Fran Rubel Kuzui

Fran Rubel Kuzui
cropped headshot of Fran Rubel Kuzui at Tokyo International Film Festival 2023
Kuzui in 2023
Born
United States
Alma materNew York University
Occupations
  • Film director
  • film producer
  • script supervisor
Years active1988–present
SpouseKaz Kuzui

Fran Rubel Kuzui is an American film director and producer. She directed the films Tokyo Pop (1988) and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992).[1] She also produced the films Orgazmo (1997) and Telling Lies in America (1997).[2]

Biography

Kuzui received her master's 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[citation needed] for its depiction of an American woman trying to make sense of the Japanese youth culture.[3]

She is best known as the director of the 1992 film Buffy the Vampire Slayer (which was the basis for the television series).[4] She discovered the screenplay of writer Joss Whedon, expanded the Buffy character with him, and together with producer Kaz Kuzui put together the financing to produce the picture.[5] Kuzui served as an executive producer on the TV series and its spin-off Angel, having packaged Buffy along with Kaz Kuzui, Sandollar TV's Gail Berman and Sandy Gallin.

Since 2000, Kuzui has lived in Tokyo.[6] Along with husband Kaz Kuzui, she founded Kuzui Enterprises, a leader in independent film distribution in Japan that distributes U.S. films there and imports Japanese films for the U.S. market. In 2003, the Kuzuis were among the executive producers for the Thai-Japanese film Last Life in the Universe.[7] In 1997, Kuzui began working with Trey Parker and Matt Stone and produced their film Orgazmo. The Kuzuis also localized and distributed the duo's TV series South Park in Japan. Kuzui Enterprises was among the financiers for Orgazmo and Telling Lies in America.[citation needed]

The Kuzuis worked with artist Keith Haring to establish Pop Shop Tokyo, an art project recognized by museums around the world.[citation needed]

In 2018, it was reported that the Kuzuis are involved with the development of a reboot of Buffy.[8][9]

Kuzui is a contributing writer at the Nikkei Asian Review and Tokyo bureau chief for Culinary Backstreets.

Filmography

Feature films

Year Title Director Writer Producer
1988 Tokyo Pop Yes Yes No
1992 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Yes No No
1997 Orgazmo No No Yes
1997 Telling Lies in America No No Yes

References

  1. ^ Gates, Marya E. (August 1, 2023). "Female Filmmakers in Focus: Fran Rubel Kuzui on Tokyo Pop". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  2. ^ "Fran Rubel Kuzui". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  3. ^ Goodman, Walter (April 15, 1988). "In 'Tokyo Pop,' Youth Cultures Clash". The New York Times. Retrieved February 26, 2007. You don't have to be a fan of rock music to get a kick out of Tokyo Pop, a wedding of American and Japanese youth cultures as seen through a fun-house mirror.
  4. ^ Marie, Bridgette. "Tokyo Pop (1988)". Fast-Rewind.com. Retrieved February 26, 2007.
  5. ^ Morgan, David. "Interview with Fran Rubel Kuzui". Wide Angle Closeup. Retrieved February 26, 2007.
  6. ^ Wappler, Margaret (March 1, 2024). "Luke Perry and the Untold History of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'". Vanity Fair. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  7. ^ "Last Life in the Universe full credits". IMDB.com. Retrieved April 9, 2007.
  8. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (July 20, 2018). "'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Series Reboot With Black Lead In Works From Monica Owusu-Breen & Joss Whedon". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  9. ^ Otterson, Joe (July 20, 2018). "'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' TV Reboot in Development From Joss Whedon, Monica Owusu-Breen". Variety. Retrieved July 22, 2018.


Stub icon

This article about a United States film director is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.