{{short description|American film director}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Aron Gaudet | birth_place = Old Town, Maine, U.S. | citizenship = American | education = BBA Communications | alma_mater = New England School of Communications | occupation = {{flatlist| * Screenwriter * Film Producer * Film and TV director * Television Journalist * Journalist * Film Editor * Author }} | years_active = 2007–present | era = | organization = Team A + G Productions, Inc. | notable_works = ''Crook County''<br> ''Beneath the Harvest Sky''<br> ''The Way We Get By'' <br> ''Queenpins'' <br> ''Little America'' <br> ''Tulsa King'' <br> ''Inspiration To Get You Through A F*cked Up Year'' | title = Filmmaker | spouse = Gita Pullapilly | relatives = Cyriac Pullapilly (father-in-law) | awards = Variety Magazine's 2014 "10 Directors To Watch" (with Pullapilly)<br>Guggenheim Fellow (with Pullapilly)<br>Independent Magazine's "Filmmakers to Watch" <br> WGBH Filmmaker-in-Residence<br> 2015 Black List Screenwriter (with Gita Pullapilly) }} '''Aron Gaudet''' is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and author. He is best known for ''The Way We Get By'' (2009), ''Beneath the Harvest Sky'' (2013), and ''Queenpins'' (2021). He writes and directs with his wife and film partner, Gita Pullapilly, under their banner, "Team A + G Productions, Inc."<ref>{{cite news |title=CAA Signs 'Beneath the Harvest Sky' Duo Aron Gaudet, Gita Pullapilly |first=Dave |last=McNary |date=2016-03-29 |work=Variety |url= https://variety.com/2016/film/news/caa-aron-gaudet-gita-pullapilly-beneath-the-harvest-sky-1201741415/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Dawson |first=Nick |title=Five Questions with Beneath the Harvest Sky Directors Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly |date=2013-09-08 |work=Filmmaker |url=https://filmmakermagazine.com/75960-five-questions-with-beneath-the-harvest-sky-directors-aron-gaudet-and-gita-pullapilly/ |access-date=August 25, 2020}}</ref>
== Biography == Gaudet was born and raised in Old Town, Maine. He was educated at the University of Maine and the New England School of Communications. Prior to working in the film industry, he worked in television news in Bangor, Maine, Burlington, Vermont, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Boston, Massachusetts. In Boston, he worked for New England Sports Network (NESN) covering the Red Sox and the Bruins.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weigel |first=Jenniffer |title=Filmmaker Gita Pullapilly talks about telling the stories that matter |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/ct-remarkable-gita-pullapilly-0628-20150623-story.html |access-date=August 12, 2020 |website=chicagotribune.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Their story goes well beyond a warm welcome |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-aug-09-ca-getby9-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=August 9, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 11, 2009 |title=SXSW Interview: "The Way We Get By" Director Aron Gaudet |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2009/03/sxsw-interview-the-way-we-get-by-director-aron-gaudet-247274/ |access-date=August 12, 2020 |website=IndieWire}}</ref> He is a member of the Writers Guild of America and the Directors Guild of America.
Gaudet began his film career in 2007 co-directing an episode titled ''India:'' ''A New Life'' for the documentary series Frontline/World which aired on June 21, 2007, that year he was selected as a WGBH Filmmaker in Residence for ''The Way We Get By''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 15, 2009 |title=Filmmaker Bio {{!}} The Way We Get By {{!}} POV {{!}} PBS |url=http://archive.pov.org/waywegetby/bio |access-date=July 29, 2020 |website=POV {{!}} American Documentary Inc.|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=FRONTLINE/WORLD . Rough Cut . India: A New LIfe |url=https://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/rough/2007/06/india_street_ch.html |access-date=July 29, 2020 |website=www.pbs.org}}</ref> In 2009, Gaudet released ''The Way We Get By,'' about three senior citizens in Maine who greet American troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan at the Bangor Airport. His mother, Joan Gaudet, is featured in the film.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Way We Get By – Film Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/film-review-93364 |access-date=July 29, 2020 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Changing Lives With a Simple Act of Service |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/17/movies/17way.html#after-bottom |work=The New York Times}}</ref> The Way We Get By world premiered at the SXSW film festival, aired on national PBS' POV, played theatrically in 60 US cities and played in over 100 film festivals around the world.<ref>{{Cite web |last=POV |title=The Way We Get By |url=https://www.pbs.org/pov/films/waywegetby/ |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=POV |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2009 Indianapolis International Film Festival |url=https://indyfilmfest.org/festival/6-2009/ |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=Indy Film Fest |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=POV |date=2009-01-20 |title=Film Update {{!}} The Way We Get By {{!}} POV {{!}} PBS |url=https://archive.pov.org/waywegetby/film-update |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=POV {{!}} American Documentary Inc. |language=en-US}}</ref>
The film was nominated for a national Emmy and was screened at the White House.<ref name=":1" /> and has received multiple festival honors, including the Special Jury Award at SXSW, the Standing Up Film Competition at the Cleveland International Film Festival,<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Clint |date=2009-03-30 |title=It's a wrap! 33rd Cleveland International Film Festival rolls credits |url=https://www.cleveland.com/movies/2009/03/magyar_filmuniothe_investigato.html |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=cleveland |language=en}}</ref> and the Audience Award at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fullframefest.org/releases/2009/090405.php|title=Full Frame Documentary Film Festival Announces Festival Award Winners|accessdate=2026-01-23|last=Novell|first=Nancy|date=2009-04-05|work=Press releases|publisher=Full Frame Documentary Film Festival|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506064149/http://www.fullframefest.org/releases/2009/090405.php|archivedate=2009-05-06}}</ref> It was also named Best Documentary at several international film festivals and won AARP's Movies for Grownups Award for Best Documentary of 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The D-Word: Dan Ferrigan |url=https://www.d-word.com/people/ferrigan |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=www.d-word.com |language=en}}</ref> In addition, the film earned a 2010 News & Documentary Emmy Award nomination and a Cinema Eye Honors nomination for Outstanding Achievement in a Debut Feature Film.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Full List of Nominations for the 2010 News and Documentary Emmy Awards {{!}} TVWeek |url=https://www.tvweek.com/in-depth/2010/07/full-list-of-nominations-for-t/ |access-date=2026-01-23 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bill Gangluff, Alumni Association |title=Four graduates to receive Alumni Association awards |url=https://news.nd.edu/news/four-graduates-to-receive-alumni-association-awards/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241108065542/https://news.nd.edu/news/four-graduates-to-receive-alumni-association-awards/ |archive-date=2024-11-08 |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=Notre Dame News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-06-23 |title=Filmmaker Gita Pullapilly talks about telling the stories that matter |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2015/06/23/filmmaker-gita-pullapilly-talks-about-telling-the-stories-that-matter/ |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=One moment, please... |url=https://www.cinemaeyehonors2010.com/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251207124453/https://www.cinemaeyehonors2010.com/ |archive-date=2025-12-07 |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=www.cinemaeyehonors2010.com |language=en}}</ref>
In 2012, Gaudet co-created and co-executive produced the national U.S. PBS program ''Lifecasters'', which world premiered at the Film Society of Lincoln Center.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Moretto |first1=Mario |title=Makers of troop greeters film 'moving on' from MPBN after scheduling dispute |url=https://bangordailynews.com/2013/01/24/news/hancock/the-way-we-get-by-filmmakers-moving-on-from-mpbn-after-scheduling-dispute/ |work=Bangor Daily News |date=January 24, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McNary |first=Dave |date=March 29, 2016 |title=CAA Signs 'Beneath the Harvest Sky' Duo Aron Gaudet, Gita Pullapilly|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/caa-aron-gaudet-gita-pullapilly-beneath-the-harvest-sky-1201741415/ |access-date=July 29, 2020 |website=Variety}}</ref> He also directed ''The Gambling Man'', a 20-minute documentary short film follows a 80-year-old retired radiologist Albert "Alby" Hurwit, who successfully composes an Grammy award-winning symphony using computer software despite having no formal musical training and being unable to read or write music.<ref>{{Cite news |title=CPTV to air special tonight on retired Connecticut doctor turned award-winning composer |url=https://www.ctinsider.com/connecticut/article/CPTV-to-air-special-tonight-on-retired-11430066.php}}</ref> Hurwit, was featured as a subject in the 60-minute PBS production "Lifecasters," which premiered at Lincoln Center in New York City in February 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grozdanovic |first=Nikola |date=April 28, 2014 |title=Tribeca Review: 'Beneath The Harvest Sky' Starring Aiden Gillen, Emory Cohen & Callan McAullife |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2014/04/tribeca-review-beneath-the-harvest-sky-starring-aiden-gillen-emory-cohen-callan-mcaullife-86626/ |access-date=July 29, 2020 |website=IndieWire}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Gambling Man – Cleveland International Film Festival :: April 7 – 18, 2021 |url=https://www.clevelandfilm.org/films/2013/the-gambling-man |access-date=July 29, 2020 |website=www.clevelandfilm.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Film Society of Lincoln Center Hosts Special Presentation of LIFECASTERS Today |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Film-Society-of-Lincoln-Center-Announces-Special-Presentation-of-LIFECASTERS-Today-20130205 |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}</ref>
In 2015, Gaudet was awarded the Guggenheim fellowship for his work as a filmmaker and in 2014, he was selected as one of Variety's "10 Directors To Watch" for his narrative feature directorial debut, ''Beneath the Harvest Sky''.<ref name="IndiaWest">{{cite news |title=Husband-Wife Duo Aron Gaudet, Gita Pullapilly to Direct 'Queenpins' Starring Kristen Bell, Leslie Jones |date=2019-11-05 |work=India West |url=https://www.indiawest.com/entertainment/global/husband-wife-duo-aron-gaudet-gita-pullapilly-to-direct-queenpins-starring-kristen-bell-leslie-jones/article_3acfc43a-0006-11ea-80ce-a3e92113f3bc.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first=Ty |last= Burr |date=May 8, 2014 |title=In 'Beneath the Harvest Sky,' down east is done right |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/movies/2014/05/08/beneath-harvest-sky-down-east-done-right/i4GjSH4FwaBVhf3xZzDDqO/story.html |access-date=August 25, 2020 |work=The Boston Globe}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mendoza Business Magazine – Show/Biz |url=https://bizmagazine.nd.edu/issues/2016/fall-2016/showbiz/ |website=bizmagazine.nd.edu}}</ref> During that time, he co-wrote a screenplay for ''Crook County'', a true story of the 1980s FBI investigation in Chicago called Operation Greylord;<ref>{{cite news |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |title=Adam McKay, Emory Cohen Board Corruption Drama 'Crook County' |url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/adam-mckay-crook-county-emory-cohen-treehouse-timely-corruption-drama-1201888516/ |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=January 18, 2017}}</ref> the screenplay was selected for the 2015 Black List of top unproduced screenplays.<ref>{{cite news |title=Black List 2015 Scripts Announced With 'Bubbles' King Of The Jungle – Full List |url=https://deadline.com/2015/12/2015-black-list-scripts-winners-full-list-1201666353/ |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=December 14, 2015}}</ref>
In 2018, Gaudet was selected for the ''Ryan Murphy Half Initiative'' for Directing for Television.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mentees {{!}} HALF Initiative |url=https://www.halfinitiative.com/mentees |website=half}}</ref> He shadow directed on the season finale episode of ‘American Horror Story.’<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 23, 2020 |title=David Armstrong's Expose of the Sacklers' Role in Opioid Crisis to Become a Film for 101 Studios |url=https://www.thewrap.com/101-studios-david-armstrong-pharma-opioid-crisis/ |access-date=August 13, 2020 |website=TheWrap}}</ref>
In 2019, Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly created the India-US Film Initiative, a program designed to champion and foster Indian filmmakers in Hollywood and US filmmakers in Bollywood.<ref name=IndiaWest/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gita Pullapilly and Aron Gaudet and India – US Film Summit |url=http://www.mynewyorkeye.com/film-news/gita-pullapilly-and-aron-gaudet-and-india-us-film-summit |access-date=July 29, 2020 |website=myNewYorkeye}}</ref> Gaudet co-wrote the screenplay, ''Queenpins'', with Gita Pullapilly, which they co-directed in 2020. ''Queenpins'' is a dark comedy starring Kristen Bell and Vince Vaughn, inspired by the true story of the largest counterfeit coupon caper in history.<ref name=IndiaWest/> STX sold the domestic rights to Queenpins for a record $21.5 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Welk |first=Brian |date=2021-06-14 |title=Kristen Bell Comedy 'Queenpins' Goes to Paramount+ and Showtime in $20 Million-Plus Deal |url=https://www.thewrap.com/kristen-bell-queenpins-paramount-plus-showtime-20-million-dollar-deal/ |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}}</ref> It was previously streamed on PLUTO, owned by Paramount Global,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-30 |title=Paramount Press Express {{!}} “QUEENPINS” IS NOW STREAMING ON PARAMOUNT+ |url=https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/paramount-plus/releases/?view=58346 |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=www.paramountpressexpress.com |language=en}}</ref> and was in the Netflix Global Top 10 for weeks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zinski |first=Dan |date=2024-01-23 |title=Kristen Bell's 2021 Comedy Flop Jumps Into Netflix's Global Top 10 Chart |url=https://screenrant.com/queenpins-movie-netflix-chart-rank/ |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref> It is currently streaming on Amazon.'''<ref>{{Cite news |title=Is 'Queenpins' Based On A True Story? The Case Explained |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/monicamercuri/2024/01/23/is-queenpins-based-on-a-true-story-the-case-explained/ |work=Forbes}}</ref>'''
In 2023, Gaudet and Pullapilly directed episode 7, “Paper Piano,” of the second season of the American anthology television series ''Little America'' for Apple TV+, and in 2025, they directed two episodes of Season 4 of Tulsa King starring Sylvester Stallone for 101 Studios and Paramount+.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Times Have Changed, but 'Little America' Returns for Season 2 as Sweet and Smart as Before |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/times-changed-little-america-returns-210055458.html |access-date=2026-01-23 |work=Yahoo Entertainment |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Emmy-nominated Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly to pack on the Indian flavour Little America Season 2 - The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/news/english/emmy-nominated-aron-gaudet-and-gita-pullapilly-to-pack-on-the-indian-flavour-little-america-season-2/articleshow/92878658.cms |access-date=2026-01-23 |work=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> Gaudet and Pullapilly are attached to direct a $35 million dramatic thriller, "David Armstrong," with 101 Studios' David Glasser producing and starring Jeremy Renner and Billy Bob Thornton.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Ritman |first=Alex |date=2024-10-31 |title=‘1883' Star Isabel May in Talks to Lead Revenge Thriller 'Wild World,' Cornerstone Selling at AFM (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/global/isabel-may-lead-thriller-wild-world-1236194984/ |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
Gaudet is one of the writers and directors of the 2026 upcoming action-revenge thriller, Wild World, starring Isabel May.<ref name=":0" />
Gaudet is a notable speaker on the film industry and has spoken at numerous events, including Film Independent, the Gotham Film & Media Institute, the Toronto International Film Festival, SXSW, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, and Tribeca. Gaudet has been interviewed by major news outlets including the ''New York Times, Boston Globe, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Wall Street Journal, CNN, NBC, The Hollywood Reporter, ABC, Variety, CBS, and Forbes.''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Emmy-nominated Filmmaker Couple Gita Pullapilly & Aron Gaudet On Their Work {{!}} Femina.in |url=https://www.femina.in/trending/achievers/emmy-nominated-filmmaker-couple-gita-pullapilly-aron-gaudet-on-their-work-208683.html |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=www.femina.in |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Anthony |date=2013-12-18 |title=10 Directors to Watch: Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly Paint the 'Sky' |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/features/10-directors-to-watch-aron-gaudet-and-gita-pullapilly-paint-the-sky-1200970691/ |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mendoza Business Magazine - The Way We Got By |url=https://bizmagazine.nd.edu/issues/2016/fall-2016/the-way-we-got-by/ |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=bizmagazine.nd.edu |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Queenpins with Aron Gaudet & Gita Pullapilly and Cindy Chupack (Ep. 316) |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/queenpins-with-aron-gaudet-gita-pullapilly-and/id1067471691?i=1000536894826 |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=Apple Podcasts |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Producers at the Table |url=https://www.filmindependent.org/programs/producers-at-the-table/ |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=Film Independent |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Roddel |first=Shannon |title=Award-winning producers return to discuss storytelling |url=https://news.nd.edu/news/award-winning-producers-return-to-discuss-storytelling/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241108122713/https://news.nd.edu/news/award-winning-producers-return-to-discuss-storytelling/ |archive-date=November 8, 2024 |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=Notre Dame News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ewing |first=Jeff |title=Interview: Chatting The 'Queenpins' Comedy Caper With Its Leads And Filmmakers |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffewing/2021/09/16/interview-chatting-the-queenpins-comedy-caper-with-its-leads-and-filmmakers/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20211022013519/https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffewing/2021/09/16/interview-chatting-the-queenpins-comedy-caper-with-its-leads-and-filmmakers/ |archive-date=October 22, 2021 |access-date=2026-01-23 |work=Forbes |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=John |date=September 28, 2021 |title='Queenpins' Review: Deals, Discounts and Delinquency |url=https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/television/queenpins-kirsten-bell-kirby-howell-baptiste-vince-vaughn-aaron-gaudet-gita--pullapilly-joel-mchale-counterfeiting-11632863283 |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=The Wall Street Journal |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Independent Film Festival Boston is full of choices - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/movies/2014/04/19/independentfest-full-choices/lEs3m61xESW7CpqY48Wa9L/story.html |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=BostonGlobe.com |language=en-US}}</ref>''<ref>{{Cite web |title=For Aron Gaudet, growing up in Maine was no Vacationland. But Jackson Hole is a different story - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/08/12/lifestyle/aron-gaudet-growing-up-maine-was-no-vacationland-jackson-hole-is-different-story/ |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=BostonGlobe.com |language=en-US}}</ref>''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Hilary |date=October 5, 2021 |title='Queenpins' Writer-Directors on True Elements Behind Coupon Scam Comedy and Value of Loopholes |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/queenpins-writers-directors-interview-true-story-ending-1235025503/ |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Filmography ==
=== Film === {| class="wikitable" !Year !Title !Notes |- |2009 |''The Way We Get By'' |documentary film;<br>Cinema Eye Honors Award and Emmy Award nominee |- |2010 |''The Elephant Bath'' |Documentary short |- |2012 |''The Gambling Man'' |Documentary short |- | rowspan="2" |2013 |''Lifecasters'' |documentary TV film |- |''Beneath the Harvest Sky'' |feature film |- | 2021 |''Queenpins'' |feature film |}
=== Television === {| class="wikitable" !Year !Title !Notes |- |2023 |''Little America'' |season 2, episode 7, 'Paper Piano' |- |2026 |''Tulsa King'' |Season 4, 2 episodes |}
== Personal life == Gaudet is married to Gita Pullapilly, the American screenwriter, film director, producer and author. They write and direct under the banner, Team A + G Productions, Inc. In 2022, they published their first book together, Inspiration To Get You Through A F*cked Up Year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kristen Bell, Vince Vaughn, & Leslie Jones To Star In Counterfeiting Comedy 'Queenpins' |url=https://fullcirclecinema.com/2020/07/07/kristen-bell-vince-vaughn-leslie-jones-to-star-in-comedy-queenpins/ |website=Full Circle Cinema |date=July 7, 2020}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *{{IMDb name|2704505}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaudet, Aron}} Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:American documentary film directors Category:Film directors from Maine Category:21st-century American screenwriters Category:Screenwriters from Maine Category:American male screenwriters Category:Journalists from Maine Category:People from Old Town, Maine Category:American people of Acadian descent Category:University of Maine alumni