Nick Wechsler has, for over two decades, brought both independent and studio motion pictures to the screen.
He has made three films prior with Reservation Road star Joaquin Phoenix, as producer of Philip Kaufman's Quills, which was named Best Picture by the National Board of Review; and James Gray's The Yards and We Own the Night.
Mr. Wechsler's previous projects with other stars of Reservation Road also include producing Omar Naim's The Final Cut, which starred Mira Sorvino; and executive-producing Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream, which starred Jennifer Connelly. He recently reteamed with the latter director, as executive producer of The Fountain.
His other notable credits as producer include Robert Altman's The Player, which won him the Golden Globe Award, New York Film Critics Circle award, and Independent Spirit Award for Best Picture; Gus Van San's Drugstore Cowboy, named Best Picture by the National Society of Film Critics; Michael Tolkin's The Rapture and The New Age; Theodore Witcher's Love Jones, which won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival; and Niki Caro's North Country, for which stars Charlize Theron and Frances McDormand both received Academy Award nominations.
Mr. Wechsler has executive-produced such notable films as Steven Soderbergh's sex, lies, and videotape, which won the top prize (the Palme d'Or) at the Cannes International Film Festival; James Gray's Little Odessa, which won the Silver Lion at the Venice International Film Festival; and Kasi Lemmons' Eve's Bayou, which won the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature; and Spike Lee's 25th Hour.
His another producing project is the feature adaptation of Audrey Niffenegger's novel The Time Traveler's Wife; Robert Schwentke is directing Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana in the lead roles.
He optioned Cormac McCarthy's newest best-seller The Road, with John Hillcoat attached to direct the film version; plans to reteam with Reservation Road executive producers Dean M. Leavitt and Gina Resnick's Volume One Entertainment on a feature adaptation of Frank Miller's classic graphic novel Ronin; and, also following Reservation Road, plans to reteam with the Focus Features/Random House Films filmmaking partnership on a feature based on Los Angeles Times investigative reporter Bob Drogin's nonfiction book Curveball, named after the code name for the Iraqi informant whose deceptive information about biological weapons was used by the U.S. government to justify the war in Iraq. The latter book is scheduled for publication in fall 2007 by the Random House imprint.
Mr. Wechsler, a Great Lakes area native, was educated at USC, Loyola, and the University of Pennsylvania before beginning a career as a lawyer. In 1985, he became president of the motion picture division of Northcorp, a company created by Frank Yablans and the Producers Sales Organization. He left Northcorp to develop and produce motion pictures as well as manage such musicians as The Band's Robbie Robertson. He co-wrote the story for Ken Friedman's Made in USA before making his first movie as producer, Paul Mones' The Beat.
He was also the founder and co-chairman (with Keith Addis) of Industry Entertainment, a management and production company representing writers, directors, and actors in feature films and television.
Focus Features
