ARCHIVE: Amy Robinson Archive.
The Amy Robinson Archive
Robinson, Amy. Archive. 1977-2011.
Robinson’s most recent release, “Julie & Julia,” starred Meryl Streep (who won the Golden Globe and NYFC awards for her portrayal of Julia Child) and Adams, and was written and directed by Nora Ephron, based on the books Julie & Julia by Julie Powell and My Life In France by Julia Child and Alex Prud’Homme. It was released by Columbia Pictures, with Robinson as one of the producers. Robinson was the originator of the concept of combining the Julie Powell story with the Julia Child story upon which the script of the film was based.
“Julie & Julia” is the most recent highlight in a long career Robinson began as a pioneer woman in independent film, an industry in which, at last count, only 16% women were among “directors, writers, producers, cinematographers, and editors on the top 250 domestic grossing films” for 2010 (Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film, by Martha Lauzen, letter January 24, 2011).
Fresh from her lead role in Martin Scorsese’s “Mean Streets,” Robinson formed Triple Play Productions in 1977 with Griffin Dunne and Mark Metcalf. Their first film, “Chilly Scenes of Winter,” based on the novel by Anne Beattie, was written and directed by Joan Micklin Silver and co-starred Mary Beth Hurt. In 1982 Robinson formed Double Play Productions with Dunne, with whom she produced five feature films: “Baby It’s You,” written and directed by John Sayles and based on an original story by Robinson. “After Hours” directed by Scorsese (winner of Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival and Best Film at the IFP Spirit Awards); “Running on Empty” directed by Sidney Lumet and starring River Phoenix (nominated for two Academy Awards – Best Supporting Actor and Best Screenplay – and winning the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay); “White Palace” produced with Mirage Entertainment, directed by Luis Mandoki and starring Susan Sarandon; and “Once Around,” Lasse Hallstrom’s American directorial debut, starring Holly Hunter and Richard Dreyfuss. Robinson, alongside Paula Weinstein, went on to produce “With Honors,” starring Joe Pesci and Brendan Frasier (and not starring Matt Damon, whose audition tape is present in the archive).
Robinson produced on her own two films developed from novels: “Drive Me Crazy” for 20th Century Fox which is based on the young adult novel, “Girl Gives Birth To Own Prom Date” directed by John Schultz and starring Adrian Grenier and Melissa Joan Hart; and “For Love of the Game,” which she produced with Armyan Bernstein for Universal, starring Kevin Costner and Kelly Preston and directed by Sam Raimi. She produced, along with Gary Lucchesi and Tom Rosenberg, “Autumn in New York,” directed by Joan Chen and starring Richard Gere and Winona Ryder; and executive produced “From Hell,” starring Johnny Depp and Heather Graham and directed by the Hughes brothers. Robinson then developed and produced “When Zachary Beaver Came to Town,” based on the award-winning young adult novel of the same name. Robinson reunited with Dunne to produce “Game 6,” based on an original screenplay by Don DeLillo, starring Michael Keaton and Robert Downey Jr. She also executive produced several movies over the last few years including “Marie and Bruce” based Wallace Shawn’s play; “12 & Holding”; and “The Great New Wonderful.” Robinson will next produce “The Deep Blue Goodbye” at Twentieth Century Fox. It is the first in a series of movies based on the novels written by John D. MacDonald about the legendary detective Travis McGee.
Robinson was a member of the inaugural class of filmmakers at the 1981 Sundance Institute Lab (for which she directed “Falling in Place” based on a script written by novelist Ann Beattie.) She has served as an advisor to the institute in various capacities including choosing projects, working with writers and directors, and speaking at the annual Producers Lab. She has served as a judge at the Sundance Film Festival and th
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