{{short description|American film producer}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2014}} {{Infobox person |name=Richard Brick |birth_date={{Birth date|1945|9|20}} |birth_place=Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |death_date={{Death date and age|2014|4|2|1945|9|20}} |death_place=Manhattan, New York City |spouse=Sara Bershtel |occupation=film producer |known_for=Former Commissioner of New York City’s Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting }} '''Richard Michael Brick''' (September 20, 1945 &ndash; April 2, 2014) was an American film producer,<ref name="imdb">{{Citation | title = Internet Movie Database: Richard Brick | url = https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003673/ | accessdate = August 5, 2009}}</ref> professor of film at Columbia University,<ref name="columbia">{{Citation | title = Columbia University School of the Arts Film Division Faculty | url = http://wwwapp.cc.columbia.edu/art/app/arts/film/faculty-bio.jsp?faculty=19 | accessdate = August 5, 2009 }}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and former Commissioner of New York City’s Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting.<ref name="nytimes">{{Citation | title = Dinkins Turns to Industry Experience to Lure Films Back to City | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/25/nyregion/dinkins-turns-to-industry-experience-to-lure-films-back-to-city.html | date = November 25, 1992 | author = Janofsky, Michael | journal = The New York Times | accessdate = August 5, 2009}}</ref> He was born in New York City, United States.

As a producer, Brick is best known for his three pictures with Woody Allen: ''Deconstructing Harry'', ''Celebrity'' and ''Sweet and Lowdown''.<ref name="spc">{{Citation | title = Sony Pictures Classics: Sweet and Lowdown: The Filmmakers | url = http://www.sonypictures.com/classics/sweetandlowdown/thefilmmakers/brick.html | accessdate = August 5, 2009 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080320204344/http://www.sonypictures.com/classics/sweetandlowdown/thefilmmakers/brick.html | archivedate = March 20, 2008 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> He also was the Co-Producer of Emir Kusturica’s only picture in the U.S., ''Arizona Dream'';<ref name="imdb" /> Producer of Robert M. Young’s ''Caught''<ref name="imdb" /> and Joseph Vasquez’ ''Hangin' with the Homeboys''.<ref name="imdb" /> In television Brick was senior producer of two network specials for Peter Jennings: ''The JFK Assassination - Beyond Conspiracy''<ref name="imdb" /> and ''UFOs: Seeing Is Believing''.<ref name="imdb" />

Brick had a long involvement with the graduate film program at Columbia University, where he received his M.F.A. degree in 1971.<ref name="columbia" /> He joined the faculty and served as chairman and as co-chairman with Miloš Forman from 1987 through 1989,<ref name="answers">{{Citation | url = http://www.answers.com/topic/richard-brick | accessdate = August 5, 2009| title = Answers - the Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions}}</ref> and was an adjunct professor of producing from 1990.<ref name="columbia" /> During his tenure Brick created the first Columbia University Film Festival, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2012.<ref name="columbia" />

Brick served as New York City's first Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting from 1992 through 1994 (the Office was previously headed by a Director), following the studio boycott of New York City during 1990–91.<ref name="nytimes" /> Brick was also involved with the labor side of the film industry as a member of the Producers Guild of America<ref name="producersschool">{{Citation | title = Columbia Producers School | url = http://www.producersschool.com/brick.htm | accessdate = August 5, 2009 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090507094650/http://www.producersschool.com/brick.htm | archivedate = May 7, 2009 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> and as a member of the Eastern Assistant Directors/Unit Production Managers Council, as a delegate to the 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011 National Conventions, as a member of the PAC National Leadership Council of the Directors Guild of America,<ref name="dga">{{Citation | title = PAC Leadership Council Meets with Senator Jay Rockefeller in New York | url = http://www.directorsguildofamerica.org/news/dgamonthly-0807/news_councils-807.php3 | date = July 2006 | journal = DGA Monthly | volume = 3 | issue = 7 | accessdate = August 5, 2009 }}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and as a member of the DGA National Negotiating Committee 2010–11. He died of esophageal cancer on April 2, 2014, aged 68.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/06/arts/richard-brick-who-drew-films-back-to-new-york-dies-at-68.html?_r=0|title = Richard Brick, Who Drew Films Back to New York, Dies at 68|newspaper = The New York Times|date = April 6, 2014|last1 = Weber|first1 = Bruce}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2014/04/richard-brick-dead-dga-708905/|title = R.I.P. Richard Brick|date = April 3, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/richard-brick-dead-at-68-1201152027/|title = Richard Brick Dead at 68|date = April 3, 2014}}</ref>

He is survived by his wife, the publisher of Metropolitan Books, Sara Bershtel.<ref name="spc" />

== References == <references />

== External links == *[http://www.richardbrick.com Richard Brick's official site] *[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003673/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 IMDB Profile] * [https://findingaids.library.columbia.edu/ead/nnc-rb/ldpd_13628216 Finding aid to Richard Brick and Geri Ashur collection, 1968-2014, at Columbia University. Rare Book & Manuscript Library.]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Brick, Richard}} Category:1945 births Category:2014 deaths Category:Film producers from New York (state) Category:Columbia University faculty Category:Commissioners in New York City Category:Columbia University School of the Arts alumni Category:Deaths from esophageal cancer in New York (state)