Brian Duffield

Brian Duffield is an American filmmaker. He directed the 2020 dark comedy Spontaneous and the 2023 scifi-horror film No One Will Save You. His writing credits include Love and Monsters (2020), Underwater (2020), and The Babysitter (2017). Duffield is known for having multiple spec scripts named to The Black List, an industry compendium of well-regarded but unproduced screenplays. Included were his scripts for Jane Got a Gun (2015) and Your Bridesmaid is a Bitch.[2][3]

Brian Duffield
Born (1985-11-05) November 5, 1985
Education
Occupations
  • Screenwriter
  • director
  • producer
Years active2010–present
AgentUTA[1]
Notable work
Websitebrianduffield.com

Early life

Duffield grew up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with his parents, Brian and Brenda Duffield, and two sisters.[4][5] In 1995, at nine years old, he moved to Ireland when his parents decided to become missionaries.[6][4][7] He described the surroundings as completely remote and lacking in popular culture.[4] Duffield attended school where in one classroom, three grades were being taught by one teacher, which he described as very "Little House on the Prairie-esque".[4] He moved back to the US when he graduated high school in 2004.[4]

Duffield graduated from both Temple University and Messiah College in 2008.[8][7] After graduation, he moved to Universal City, California for a summer internship through Temple University at the Oakwoods apartments prior to the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike and at the beginning of the Great Recession.[8][9]

From there, Duffield worked various jobs before becoming a professional screenwriter. His first job in Los Angeles was at the now defunct Storyopolis, a children's book store/art gallery, in Studio City, where he worked with writer Blake Harris.[8] He has also worked as an assistant and script reader within the film industry for several years.[6] Prior to selling his first spec screenplay, Duffield was a temporary employee at the Lucky Brand Jeans factory in nearby Vernon, California.[10]

Career

Duffield first spec sale was for Your Bridesmaid is a Bitch to Skydance Media.[2] The story is partially based on his personal experience with his friends' weddings and a slew of failed relationships.[6] His friend from college had sent a copy to a contact at Circle of Confusion management company, who later offered to be Duffield's manager.[6][2][11] Several days later, they got a meeting with Skydance, who bought the script.[2][6] Eli Craig was last attached to direct and rewrite the film in May 2015.[12] Black List Live!, a live monthly stage reading of scripts featured on the Black List, did a performance of Your Bridesmaid is a Bitch in 2014.[13]

Duffield sold his script for Monster Problems to Paramount Pictures in 2012.[14] Matthew Robinson was later brought on for rewrites and Michael Matthews directed the retitled film, Love and Monsters. The film was released in October 2020.[15][16]

Duffield's first writing assignment was for the film adaptation of the second book in the Divergent trilogy, Insurgent (2015), in 2013.[17][8]

The script for The Babysitter (2017) was sold to McG's company, Wonderland Sound and Vision, at auction.[2] McG also directed the film, which later premiered on Netflix in October 2017.[18]

In 2020, the thriller Underwater starring Kristen Stewart was released. The screenplay was by Duffield and revised by Adam Cozad.[19] Duffield made his writer-director debut with the dark comedy Spontaneous later that year.[20]

Personal life

Duffield is married.[2] His parents still reside in Ireland.[6]

Filmography
Year Title Director Writer Producer
2014 Quarantine No Yes No
2015 The Divergent Series: Insurgent No Yes No
Jane Got a Gun No Yes No
2017 The Babysitter No Yes Executive
2020 Underwater No Yes No
The Babysitter: Killer Queen No No Executive
Spontaneous Yes Yes Yes
Love and Monsters No Yes No
2023 Cocaine Bear No No Yes
Skull Island No Yes Executive
No One Will Save You Yes Yes Yes

References
  1. Kroll, Justin (May 19, 2021). "20th Century Lands Spec Script 'No One Will Save You' With Kaitlyn Dever Attached To Star; Brian Duffield Writing And Directing". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  2. "How I Broke In: Brian Duffield". Final Draft. June 1, 2015. Archived from the original on December 29, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
  3. Lyttelton, Oliver (March 20, 2013). "On The Rise: 10 Screenwriters To Watch In 2013". IndieWire. Archived from the original on February 24, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  4. Myers, Scott (October 27, 2016). "Interview [Part 1]: Brian Duffield". Medium. Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  5. "'Insurgent' Screenwriter Brian Duffield talks writing for the hit franchise". Final Draft. December 30, 2015. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  6. "Screenwriter Interview - Brian Duffield". ScriptShadow. February 9, 2012. Archived from the original on December 31, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  7. "The Inferior Bio I Went With". Your Spontaneous Screenwriter. Archived from the original on May 12, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  8. Amanda (February 27, 2014). "The Aspiring TV Writer & Screenwriter Blog: LA FIRSTS: Brian Duffield". The Aspiring TV Writer & Screenwriter Blog. Archived from the original on October 12, 2014. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  9. "10 Questions with INSURGENT & JANE GOT A GUN Screenwriter Brian Duffield". Screenwriter's Utopia. Archived from the original on December 31, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  10. Myers, Scott (October 27, 2016). "Interview [Part 3]: Brian Duffield". Medium. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  11. Myers, Scott (October 27, 2016). "Interview [Part 6]: Brian Duffield". Medium. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  12. Fleming, Mike Jr. (May 11, 2012). "'Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil' Helmer Eli Craig Takes On 'Your Bridesmaid's A Bitch'". Deadline. Archived from the original on December 29, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
  13. Gluck, Marissa (November 13, 2014). "In L.A., Unproduced Film Scripts Find New Life Onstage". T Magazine. Archived from the original on January 1, 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  14. "Paramount Developing Post-Apocalyptic Road Movie with Shawn Levy (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 5, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  15. Pedersen, Erik (October 23, 2019). "'Monster Problems': Paramount Moves Dylan O'Brien Pic To Pre-Summer Slot". Deadline. Archived from the original on September 17, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  16. DeFore, John (October 15, 2020). "'Love and Monsters': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  17. Trumbore, Dave (May 7, 2013). "Summit Sets Brian Duffield to Pen DIVERGENT Sequel, INSURGENT". Collider. Archived from the original on August 12, 2013. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
  18. The Babysitter Review - IGN, archived from the original on February 15, 2019, retrieved December 29, 2019
  19. Busch, Anita (February 22, 2017). "Kristen Stewart In Final Negotiations To Star In Fox Movie 'Underwater'". Deadline. Archived from the original on February 23, 2017. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  20. Kornits, Dov (October 28, 2020). "Brian Duffield's Spontaneously Explosive Debut". FilmInk. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
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