Will Reiser | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Screenwriter, producer |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | American |
| Notable works | 50/50 (2011) |
| Relatives | Paul Reiser (cousin) |
Will Reiser is an American screenwriter and producer. He is best known for writing the 2011 film50/50, which was based on his own experience with cancer.
He is the cousin of actor and comedianPaul Reiser.[1]
Reiser attendedHampshire College inAmherst, Massachusetts, graduating in 2003.[2]
Reiser first worked as a producer in a number of TV productions, such asDa Ali G Show. In 2005, during his time working as an associate producer, he was diagnosed with a form ofspinal cancer at the age of 25.[3][4][5] After he underwent surgery, he was urged bySeth Rogen andEvan Goldberg, who also worked onDa Ali G Show, to write a screenplay based on his experiences.[6] In 2008, Reiser completed his first draft of50/50,[5] his first screenplay.[7] With Rogen and Goldberg producing the film, the script was bought byMandate Pictures, with Rogen also attached to star in the film as the best friend of the protagonist, Adam (played byJoseph Gordon-Levitt), and the film was released in September 2011.[6] At the time of the film's release, Reiser had been cancer-free for six years.[4] He won numerous awards for50/50, including theIndependent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay and theNational Board of Review of Motion Pictures award for Best Original Screenplay.[2] He was also honored at the 2012 Annual OMG! Cancer Summit for Young Adults for his "courage, irreverence and creativity in achieving meaningful and impactful change on behalf of the young adult cancer survivorship movement".[8]
In September 2011, it was reported that Reiser was working on an American version of the German comedy filmMen...[9] That same month, it was also reported that Reiser was working on a film titledJamaica, based on a vacation he took to Jamaica with his grandma at the age of 14.Jonathan Levine, who directed50/50, was attached to direct the film.[4]
| Year | Television Show | Credit/Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Da Ali G Show | Associate producer | ||
| 2004 | Best Week Ever | Field producer | ||
| 2004 | Distraction | Segment producer | ||
| 2005 | Red State Diaries | Producer | ||
| 2006 | Garage Band Makeover | Producer | ||
| 2006 | Assume the Position with Mr. Wuhl | Writer, field producer, supervising producer | ||
| 2006 | Talkshow with Spike Feresten | Field producer | One episode | |
| 2007 | The Unseen Kind-Hearted Beast | Associate producer |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
