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{{short description|American filmmaker and writer (born 1957)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
|name=Michael Paxton
|name=Michael Paxton
|image= Michael Paxton.jpg
|image=Michael Paxton-1.jpg
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1957|3|29}}
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1957|3|29}}
|birth_place=[[Kingston, New York|Kingston]], [[New York (state)|New York]]
|birth_place=[[Kingston, New York|Kingston]], [[New York (state)|New York]]
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}}
}}


'''Michael Paxton''' (born March 29, 1957) is an [[United States|American]] [[Filmmaking|filmmaker]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wwwdb.oscars.org:8100/servlet/impc.NameCredits?vetted=T&name_in=PAXTON,~MICHAEL |title=Index to Motion Picture Credits – Paxton, Michael |publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |accessdate=January 25, 2010}}</ref> He has [[Film director|directed]], [[Filmmaking#Production|produced]], and [[Screenwriting|written]] several [[film]]s, both [[live action]] and [[Animation|animated]], as well as [[Play (theatre)|play]]s and [[book]]s. His feature documentary, ''[[Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wwwdb.oscars.org:8100/servlet/impc.DisplayCredits?vetted=T&primekey_in=1999090822:43:0297-165811 |title=Index to Motion Picture Credits – Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life |publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |accessdate=January 25, 2010}}</ref> received an [[Academy Award]] nomination and a [[Satellite Award for Best Documentary Film|Golden Satellite Award]] for Best Feature Documentary of 1997. Paxton currently works as Multimedia Producer for the [[Ayn Rand Institute]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aynrandasenseoflife.com/2017/05/michael-paxton-director/ |title=Michael Paxton (Director) |website=AynRandASenseofLife.com |accessdate=November 13, 2017}}</ref>
'''Michael Paxton''' (born March 29, 1957) is an American filmmaker and writer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wwwdb.oscars.org:8100/servlet/impc.NameCredits?vetted=T&name_in=PAXTON,~MICHAEL |title=Index to Motion Picture Credits – Paxton, Michael |publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |access-date=January 25, 2010}}</ref> He has [[Film director|directed]], [[Filmmaking#Production|produced]], and [[Screenwriting|written]] several [[film]]s, both [[live action]] and [[Animation|animated]], as well as [[Play (theatre)|play]]s and [[book]]s. His feature documentary ''[[Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wwwdb.oscars.org:8100/servlet/impc.DisplayCredits?vetted=T&primekey_in=1999090822:43:0297-165811 |title=Index to Motion Picture Credits – Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life |publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |access-date=January 25, 2010}}</ref> received an [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] nomination for [[Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature|Best Documentary Feature]] and a [[Satellite Award for Best Documentary Film|Golden Satellite Award for Best Documentary film]] in 1997. Paxton currently works as Multimedia Producer for the [[Ayn Rand Institute]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aynrandasenseoflife.com/2017/05/michael-paxton-director/ |title=Michael Paxton (Director) |website=AynRandASenseofLife.com |access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref>


==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
Michael Paxton was born Michael Anthony Palumbo on March 29, 1957 in [[Kingston, New York|Kingston]], [[New York (state)|New York]].
Michael Paxton was born Michael Anthony Palumbo on March 29, 1957, in [[Kingston, New York|Kingston]], [[New York (state)|New York]].


In 1975, Paxton began attending the [[University at Albany, SUNY]], where he graduated with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in [[philosophy]] in 1979.
In 1975, Paxton began attending the [[University at Albany, SUNY]], where he graduated with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in [[philosophy]] in 1979.


He then attended the Graduate Institute of Film and Television at [[New York University]], where he received a [[Master of Fine Arts]] degree. [[Ang Lee]] also attended the Institute at the time, making the two graduate school classmates. Paxton's graduate thesis film, ''Forbidden Fruit'', won awards for Best Screenplay and Best Editing at the 1988 NYU Film Festival.<ref name="dailynews">{{cite news |title=A Payoff for Patience: NYU Film Maker Bides Time, Wins Chance for Oscar |first=Larry |last=Sutton |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |location=New York |date=March 21, 1998 |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/1998/03/21/1998-03-21_a_payoff_for_patience__nyu_f.html |accessdate=January 25, 2010}}</ref>
He then attended the [[New York University Tisch School of the Arts]], where he received a [[Master of Fine Arts]] in for Film & Television in 1988. Paxton's graduate thesis film, ''Forbidden Fruit'', won awards for Best Screenplay and Best Editing at the 1988 NYU Film Festival.<ref name="dailynews">{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/payoff-patience-nyu-film-maker-bides-time-wins-chance-oscar-article-1.800843 |title=A Payoff for Patience: NYU Film Maker Bides Time, Wins Chance for Oscar |author=Sutton, Larry |website=NYDailyNews.com |access-date=November 14, 2017}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
⚫
In 1989, Paxton co-produced and directed the world premiere of [[Ayn Rand]]'s play ''[[Ideal (play)|Ideal]]'' at the Melrose Theater in Hollywood, and in 1991, he adapted and directed a dramatic presentation of Rand's futuristic novella ''[[Anthem (novella)|Anthem]]''.<ref name="dailynews"/> In 1995, he was the assistant director on the live-action/animated feature ''[[The Pagemaster]]'' for [[Turner Pictures]].
[[File:AynRandPoster.jpg|thumb|left|Poster for Paxton's Acadamy Award-nominated documentary, ''[[Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life]]'']]
⚫
In 1989, Paxton co-produced and directed the world premiere of [[Ayn Rand]]'s play ''[[Ideal (play)|Ideal]]'' at the Melrose Theater in Hollywood, and in 1991, he adapted and directed a dramatic presentation of Rand's futuristic novella, ''[[Anthem (novella)|Anthem]]''.<ref name="dailynews"/> In 1995, he was the assistant director on the live-action/animated feature ''[[The Pagemaster]]'' for [[Turner Pictures]].


In November 1996, Paxton released the feature documentary ''[[Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life]]''. The documentary takes its name from a concept that Ayn Rand developed&mdash;''sense of life''&mdash;which is a "pre-conceptual equivalent of metaphysics, an emotional, subconsciously integrated appraisal of man and of existence. It sets the nature of a man’s emotional responses and the essence of his character."<ref>{{Cite book |ref=harv |last=Rand |first=Ayn |authorlink=Ayn Rand |title=''[[The Romantic Manifesto]]'' |location=New York |publisher=Signet |year=1971 |edition=paperback |oclc=733753672}}</ref> In 1997, ''Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life'' was nominated for [[Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature|Best Documentary Feature]] at the [[69th Academy Awards]]. It also won the [[Golden Satellite Award]] for Best Feature Documentary of 1997.
In November 1996, Paxton released the feature documentary ''[[Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life]]''. The documentary takes its name from the concept of a ''sense of life'', a concept that Ayn Rand developed and defined as a "pre-conceptual equivalent of metaphysics, an emotional, subconsciously integrated appraisal of man and of existence. It sets the nature of a man’s emotional responses and the essence of his character."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rand |first=Ayn |authorlink=Ayn Rand |title=''[[The Romantic Manifesto]]'' |location=New York |publisher=Signet |year=1971 |edition=paperback |oclc=733753672}}</ref> In 1997, ''Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life'' was nominated for [[Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature|Best Documentary Feature]] at the [[69th Academy Awards]]. It also won the [[Golden Satellite Award]] for Best Feature Documentary of 1997.


Paxton also co-produced the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to ''Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life'' and was Visual Effects Supervisor on ''[[Stuart Little 2]]''. He was the Associate Producer on ''[[The Lion King 1½]]'' for [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]], ''[[Bionicle 3: Web of Shadows]]'' for Miramax, and ''Smallville Legends: Kara and the Chronicles of Krypton'' for [[The CW]].
Paxton also co-produced the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to ''Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life'' and was Visual Effects Supervisor on ''[[Stuart Little 2]]''. He was the Associate Producer on ''[[The Lion King 1½]]'' for [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]], ''[[Bionicle 3: Web of Shadows]]'' for Miramax, and ''Smallville Legends: Kara and the Chronicles of Krypton'' for [[The CW]].


In addition to his film and theater work, Paxton has written four books: ''Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life (The Companion Book)'' and three children's books for Disney based on classic animated features (''[[Cinderella (1950 film)|Cinderella]]'', ''[[The Rescuers Down Under]]'', and ''[[The Aristocats]]'').
In addition to his film and theater work, Paxton has written four books: ''Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life (The Companion Book)'' and three children's books for Disney based on classic animated features: ''[[Cinderella (1950 film)|Cinderella]]'', ''[[The Rescuers Down Under]]'', and ''[[The Aristocats]]''.


==Works==
==Works==

[[File:Michael Paxton-1.jpg|thumb]]
;Films
===Films===
* ''[[Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life]]'' (1996), writer/director/producer
* ''[[Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life]]'' (1996), writer/director/producer
* ''A Place in the Circle'' (2000), co-director/co-producer
* ''A Place in the Circle'' (2000), co-director/co-producer
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* ''Smallville Legends: Kara and the Chronicles of Krypton'' (2008) (V), line producer
* ''Smallville Legends: Kara and the Chronicles of Krypton'' (2008) (V), line producer


;Animation projects
===Animation projects===
* ''[[Rover Dangerfield]]'' (1991), production coordinator
* ''[[Rover Dangerfield]]'' (1991), production coordinator
* ''[[The Pagemaster]]'' (1994), assistant director
* ''[[The Pagemaster]]'' (1994), assistant director
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* ''[[Roxy Hunter and the Horrific Halloween]]'' (2008) (TV), associate producer
* ''[[Roxy Hunter and the Horrific Halloween]]'' (2008) (TV), associate producer


;Plays
===Plays===
* ''[[Ideal (play)|Ideal]]'' (1989), writer/director/producer
* ''[[Ideal (play)|Ideal]]'' (1989), writer/director/producer
* ''[[Anthem (novella)|Anthem]]'' (1991), writer/director/producer
* ''[[Anthem (novella)|Anthem]]'' (1991), writer/director/producer


;Books
===Books===
* ''Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life, The Companion Book'', writer (1998)
* ''Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life, The Companion Book'', writer (1998)
* ''The Aristocats'', writer (1999)
* ''The Aristocats'', writer (1999)
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Paxton, Michael}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Paxton, Michael}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American film directors]]
[[Category:Film directors from New York (state)]]
[[Category:American film producers]]
[[Category:American film producers]]
[[Category:Objectivists]]
[[Category:Objectivists]]

Latest revision as of 18:14, 28 May 2024

Michael Paxton
Born (1957-03-29) March 29, 1957 (age 67)
Kingston, New York
Alma materUniversity at Albany, SUNY (BA)
New York University (MFA)
Occupation(s)Film director, film producer, screenwriter, playwright

Michael Paxton (born March 29, 1957) is an American filmmaker and writer.[1] He has directed, produced, and written several films, both live action and animated, as well as plays and books. His feature documentary Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life[2] received an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature and a Golden Satellite Award for Best Documentary film in 1997. Paxton currently works as Multimedia Producer for the Ayn Rand Institute.[3]

Early life and education

[edit]

Michael Paxton was born Michael Anthony Palumbo on March 29, 1957, in Kingston, New York.

In 1975, Paxton began attending the University at Albany, SUNY, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy in 1979.

He then attended the New York University Tisch School of the Arts, where he received a Master of Fine Arts in for Film & Television in 1988. Paxton's graduate thesis film, Forbidden Fruit, won awards for Best Screenplay and Best Editing at the 1988 NYU Film Festival.[4]

Career

[edit]

In 1989, Paxton co-produced and directed the world premiere of Ayn Rand's play Ideal at the Melrose Theater in Hollywood, and in 1991, he adapted and directed a dramatic presentation of Rand's futuristic novella Anthem.[4] In 1995, he was the assistant director on the live-action/animated feature The Pagemaster for Turner Pictures.

In November 1996, Paxton released the feature documentary Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life. The documentary takes its name from the concept of a sense of life, a concept that Ayn Rand developed and defined as a "pre-conceptual equivalent of metaphysics, an emotional, subconsciously integrated appraisal of man and of existence. It sets the nature of a man’s emotional responses and the essence of his character."[5] In 1997, Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 69th Academy Awards. It also won the Golden Satellite Award for Best Feature Documentary of 1997.

Paxton also co-produced the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life and was Visual Effects Supervisor on Stuart Little 2. He was the Associate Producer on The Lion King 1½ for Disney, Bionicle 3: Web of Shadows for Miramax, and Smallville Legends: Kara and the Chronicles of Krypton for The CW.

In addition to his film and theater work, Paxton has written four books: Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life (The Companion Book) and three children's books for Disney based on classic animated features: Cinderella, The Rescuers Down Under, and The Aristocats.

Works

[edit]

Films

[edit]
  • Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life (1996), writer/director/producer
  • A Place in the Circle (2000), co-director/co-producer
  • Stuart Little 2 (2002), visual effects coordinator
  • Ideal (2004) (V), writer/director/producer
  • Bionicle 3: Web of Shadows (2005), associate producer
  • Smallville Legends: Kara and the Chronicles of Krypton (2008) (V), line producer

Animation projects

[edit]

Plays

[edit]
  • Ideal (1989), writer/director/producer
  • Anthem (1991), writer/director/producer

Books

[edit]
  • Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life, The Companion Book, writer (1998)
  • The Aristocats, writer (1999)
  • Cinderella, writer (1999)
  • The Rescuers Down Under, writer (1999)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Index to Motion Picture Credits – Paxton, Michael". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  2. ^ "Index to Motion Picture Credits – Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  3. ^ "Michael Paxton (Director)". AynRandASenseofLife.com. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Sutton, Larry. "A Payoff for Patience: NYU Film Maker Bides Time, Wins Chance for Oscar". NYDailyNews.com. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  5. ^ Rand, Ayn (1971). The Romantic Manifesto (paperback ed.). New York: Signet. OCLC 733753672.
[edit]
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