Chris Weitz - Biography

After earning a film degree at England's prestigious Cambridge University, screenwriter-producer Chris Weitz pursued a career in journalism and signed on to become a member of the diplomatic corps before an imposed one-year waiting period led to a writing partnership with his older brother Paul and eventually to screenwriting stardom as one of the scripters of the animated hit "Antz" (1998). Perhaps his Hollywood bloodline--his grandfather was talent agent Paul Kohner and his grandmother was actress Lupita Tovar while his parents are the Oscar-nominated actress Susan Kohner and fashion designer John Weitz--brought him back to film. His uncle Pancho Kohner hired Weitz and his brother to work on the screenplay for the children's film "Madeline", but little of their effort ended in the final film and the brothers' credit was dropped. Chris and Paul, however, did receive screen credit (along with Todd Alcott) for the DreamWorks/PDI computer animated feature "Antz". Faced with a release date just before the similarly themed Disney/Pixar feature "A Bug's Life", their film needed to distinguish itself to become a hit, and the clever and charming screenplay worked to that end, succeeding both as enjoyable children's fare, with vibrant characters and a good measure of visual laughs, and as smart entertainment for adults. Its message of expressing individuality despite society's stereotyping worked as social commentary as well as provided Woody Allen (as protagonist Z-4195) with one of his most endearing roles in years. For "Antz", the screenwriting brothers wrote dialogue to pre-existing animation, a challenge that strengthened their visual approach to writing and gave them an added scope as filmmakers.

The Weitz brothers re-teamed for 1999's teen comedy "American Pie", a broad sex farce with some surprising sensitivity. This heir to such memorable teen fare as "Porky's" (1981) and "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (1982) followed four high school seniors fumbling as they desperately attempt to lose their virginity. While unquestionably crude, the fun film did uncommonly feature three-dimensional female characters, and stressed the importance of friends and relationships. While Chris technically was the producer and Paul the director, the brothers reportedly shared responsibilities, including casting of an ensemble of relatively unknown actors that proved an inspired move, showing faith that the audience would respond to and support the realistic frankness of the film without needing the box office draw of a marquee name. The wild teaser scenes showcased in the film's trailer ensured the movie summer hit status, bringing in droves of youthful moviegoers who missed the teen sex genre the first time around.