangster. Yukio fled from Japan to escape the wrath of his employer, with whose daughter he had had sex. Yukio's friend Takashi suggests that if it were his daughter, he would have the despoiler killed, but Kenji's brother laughs this warning off. Yukio frequents a club where he can enjoy the attention of a bunny-eared hostess, a local girl named Nid. Nid's sister, Noi, is furious at her sibling for having slept with her boyfriend, Jon.
Orgazmo (1998)
, 1h34Directed by Trey Parker
Origin USA
Genres Comedy
Themes Films about sexuality, Erotic films, Films about pornography, Comedy science fiction films, Superhero films
Actors Trey Parker, Dian Bachar, Matt Stone, Ron Jeremy, Chasey Lain, Juli Ashton
Roles Producer
Rating60%
Mormon missionary Joseph Young (Trey Parker), assigned with his mission partner to Los Angeles, finds the city to be an unfriendly and unreceptive place for their work. Things come to a head when they knock on the door of sleazy porn director Maxxx Orbison (Michael Dean Jacobs) and several security guards are sent to deal with them. Joe dispatches all of them single-handedly with a variety of unexpected martial arts skills. Baffled by his performance and fed up with his current project’s lead actor being a wimp, Orbison attempts to hire Joe to be the titular lead of his pornographic superhero film, Orgazmo. Joe is conflicted because of his beliefs but the salary offered would pay for a wedding in the temple in Utah where his fiancée Lisa (Robyn Lynne Raab) has expressed a strong desire to wed. Joe caves in despite being given a sign from God.
Telling Lies in America (1997)
, 1h41Directed by Guy Ferland
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Musical
Actors Kevin Bacon, Brad Renfro, Calista Flockhart, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Luke Wilson, Maximilian Schell
Roles Producer
Rating61%
Karchy Jonas (Brad Renfro) is a 17-year-old high-school student (who emigrated from Hungary 7 years earlier) trying to find his way in the world. He meets radio personality Billy Magic (Kevin Bacon) who takes him under his wing. However, authorities are after Billy for accepting payola from record companies to give their songs air time.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
, 1h26Directed by Fran Rubel Kuzui
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Horror comedy, Action, Horror
Themes Feminist films, Films about magic and magicians, Sports films, Martial arts films, Vampires in film, Political films, Kung fu films, Comedy horror films, Children's films
Actors Kristy Swanson, Donald Sutherland, Paul Reubens, Rutger Hauer, Luke Perry, Hilary Swank
Roles Executive Producer
Rating56%
High school senior Buffy Summers (Kristy Swanson) is introduced as a stereotypical, shallow cheerleader at Hemery High School in Los Angeles. She is a carefree popular mean girl whose main concerns are shopping and spending time with her rich, snooty friends and her boyfriend, Jeffrey. While at school one day, she is approached by a man who calls himself Merrick (Donald Sutherland). He informs her that she is The Slayer, or Chosen One, and he is a Watcher whose duty it is to guide and train her. She initially rebukes his claims, but finally becomes convinced that he is right when he is able to describe a recurring dream of hers in detail. In addition, Buffy is exhibiting uncanny abilities not known to her, including heightened agility, senses, and endurance, yet she repeatedly tries Merrick's patience with her frivolous nature and sharp-tongued remarks.