Richard Martini (born March 12, 1955) is an award-winning American film director, producer, screenwriter and free lance journalist. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Boston University with a degree in Humanities, attended USC Film School and is a 2008 graduate of the Master of Professional Writing Program at USC.
Martini grew up in Northbrook, Illinois. His first documentary film "Special Olympians"[1] won the 1980 Mexico City International Film Festival. He then made his feature film directorial debut with the "quintessential 80's comedy" (TNT) "You Can't Hurry Love,"[2] which featured the debut of Bridget Fonda. Martini was a Humanities Major at Boston University, attended USC Film School. His student short film "Lost Angels"[3] was the film debut of fellow Chicago native Daryl Hannah.
Martini left USC to work for writer/director Robert Towne ("Chinatown," "Ask The Dust")[4] where he did everything from typing up Towne's notes to walking Towne's Oscar nominated dog Hira. (Hira has the distinction of being the only dog ever nominated in the writing category; when Towne's script for "Greystoke" was nominated, he used the pseudonym P.H. Vazak, his dog's official name).[5] It was after that Martini wrote his first feature "My Champion"[6] which starred Christopher (son of Robert) Mitchum and Yoko Shimada (Shogun). He then wrote the Charlie Sheen comedy "Three For the Road" for Vista Films.[7]
Martini directed a comedy short "Video Valentino"[8] shot by fellow USC alum John Schwartzman (DP of "Seabiscuit") and produced by Jonathan D. Krane. The short led to a deal with Vestron Pictures, where he made "You Can't Hurry Love" starring Bridget Fonda, Charles Grodin and Kristy McNichol based on the short.[9]
Martini then co-wrote and directed two films for Producer Jonathan D. Krane ("Look Who's Talking", "Face/Off"): Chicago-set Faustian comedy Limit Up,"[10] starring Nancy Allen and blues icon Ray Charles, and "Point of Betrayal,"[11] starring Dina Merrill, Rod Taylor and Rebecca Broussard. Martini then co-wrote and directed "Cannes Man" (also released as "Con Man" at Netflix)[12] starring Francesco Quinn and Seymour Cassel, with appearances by Johnny Depp and the "cast of characters who inhabit the film festival each year."
Martini wrote and directed the Dogme 95 film "Camera ? Dogme #15,"[13] shot on digital video; it follows the life of a video camera around the world.[14]
He's also directed documentaries; "Tibetan Refugee"[1...