David Weissman

{{short description|American screenwriter and director}} {{Distinguish|David Weissman (documentary filmmaker)|David Weisman}} '''David Weissman''' is an American screenwriter and director, most known for his comedies. He frequently collaborates with David Diamond.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/tag/david-diamond-david-weissman/ |title=David Diamond & David Weissman - Deadline.com |website=Deadline Hollywood |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727062833/http://www.deadline.com/tag/david-diamond-david-weissman/ |archive-date=2014-07-27}} </ref> Diamond and Weissman met in high school, at Akiba Hebrew Academy (now Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.jbha.org/alumni/welcome.php |title=Alumni: Welcome |access-date=2018-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327092333/https://www.jbha.org/alumni/welcome.php |archive-date=2019-03-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref> They graduated in 1983.

His film credits include ''Dream a Little Dream 2'' (his only produced project not co-written with Diamond), ''The Family Man'',<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.moviemansguide.com/familyman.php |title=Moviemans guide listing for ''The Family Man'' |access-date=2018-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071110030901/http://www.moviemansguide.com/familyman.php |archive-date=2007-11-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117796921.html|title=The Family Man Review|date=December 11, 2000|work=Variety|accessdate=27 May 2010 | first=Joe | last=Leydon}}</ref> ''Old Dogs'', ''When in Rome'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/article/757412--when-in-rome-did-their-talent-get-lost-with-the-luggage|title=When in Rome: Did their talent get lost with the luggage?|date=January 29, 2010|work=Toronto Star|accessdate=May 27, 2010 | first=Linda | last=Barnard}}</ref> ''Evolution''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://jam.canoe.com/Movies/Reviews/E/Evolution/2001/06/08/752846.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124175654/http://jam.canoe.com/Movies/Reviews/E/Evolution/2001/06/08/752846.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 24, 2015|title=Evolution -- Shades of Ghostbusters|date=June 8, 2001|publisher=CANOE|access-date=27 May 2010}}</ref> and the television film ''Minutemen''.

==Career== The duo sold their first spec script, ''The Whiz Kid'', to 20th Century Fox in 1994. Their first produced project came in 2000, ''The Family Man'' starring Nicolas Cage and Tea Leoni. Cage's production company, Saturn Films, helped produce the film. ''The Family Man'' opened at #3 at the North American box office making $15.1 million in its opening weekend, behind ''What Women Want'' and ''Cast Away'', which opened at the top spot.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=familyman.htm|title=The Family Man (2000) - Weekend Box Office Results - Box Office Mojo|publisher=}}</ref>

Diamond and Weissman next wrote the sci-fi comedy ''Evolution'', helmed by Ivan Reitman. ''Evolution'' was based on a story by Don Jakoby, who turned it into a screenplay along with Diamond and Weissman. The film was originally written as a serious horror science fiction film, until director Reitman re-wrote much of the script. A short-lived animated series, ''Alienators: Evolution Continues'', loosely based on the film, was broadcast months after the film was released.<ref name="dhxmedia.com-dhxdistribution">{{cite web|title=DHX Media Distribution Catalog p. 38|url=http://content.dhxmedia.com/uploads/2017/10/DHX_CATALOGUE_READ_ONLY-Med-Res.pdf|website=DHX Media|accessdate=19 February 2018}}</ref> In 2005, they partnered with ''Wedding Crashers'' producer Andrew Panay on ''Old Dogs'' and ''When In Rome''.

In 2019, the duo published a screenwriting manual, ''Bulletproof: Writing Scripts That Don't Get Shot Down''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://shalhevetboilingpoint.com/community/staff-bios-community/2018/09/14/screenwriter-david-diamond-brings-hollywood-lessons-to-shalhevet/|title=Screenwriter David Diamond brings Hollywood lessons to Shalhevet|first=Jacob Joseph Lefkowitz|last=Brooks}}</ref> The book draws from their extensive film experience.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{IMDb name|0919289}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Weissman, David}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:American male screenwriters Category:American television writers Category:Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy alumni Category:American male television writers Category:Screenwriting instructors