Steve Blackman (writer) explained

Steve Blackman
Nationality:Canadian, American
Occupation:Television writer, television director, television producer, showrunner
Yearsactive:1999–present
Known For:The Umbrella Academy
Fargo
Altered Carbon

Steve Blackman is a Canadian television screenwriter, and executive producer.[1] He served as the showrunner for The Umbrella Academy, a Netflix series based on the comic series of the same name by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá.[2] In 2016, Blackman won a Writers Guild of America Award for the second season of Fargo along with his fellow writers.[3] In 2017, he was nominated for an Emmy for his work on Fargo along with other producers.[4]

Early and personal life

Blackman grew up in Edmonton, Canada. As a law student at the University of Alberta in 1996, he founded Law Show, an annual stage production written and performed by law students. As of 2018, it has raised over $300,000 for local charities. He also attended high school in Edmonton, Canada, at Ross Sheppard High School.[5]

After The Umbrella Academy was being accused of antisemitism, he claimed to be Jewish.[6] [7] [8]

Career

Blackman passed the bar in 1998 and worked briefly as a divorce lawyer. Unhappy as an attorney, he teamed with Greg Ball, another newly-practicing lawyer, and together they created The Associates, a drama series based on their experiences as recent law school graduates. Ball and Blackman pitched and sold the series to CTV at the Banff Television Festival in 1999.[9] When it aired, The Associates was the most expensive television series ever made in Canada.[10] [11] He produced 30 episodes of The Associates, which aired in 2001 and 2002.

In addition to his credits as a writer and producer on television shows, including Bones and Fargo, Blackman served as an executive producer and co-showrunner on Private Practice, Legion, and co-showrunner on Altered Carbon.[12] [13] [14] [15]

On November 9, 2017, Blackman was announced as an executive producer and showrunner of the Netflix series The Umbrella Academy.[16]

In June 2024, a report by Rolling Stone accused him of creating a toxic working environment for writers and support staff. An HR complaint against Blackman, dating back to January 2023, detailed his "long history of toxic, bullying, manipulative, and retaliatory behavior."[17]

Filmography

YearSeriesNotes
2001–2002The AssociatesCo-creator, producer (30 episodes)
2003–2005Wild CardWriter, supervising producer (36 episodes)[18]
2004NYPD BlueWriter (1 episode)[19]
2005–2006BonesWriter (3 episodes), producer (21 episodes)[20]
2007Hidden PalmsWriter (1 episode), producer (8 episodes)[21] [22]
2007–2008Las VegasWriter (2 episodes), supervising producer (19 episodes)[23]
2008–2012Private PracticeCo-showrunner;[24] writer (10 episodes), executive producer (44 episodes), co-executive producer (45 episodes)
2014–2017FargoWriter (2 episodes), Co-executive producer (10 episodes), consulting producer (20 episodes)[25] [26] [27]
2016OutsidersConsulting producer (13 episodes)[28]
2017LegionExecutive producer (4 episodes)
2017–2018Altered CarbonWriter (2 episodes), executive producer (10 episodes)
2019–2024The Umbrella AcademyCreator, showrunner,[29] writer, executive producer[30]
TBAHorizonShowrunner, video game adaptation[31]
OrbitalShowrunner

References

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Notes and References

  1. News: Marechal. AJ. A&E Developing Dark Comedy 'Clan' Based on Belgian Series (Exclusive). Variety.
  2. News: 'Umbrella Academy' Series Based on Comic Books Headed to Netflix. Wagmeister. Elizabeth. July 11, 2017. Variety. April 1, 2018.
  3. News: 2016 Writers Guild Awards Winners Announced. April 2, 2018.
  4. News: Nominees/Winners. Television Academy. April 1, 2018.
  5. Web site: Law students take the stage to raise funds for Edmonton women's shelter. January 13, 2018.
  6. Web site: 'The Umbrella Academy' called out for anti-Semitism. NME. 6 August 2020.
  7. Web site: Critics say Netflix series 'The Umbrella Academy' promotes anti-Semitic stereotype through Yiddish scene . August 5, 2020 .
  8. Web site: 'Umbrella Academy' co-creator says accusation of anti-Semitism on Netflix show is 'factually incorrect' . August 6, 2020 .
  9. Web site: Writers Guild of Canada. www.writersguildofcanada.com.
  10. News: Perfect pitch. The Globe and Mail. January 11, 2001. Takach. Geo F..
  11. Web site: MacNamara. Kate. Falling off the dial. www.friends.ca. National Post.
  12. Book: Muir. John Kenneth. TV Year: The Prime Time 2005-2006 Season. May 1, 2007. Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. 978-1557836847. 15. registration. blackman..
  13. Web site: Hibberd. James. 'Private Practice' names new head writers. The Hollywood Reporter. May 4, 2010.
  14. Web site: Ryan. Maureen. TV Review: 'Legion' on FX, Starring Dan Stevens. Variety. February 2017.
  15. Web site: Wigler. Josh. 'Altered Carbon': How 'Blade Runner' Impacted Netflix's New Science-Fiction Universe. The Hollywood Reporter. February 6, 2018.
  16. Web site: 'The Umbrella Academy': Ellen Page To Star In Netflix Series Based On Comic. Andreeva. Nellie. Deadline Hollywood. November 9, 2017. February 9, 2019.
  17. Web site: Roundtree . Cheyenne . 2024-06-30 . 'The Umbrella Academy' Showrunner Accused of 'Toxic, Bullying, Manipulative, and Retaliatory Behavior' . 2024-07-05 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  18. Web site: McCormack. Kim. Content Upload. iatse411.ca. Iatse Local 411 (Ontario).
  19. Web site: Wilson. Amanda. NYPD Blue Summary/Review, "The 3-H Club". stwing.upenn.edu. University of Pennsylvania.
  20. Book: Muir. John Kenneth. TV Year: The Prime Time 2005-2006 Season. May 1, 2007. Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. 978-1557836847. 15. registration. blackman..
  21. Web site: Hidden Palms Episode Guide. lionsgatepublicity.com. Lionsgate Publicity.
  22. Web site: Lowry. Brian. Hidden Palms Review. Variety. May 25, 2007.
  23. Web site: Ward. Mitch. 15 Things You Didn't Know About Fargo (The TV Show). screenrant.com. April 11, 2017. Screenrant.
  24. Web site: 'Private Practice' names new head writers. The Hollywood Reporter. May 4, 2010.
  25. Web site: Mitchell. Gregg. Gordon. Jason. 2016 Writers Guild Awards Winners Announced. wga.org. Writers Guild of America West.
  26. Web site: Steve Blackman Bio. emmys.com. Television Academy.
  27. Web site: Fargo (FX) Award Profile. peabodyawards.com. Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Georgia.
  28. Web site: Herman. Alison. 'Outsiders' Is a Worthwhile Show on a Channel You've Never Heard Of. flavorwire.com. January 26, 2016 . Flavorwire.
  29. Web site: Otterson. Joe. Ellen Page Joins 'Umbrella Academy' Series at Netflix. Variety. November 10, 2017.
  30. Web site: Umbrella Academy adds Mindhunter's Cameron Britton. DenofGeek. October 8, 2018. February 9, 2019.
  31. Web site: 'Umbrella Academy' to Power Up for Fourth and Final Season . . August 25, 2022 . August 25, 2022.