# Todd Durham
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{{Short description|American filmmaker and writer}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Todd Durham
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| other_names =
| occupation = {{flatlist|
* Filmmaker
* comedy writer
* novelist
}}
| known_for =
| notable_works = [''Hotel Transylvania'' franchise](/source/Hotel_Transylvania) (creator)
[''Hyperspace''](/source/Hyperspace_(film)) AKA ''Gremloids''
[''Visions of Sugar-Plums''](/source/Tales_of_the_Third_Dimension)
''Mr. Smith Goes To Hell''
| website = [http://www.ToddDurham.com ToddDurham.com]
}}
'''Todd Durham''' is an American filmmaker, comedy writer, and novelist, best known as the creator of the concept for the [''Hotel Transylvania'' film franchise](/source/Hotel_Transylvania) and as the creator of [Lord Buckethead](/source/Lord_Buckethead). Durham's works, including over forty screenplays and books, frequently combine fantasy storylines with character comedy.
== Education and career ==
Durham studied comedy writing at [USC](/source/USC_School_of_Cinematic_Arts) under brothers [Danny Simon](/source/Danny_Simon) and [Neil Simon](/source/Neil_Simon).[{{Cite web|title=Columbia Pictures Press Kit - Hotel Transylvania|url=http://www.visualhollywood.com/movies_2012/hotel_transylvania/notes.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121222034223/https://www.visualhollywood.com/movies_2012/hotel_transylvania/notes.pdf|archive-date=2012-12-22|access-date=2020-08-17}}]
Based on a half-hour 35mm film that he wrote and directed, a North Carolina movie studio signed Todd Durham to a three-picture feature deal.[{{Cite news|title=Change Of Pace|date=April 29, 1983|work=The Foothills View}}][{{Cite news|title=Space Comedy Coming From Shelby|date=June 22, 1984|work=The Charlotte Observer}}] Durham then wrote and directed a low-budget comedy film, ''[Hyperspace](/source/Hyperspace_(film)),'' starring [Chris Elliott](/source/Chris_Elliott) and [Paula Poundstone](/source/Paula_Poundstone).[{{Cite journal|date=August 1986|title=The Dixie DeMille|journal=Gentleman's Quarterly}}] The film was the first appearance of the "intergalactic spacelord" [Lord Buckethead](/source/Lord_Buckethead), a persona used by several people to stand in British elections.[{{Cite news|last=Saunders|first=Tristram Fane|date=2017-06-09|title=The real Lord Buckethead: the cult sci-fi film that inspired Theresa May's election rival|language=en-GB|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/real-lord-buckethead-cult-sci-fi-film-inspired-theresa-mays/|access-date=2020-08-18|issn=0307-1235}}] In 2017, Durham asserted his ownership of the character, and future incarnations have been authorized by him.[{{Cite news|last=Waterson|first=Jim|date=2019-05-26|title=Double trouble: the fight to be the real Lord Buckethead|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/26/lord-buckethead-double-trouble-theresa-may|access-date=2020-08-18|issn=0261-3077}}]
Durham signed with [Rick Jaffa](/source/Rick_Jaffa_and_Amanda_Silver), then agent at [William Morris](/source/William_Morris_Endeavor), and worked as an uncredited [script doctor](/source/script_doctor) on comedy projects.[{{Cite journal|date=August 28, 1987|title=Todd Durham signs with WMA as writer, director|journal=Variety}}][{{Cite news|title=Hyperspace|date=April 22, 1990|work=The Los Angeles Times}}] He wrote screenplays for comedy actors, directors, and producers, the ''[National Lampoon](/source/National_Lampoon_(magazine))'' film franchise, and ''[Saturday Night Live](/source/Saturday_Night_Live)'' alumni.[{{Cite journal|date=November 7, 1988|title=(front page) Zadan's Storyline unfolds with slate of major projects|journal=The Hollywood Reporter}}][{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/mouse-keaton-in-talks-for-strangers-project-1117756669/|title=Mouse, Keaton in talks for 'Strangers' project|last=Lyons|first=Charles|date=1999-10-15|work=Variety|access-date=2017-05-28|language=en-US}}][{{Cite journal|date=July 8, 1999|title=(front page) O'Donnell kids around in Nick, Dis pic projects|journal=The Hollywood Reporter}}] Durham ghostwrote celebrity autobiographies, and authored his first novel, ''Mr. Smith Goes To Hell,'' and its screenplay.[{{Cite news|last=Rivenburg|first=Roy|date=1994-01-09|title=It's Hotter Than Ever . . .HELL, : After years of neglect, Hades is making a comeback. But it's been remodeled a bit.|work=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-01-09-vw-9919-story.html|access-date=2020-08-17}}]
=== ''Hotel Transylvania'' ===
During his years as a studio script doctor, Durham came up with the concept of ''Hotel Transylvania'' and brought it to Sony Pictures Animation.