Sam Esmail
Sam Esmail | |
---|---|
Sam Esmail at SXSW 2016 | |
Born |
Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S. | September 17, 1977
Alma mater |
Tisch School of the Arts AFI Conservatory |
Occupation | Director, producer, writer |
Years active | 2008–present |
Sam Esmail (born September 17, 1977)[1] is an Egyptian[2]-American screenwriter, film and television director, and television producer. He is best known as the creator of the television series Mr. Robot (2015–present).
Early life
Esmail was born to an Egyptian family in Hoboken, New Jersey.[3][4] His family is Muslim.[5]
While attending New York University, he worked in its computer lab before being put on academic probation for an incident there.[6] After graduating from that college's Tisch School of the Arts, he went on to a Master of Fine Arts degree from the AFI Conservatory.[7]
Career
In 2008, Esmail's first feature film screenplay, Sequels, Remakes & Adaptations, landed on the Black List, a yearly survey of over 600 production companies and film executives of the "most liked" motion picture screenplays not yet produced.[7] In 2014, his feature length directorial debut, Comet was released by IFC.[8]
He is the creator, executive producer and head writer of the technological thriller television series Mr. Robot, which premiered on USA Network on June 24, 2015.[9] Esmail originally envisioned the project as a feature film.[6][10]
In a BBC interview, Esmail explained the influence of his heritage on his work, "I tend to write about alienated figures who can't connect with others and who are kind of distant from American culture. It's not something I am consciously doing but it's something that happens to be infused inside me because of my experience growing up in America."[11]
Personal life
In August 2015, Esmail became engaged to actress Emmy Rossum after dating for two years.[12] He directed her in his directorial debut, Comet. [13]
His younger brother, Samer Esmail, works with him as a post production assistant.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Credited as | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Director | Writer | |||
2014 | Comet | Yes | Yes | Directorial debut |
Mockingbird | Yes | Story by, with Bryan Bertino |
Television
Year | Title | Credited as | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Writer | Director | Executive producer | |||
2015–present | Mr. Robot | Yes | Yes | Yes | Creator; writer (10 episodes), director (15 episodes) |
Accolades
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominated Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | Los Angeles Film Festival | Best Narrative Feature | Comet | Nominated |
2015 | 2015 SXSW Film Audience Award[14] | Audience Award for Best Episodic | Mr. Robot | Won |
25th Gotham Independent Film Awards[15] | Breakthrough Series – Long Form | Won | ||
2015 American Film Institute Awards[16] | Television Programs of the Year | Won | ||
2016 | 20th Satellite Awards[17] | Best Drama Series | Nominated | |
2016 Writers Guild Awards[18] | Best Drama Series | Nominated | ||
Best New Series | Won | |||
73rd Golden Globe Awards[19] | Best Television Series – Drama | Won | ||
6th Critics' Choice Television Awards[20] | Best Drama Series | Won | ||
68th Primetime Emmy Awards[21] | Outstanding Drama Series | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series | Nominated |
References
- ↑ "Sam Esmail Biography". All Movie Guide / Rovi via The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 23, 2015. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ↑ http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2015/06/24/mr_robot_gay_character_sam_esmail_explains_why_the_show_needed_one.html
- ↑ "Exclusive: Emmy Rossum is dating her 'Comet' director Sam Esmail". New York Post. August 14, 2013. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
- ↑ http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/mr-robot-premiere-interview-creator-804638
- ↑ http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/features/mr-robot-inside-tvs-hacktivist-breakout-hit-20160707
- 1 2 Boboltz, Sara (August 1, 2015). "'Mr. Robot' Creator Also Thinks It's Weird That Things In The Show Keep Coming True". Huffington Post. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
- 1 2 "Sam Esmail: Executive Producer". Mr. Robot official site (USA Network). Archived from the original on June 29, 2015. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ↑ Tallerico, Brian. "Comet". Roger Ebert Film Reviews. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ↑ Thomas, June (June 24, 2015). "Why the Hacker Drama Mr. Robot Needed a Gay Character". Slate. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ↑ Barr, Merrill (June 24, 2015). "'Mr. Robot': Creator Sam Esmail On Transitioning The Show From Feature Film To Pilot And More". Forbes. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
- ↑ Husam sam Asi (2015-10-12), Sam Esmael and Rami Malek talk Mr. Robot - Interview, retrieved 2016-04-04
- ↑ Couch, Aaron (August 31, 2015). "Emmy Rossum Engaged to Mr. Robot Creator Sam Esmail". People.com. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
- ↑ Miller, Gerri (February 5, 2015). "Hollywood Now: Mila Talks Parenthood & Breaking Bad's Saul Gets a Spinoff". InterfaithFamily. Archived from the original on February 9, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
- ↑ Wiese, Christina (March 21, 2015). "2015 SXSW Film Audience Award Winners Announced". SXSW. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
- ↑ Cox, Gordon (November 30, 2015). "'Spotlight' Wins Big at 2015 Gotham Awards (FULL LIST)". Variety. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
- ↑ Gray, Tim (December 16, 2015). "'Star Wars,' 'Mr. Robot' Among AFI Awards Honorees". Variety. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
- ↑ "Satellite Awards (2015)". International Press Academy. December 1, 2015. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
- ↑ Hipes, Patrick; Andreeva, Nellie (December 3, 2015). "WGA TV Nominations: 'Better Call Saul', 'Mr Robot', 'Kimmy Schmidt' Lead Cable & Streaming Domination". Deadline.com. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
- ↑ Mitovich, Matt Webb (December 10, 2015). "Golden Globes: Outlander, Mr. Robot, Transparent and American Crime Lead Nominations; Gaga, Crazy Ex Get Nods". TVLine. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
- ↑ Hipes, Patrick (December 14, 2015). "Critics' Choice Awards Nominations: 'Mad Max' Leads Film; ABC, HBO, FX Networks & 'Fargo' Top TV". Deadline.com. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
- ↑ "Mr. Robot". Emmys.com. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
External links
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