David Dobkin (director)

David Dobkin
Born (1969-06-23) 23 June 1969 (age 55)[1]
Washington D.C., U.S.
Occupation
  • Film director
  • film producer
  • screenwriter
  • composer
NationalityAmerican
GenreComedy
Years active1992–present
Notable works

David Dobkin (born 23 June 1969)[2][1] is an American director, producer and screenwriter. He is best known for directing the films Clay Pigeons, Shanghai Knights, Wedding Crashers, The Judge, and Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.

Early life

Dobkin was born on 23 June 1969[1] in Washington, D.C., where he attended Lafayette Elementary School,[2] and later was raised in the suburb of Bethesda, Maryland, where he attended Walt Whitman High School.[3]

Career

Dobkin made his music-video debut with a video clips for rapper Tupac Shakur.[3] Fifteen more videos followed for such music groups as Extreme, Robin Zander, Sonic Youth, dada, Blues Traveler, and others.[citation needed] Dobkin's music-video credits include George Thorogood's "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer," Elton John's "You Can Make History", and Coolio's "1, 2, 3, 4". Dobkin also collaborated with band Maroon 5 in their music videos "Sugar", "Girls Like You", "Memories" and "Middle Ground"[citation needed] and an upcoming documentary film. As of 2021, no word when the film will be released.[4][5]

After shooting television commercials,[3] Dobkin broke into feature films with Clay Pigeons, for Scott Free, the first film produced at Ridley and Tony Scott's production company that they did not direct. The black comedy about a series of small-town murders starred Vince Vaughn, Joaquin Phoenix and Janeane Garofalo, and was distributed by Gramercy Pictures. Dobkin next directed the comedies Shanghai Knights (2003), starring Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson, and Wedding Crashers (2005), with Wilson and Vaughn.[6]

Through his production company Big Kid Pictures,[6] Dobkin both produced and directed Fred Claus (2007), starring Vaughn and Paul Giamatti, and The Change-Up (2011), starring Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman.[6] He co-wrote and was an executive producer of the film adaptation of Dark Horse Comics' R.I.P.D. (2013),[7] Dobkin directed 2014's The Judge, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall.[8]

Filmography

Films

Year Title Director Producer Writer Notes
1992 52nd St. Serenade Yes No No Short film
1995 Ice Cream Man No No Yes
1998 Clay Pigeons Yes No No Directorial debut
2003 Shanghai Knights Yes No No
2005 The Ropes No Executive No Short film
Wedding Crashers Yes No No
2007 Mr. Woodcock No Yes No
Fred Claus Yes Yes No
2011 The Change-Up Yes Yes No
2012 Last Call No Executive No
2013 Jack the Giant Slayer No Yes Story
R.I.P.D. No Executive Story
2014 The Judge Yes Yes Story
2015 Vacation No Yes No
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. No Executive No
2017 King Arthur: Legend of the Sword No Executive Story
2020 Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga Yes No No
2023 Under the Boardwalk No Yes Story
TBA Untitled Maroon 5 documentary film[4] Yes No No Post-production

As himself

Television

Year(s) Title Director Executive
Producer 		Notes
1995 Love Street Yes No Episode: "Freudian Slip"
2005 2005 MTV Movie Awards Yes No Segment: "Crashers"
2011 Friends with Benefits Yes Yes Director (episode "Pilot") / Producer (13 episodes)
2013 The Gabriels No Yes TV movie
2015–2019 Into the Badlands Yes Yes Director (3 episodes) / Executive Producer (32 episodes)
2018 Iron Fist Yes Yes Episode: "The Fury of Iron Fist"
Sugar Yes Yes Director (2 episodes) / Executive Producer (8 episodes)
2019–2022 Green Eggs and Ham No Yes 13 episodes (also directing consultant)
2021–present Resident Alien Yes Yes Director (episode: "Pilot) / Executive Producer

Music videos

Title Year Artist(s) Notes Ref.
1993 "Keep Ya Head Up" Tupac featuring Dave Hollister
"I Get Around" Tupac featuring Shock G and Money-B
"Defense & Desire" Blues Traveler
1994 "All I Am" Dada
"I Don't Know Where It Came From" Ride
"Street Life" Intelligent Hoodlum
1995 "Hip Today" Extreme
"Bus Stops" The Nonce
"One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" John Lee Hooker
1996 "You Can Make History (Young Again)" Elton John
"1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" Coolio
"Just the Two of Us" Toshinobu Kubota featuring Caron Wheeler
"Like Marvin Gaye Said (What's Going On)" Speech
"Banditos" The Refreshments
1998 "Boogie King" The Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies
"I Got You Babe" Merril Bainbridge featuring Shaggy
2015 "Sugar" Maroon 5
2016 "Don't Wanna Know"
2018 "Girls Like You" Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B Original, Volume 2 and Vertical Video versions [10][11][12]
2019 "Memories" Maroon 5 [13]
2020 "Nobody's Love" [14]
2023 "Middle Ground" [15]

Commercials

Dobkin has directed commercials for clients such as ESPN, Heineken (which earned him honors from SHOOT magazine), Carl's Jr., Coke, Honda, Coors Light and Sony PlayStation (which won a Bronze Lion at Cannes). His spots for the Utah Symphony were named "Spot of the Month" by Adweek Magazine and featured as the year's best in Communication Arts Magazine.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b c "David Dobkin". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Frey, Jennifer (May 16, 2004). "A Filmmaker's D.C. Close-Up". Archived from the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2020. ...he's 34 years old now...
  3. ^ a b c Lytal, Cristy (November 8, 2007). "It's more than talk with David Dobkin". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Dresdale, Andrea; Nathanson, Jason (June 24, 2020). "Upcoming Maroon 5 doc will show 'how unique they actually are,' says director David Dobkin". ABC News Radio. Archived from the original on June 25, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  5. ^ "Maroon 5 documentary is "an interesting story to tell," even though band is "pretty boring"". 979 FM WRMF. August 25, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "David Dobkin: Principal, Big Kid Pictures". Variety. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  7. ^ McCarthy, Todd (July 19, 2013). "R.I.P.D.: Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 20, 2017. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  8. ^ "Robert Downey Jr. in Shelburne Falls for 'The Judge' filming". Boston.com. June 3, 2013. Archived from the original on December 2, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
  9. ^ Falkner, Scott (December 22, 2014). "Lennon or McCartney? New Documentary Asks 550 Celebrities Their Preference — See Their Answers". Inquisitr. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  10. ^ Amatulli, Jenna (May 31, 2018). "Maroon 5, Cardi B's 'Girls Like You' Video Is A Star-Studded Dance Party". HuffPost. Archived from the original on May 31, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  11. ^ Glicksman, Josh. "Maroon 5 Releases New Version of 'Girls Like You' Music Video: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  12. ^ "Maroon 5 – Girls Like You (Vertical Video) featuring Cardi B". Spotify. Archived from the original on December 19, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  13. ^ Dresdale, Andrea (October 8, 2019). "Watch a shirtless Adam Levine mourn in Maroon 5's new "Memories" video". ABC News Radio. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  14. ^ Armstrong, Sam (July 24, 2020). "Maroon 5 Share Summery New Single "Nobody's Love"". UDiscoverMusic. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  15. ^ Bowenbank, Starr. "Adam Levine Shares Intimate Family Moments With Behati Prinsloo & Kids in New Maroon 5 Video". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  16. ^ David Dobkin bio – Tribute.ca