Kelly Fremon Craig Explained

Kelly Fremon Craig
Birth Name:Kelly Fremon
Birth Date:28 May 1980
Birth Place:Whittier, California, U.S.
Alma Mater:University of California, Irvine
Occupation:Film director, screenwriter, producer
Years Active:2008–present
Notable Works:
Children:1

Kelly Fremon Craig (born May 28, 1980) is an American screenwriter, producer, and film director. She is known for writing and directing the 2016 coming-of-age dramedy The Edge of Seventeen and the 2023 adaptation of Judy Blume's classic middle-grade novel, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

Early life

Fremon Craig was born in Whittier, California and graduated from UC Irvine with an English degree. When she was 13, she watched a lot of MTV, which sparked her interest in music videos. She stated that music videos were "like little short films". Spoken word poetry was what Fremon Craig initially began writing.[1]

Career

2000s

Fremon Craig started out by writing sketch comedy and spoken word poetry in college, then landed an internship in the film division of Immortal Entertainment, where she read her first film script and began to pursue screenwriting. She developed several screenplays during the 2000s, including a modern high school retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac and a comedic remake of the 2004 French drama Intimate Strangers for Paramount Pictures. One of her scripts, Ticket to Ride, caught the attention of Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman. He bought the script under his The Montecito Picture Company as a directing vehicle for himself. According to Reitman, the script was rewritten at least 15 times. The film was released, under the new title Post Grad and was instead directed by Shrek director Vicky Jenson. Post Grad was released in 2009 to critical and commercial disappointment.

2010s

In 2011 Fremon Craig completed another script titled Besties and sent the script to James L. Brooks. Brooks bought the script and it was announced that Fremon Craig would direct the film and Brooks would serve as a producer and mentor for her first film.[2] No updates were issued for the feature until August 2015, when Hailee Steinfeld was announced to star in the film. Casting continued until October of that same year, with filming commencing that same month.

The film was released by STX Entertainment in fall 2016 under its new title The Edge of Seventeen to critical praise and it was a modest financial hit. Fremon Craig kept a series of journals that helped inspire her while writing The Edge of Seventeen. She took some of these journal entries and formed them into the script.[3] For research on the film and script, Fremon Craig went to high schools and hung out with teenagers to better understand what their lives were like. Fremon Craig also provided uncredited rewrites (and was briefly attached as co-screenwriter[4]) for the 2018 Transformers spin-off film, Bumblebee, which also starred Steinfeld.

2020s

Fremon Craig was originally attached as the sole screenwriter for an animated film adaptation of Scooby-Doo for Warner Animation Group.[5] The film, released as Scoob! in 2020, was instead rewritten by Adam Sztykiel, Jack Donaldson, Derek Elliott, Matt Lieberman, Eyal Podell, and Jonathon E. Stewart. Fremon Craig collaborated again with James L. Brooks in the film adaptation of the Judy Blume book Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.[6]

Upcoming projects

Influences

Fremon Craig has cited writer-director John Hughes as an influence on writing The Edge of Seventeen,[8] [9] and has mentioned Christopher Guest, Alexander Payne, Nick Hornby, and David Sedaris as inspirations.[10] She also takes inspiration from Nora Ephron by taking moments of her own life and putting them into her writing.[11] Fremon Craig stated that James L. Brooks is her comedy idol, “there's nobody in the world I love more than Jim Brooks. He is the reason I wanted to be a filmmaker."

Unrealized projects

Personal life

As of 2016, Fremon Craig resides in Los Angeles with her husband and young son.[13] She is a represented by UTA and Kaplan/Perrone.[14]

Filmography

YearTitleDirectorWriterProducerDistributorNote
2008StreakFreestyleShort film; co-written with Allan Loeb
2009Post Grad20th Century Fox
2016The Edge of SeventeenSTX Entertainment
2018BumblebeeParamount PicturesUncredited rewrites[15]
2023Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.LionsgateBased on the novel by Judy Blume
2024Ordinary AngelsCo-written with Meg Tilly

Accolades

List of awards and nominations
YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultNotes
2016Critics' Choice Movie AwardsBest ComedyThe Edge of Seventeen[16] [17]
New York Film Critics CircleBest First Film[18]
Chicago Film Critics AssociationMost Promising Filmmaker[19]
Toronto Film Critics AssociationBest First Feature[20]
Detroit Film Critics SocietyBest Film[21]
Best Breakthrough
Austin Film Critics AssociationBest First Film[22] [23]
Indiewire Critics' PollBest First Feature
Las Vegas Film Critics Society AwardsBreakout Filmmaker of the Year
2017Oklahoma Film Critics Circle AwardsOFCC Award for Best First Film[24]
Directors Guild of America AwardsFirst-Time Feature Film[25]
Golden Tomato AwardsBest Comedy Movie 2016
Online Film & Television AssociationBest Feature Debut
2017 MTV Movie & TV AwardsBest Movie[26]
2023Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Film AwardsBest DirectorAre You There God? It's Me, Margaret.[27]
2023Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Film AwardsBest Screenplay
2023Chicago Film Critics Association AwardsBest Adapted Screenplay[28]
2023Boston Society of Film CriticsBest Adapted Screenplay[29]
2023St. Louis Film Critics AssociationBest Adapted Screenplay[30]
2023Florida Film Critics Circle AwardsBest Adapted Screenplay[31]
2023San Diego Film Critics SocietyBest Director[32]
2023San Diego Film Critics SocietyBest Adapted Screenplay
2023Women Film Critics CircleBest Woman Storyteller[33]
2024Astra Film and Creative AwardsBest Adapted Screenplay[34]
2024Critics' Choice AwardsBest Adapted Screenplay[35]
2024Georgia Film Critics AssociationBest Adapted Screenplay[36]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Director Kelly Fremon Craig The Backlot Podcast NYFA. 2021-03-17. www.nyfa.edu. 23 November 2020 .
  2. James L. Brooks' Gracie Films Buys 'Besties' Spec. Deadline Hollywood. March 30, 2011. November 24, 2018.
  3. Web site: 2016-12-29. With a shift in focus, writer Kelly Fremon-Craig finds the heart of 'Edge of Seventeen'. 2021-03-17. Los Angeles Times. en-US.
  4. https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/attachments/credit-png.28062283/
  5. Web site: 'Tom and Jerry,' 'Scooby-Doo' Movies Land Top Talent at Warner Animation Group (EXCLUSIVE) . Justin . Kroll . October 15, 2018 . Variety.
  6. Web site: Rachel McAdams and Abby Ryder Fortson join the 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret' movie. 2021-03-17. EW.com. en.
  7. Web site: 'Edge of Seventeen' Filmmaker, Chernin Entertainment Team for 'Wild Game'. January 25, 2018. April 2, 2018. The Hollywood Reporter. Borys Kit.
  8. Web site: Hailee Steinfeld Talks Making Coming-of-Age Film 'Edge of Seventeen' at TIFF. www.msn.com. 2016-11-23.
  9. News: Review: The Edge of Seventeen is a Modern Day Tribute to John Hughes. 2016-09-25. We Live Entertainment. 2016-11-23.
  10. Web site: 10 Screenwriters to Watch. Variety. 21 June 2007. November 18, 2016.
  11. Web site: Director Kelly Fremon Craig. The Backlot Podcast. New York Film Academy. December 2, 2021. November 23, 2020.
  12. Web site: The Edge of Seventeen Series Canceled by YouTube. /Film. Ethan Anderton. May 20, 2020. September 1, 2021.
  13. Web site: The Edge Of Seventeen, a coming-of-age comedy with a refreshingly authentic voice. Writing Studio. 8 December 2016.
  14. Judy Blume Grants 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret' Screen Rights To James L. Brooks & Kelly Fremon Craig. Deadline Hollywood. Fleming . Mike Jr.. October 17, 2018. October 18, 2018.
  15. Web site: Hailee Steinfeld Gets Surprise Birthday Party at 'Bumblebee' Premiere. The Hollywood Reporter. 10 December 2018. en. 2019-01-10. Christina Hodson wrote an amazing script, which drew me into this world... Kelly Fremon Craig, who wrote and directed me in Edge of Seventeen, did the rewrite, and we had wonderful conversations about developing Charlie’s voice into what you see now..
  16. Web site: La La Land Leads with 12 Nominations for the 22nd Annual Critics' Choice Awards . Critics' Choice . December 1, 2016 . December 10, 2016.
  17. News: Golden Globes 2017 Film Surprises and Snubs: 'Deadpool,' Aaron Taylor-Johnson and 7 More Sudden Twists. Indiewire. 14 December 2016. 13 December 2016.
  18. Web site: New York Film Critics Circle Awards 2016. . December 10, 2016.
  19. Web site: The 2016 Chicago Film Critics Association Award Nominees . December 11, 2016 . . December 14, 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161220200944/http://www.chicagofilmcritics.org/component/content/article/148-cfca-nominees-2016 . December 20, 2016.
  20. Web site: 'Moonlight' Named Best Film by Toronto Film Critics. Vlessing. Etan. The Hollywood Reporter. December 12, 2016. December 12, 2016.
  21. News: Local critics: 'Moonlight', 'Manchester' best of 2016 . Adam . Graham . . December 14, 2016. December 15, 2016.
  22. Web site: Austin Film Critics Association (AFCA) Nominations: The Handmaiden Lands Top Mentions, Trevante Rhodes Double Nominated . Erik . Anderson . AwardsWatch.com . December 15, 2016 . December 18, 2016.
  23. Web site: 2016 Austin Film Critics Awards Nominees, 'Moonlight' and 'Arrival' lead the way in AFCA's 2016 nominations . Neil . Miller . Medium.com . December 15, 2016 . December 18, 2016 . June 22, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170622043509/https://austinfilmcritics.org/2016-nominations-5307a85b7c6a?gi=99f3d4c637ab#.yjh64hs3i . dead .
  24. Web site: Oklahoma Film Critics Circle Awards. IMDb.com. 8 January 2017.
  25. Web site: Hipes. Patrick. DGA TV Awards Nominations: 'Stranger Things', 'Westworld' & 'Atlanta' On List; Docus Include 'OJ: Made In America'. Deadline. 11 January 2017. 11 January 2017.
  26. News: 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards Nominations List — 'This Is Us,' 'Stranger Things' . Schwartz . Ryan . . March 2, 2017 . April 6, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170407123144/http://tvline.com/2017/04/06/2017-mtv-movie-tv-awards-nominations-list-this-is-us-stranger-things/ . 2017-04-07 . live .
  27. Web site: 2023-06-30 . AwardsWatch - Hollywood Critics Association 2023 Midseason HCA Awards: 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,' 'Past Lives,' 'Air' are Top Winners . 2023-12-31 . AwardsWatch . en-US.
  28. Web site: 2023-12-08 . AwardsWatch - Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA) Nominations: 'Killers of the Flower Moon,' 'Oppenheimer,' 'Poor Things' Lead with 10 Each . 2023-12-31 . AwardsWatch . en-US.
  29. Web site: 2023-12-10 . AwardsWatch - 2023 Boston Society of Film Critics (BSFC): 'The Holdovers' Wins Best Film, Actor, Supporting Actress, Screenplay . 2023-12-31 . AwardsWatch . en-US.
  30. Web site: 2023-12-10 . AwardsWatch - 2023 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Nominations . 2023-12-31 . AwardsWatch . en-US.
  31. Web site: 2023-12-13 . AwardsWatch - Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) Nominations . 2023-12-31 . AwardsWatch . en-US.
  32. Web site: 2023-12-20 . AwardsWatch - San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS) Awards: Kelly Fremon Craig's 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.' Named Best Picture . 2023-12-31 . AwardsWatch . en-US.
  33. Web site: 2023-12-18 . AwardsWatch - Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC): 'Barbie,' 'Nyad,' 'Killers of the Flower Moon,' 'Past Lives' Win Big . 2023-12-31 . AwardsWatch . en-US.
  34. Web site: 2023-12-07 . AwardsWatch - 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer' Lead Hollywood Creative Alliance (HCA) Astra Awards Nominations . 2023-12-31 . AwardsWatch . en-US.
  35. Web site: Hammond . Pete . 2023-12-13 . The Critics Choice Is 'Barbie' With 18 CCA Nominations; 'Oppenheimer', 'Poor Things' Follow With 13 Each . 2023-12-31 . Deadline . en-US.
  36. Web site: 2023-12-29 . AwardsWatch - Georgia Film Critics Association (GFCA) Nominations: 'Oppenheimer' Leads with 10 . 2023-12-31 . AwardsWatch . en-US.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Kelly Fremon Craig".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.