Aaron and Adam Nee

Aaron and Adam Nee, sometimes referred to as the Nee brothers, are an American filmmaking duo best known for their feature films The Last Romantic (2006), Band of Robbers (2015), and The Lost City (2022).

Collaborative history

Although the brothers work separately at times – Adam acts and writes solo or with other writing partners, and Aaron directs documentary projects and commercials – their collaboration on short and feature films, music videos for bands including A Fine Frenzy[1][2] and Terrene,[3] garnered them recognition as a filmmaking team. Their feature film The Last Romantic made Aaron and Adam Nee the winners of the Emerging Filmmakers Award at the 29th Starz Denver Film Festival.[4] The festival described it as: "Ambitious in its narrative and visual aesthetics, this film is also the rare work by a first-time filmmaker that is both very funny and very smart," and "buoyed by an impressive and charming central performance as well as an eccentric and hilarious supporting cast."[5]

They were also featured in Filmmaker's "25 New Faces of Independent Film 2006".[6]

An earlier collaborative work of Aaron and Adam Nee was the music of ru(ok). Both brothers still create music separately, and Aaron scores many of the projects he has produced.[7]

In April 2018, it was announced that Aaron and Adam Nee would be directing a reboot of Masters of the Universe.[8] The duo would also be co-writing the screenplay with David Callaham.[9] The film was set to be released on Netflix, with production set to begin in 2023.[10] On July 18, 2023, it was announced that Netflix has canceled the film but Mattel Films was looking for a new studio to buy the project. Aaron and Adam Nee went on to direct a Lego film instead.[11] On May 1, 2024 it was confirmed that the Masters of the Universe film would be released on June 5, 2026 by Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel Films with Travis Knight directing and Chris Butler would write the screenplay based on initial drafts written by Aaron and Adam Nee and David Callaham.[12]

Aaron Nee

Aaron Nee, the elder Nee brother, attended the University of Central Florida.[13] Aaron's work as a cinematographer in their debut feature has been called some of the most beautiful DV cinematography in independent film to date.[14] His documentary following convicts released from prison and their journey to rehabilitation and transformation was released at the end of 2008.

Aaron also does motion graphics and visual effects through his company G.R.O.W. LLC.[15]

Adam Nee

The younger Nee brother moved to New York City as a young adult to pursue acting, which entailed day work on such television projects as Law & Order and Sex and the City. Adam starred in the 2006 film The Last Romantic,[6] Able Danger,[16] and South of Heaven, in which he acted alongside Aaron, playing brothers Roy and Dale Coop.[17] He currently resides in Los Angeles. He was formerly married to actress Allison Miller.

Filmography

Year Title Directors Writers Producers Editors Notes
2006 The Last Romantic Yes Yes No No Also cinematographer (Aaron only)
2009 Clark Kent Has a Dream Yes Yes Adam Nee Yes TV series
2015 Band of Robbers Yes Yes No Yes
2016 You Can Never Really Know Someone Yes Yes Adam Nee No Short film
2022 The Lost City Yes Yes No No
2026 Masters of the Universe No Yes No No Development, screenplay written by Chris Butler based on the initial drafts written by Aaron and Adam Nee and David Callaham
TBA Untitled live-action/animated Lego film Yes No No No Development

Aaron Nee only

Year Title Director Writer Producer Editor DoP Notes
2009 Return Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Documentary film

The Last Romantic

The Last Romantic, starring Adam Nee, James Urbaniak and Shalom Harlow, which was shot on DV for under $20,000, opened at the SXSW film festival.[6] The film was selected to play in The New York Times' and Emerging Pictures' "Undiscovered Gems of 2006",[18] a series of films highlighting some of the best undistributed films of the past year. The film has been labeled as belonging to the Mumblecore movement, although others have argued that its cinematography, story, and use of professional actors excludes it from such a grouping.[19]

References

  1. ^ "A Fine Frenzy - Almost Lover (brothers NEE version)". YouTube. Archived from the original on April 17, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016. This is the new Almost Lover video directed by the brothers Nee.
  2. ^ "A Fine Frenzy | Almost Lover (Version 2) | Music Video". MTV. May 1, 2012. Archived from the original on October 30, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2022. Director The Brothers Nee
  3. ^ Mulhausen, John (October 5, 2007). "Terrene - "Unwelcome" (Music Video)". Yahoo! Video. Archived from the original on October 15, 2007. Retrieved March 25, 2022. Music video for the song "Unwelcome," by Seattle band Terrene. Directed by The Nee Brothers.
  4. ^ "The Last Romantic | Starz Denver Film Festival 2007 | Aaron Nee | Adam Nee | USA". Archived from the original on October 15, 2007. Retrieved December 9, 2007.
  5. ^ ""Beauty in Trouble" and "Kurt Cobain: About a Son" Take Top Denver Fest Prizes". Indiewire. November 21, 2006. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  6. ^ a b c "25 NEW FACES OF INDEPENDENT FILM 2006 - Filmmaker Magazine - Summer 2006". Filmmakermagazine.com. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  7. ^ [1] [dead link‍]
  8. ^ Kroll, Justin (April 19, 2018). "'Masters of the Universe': Nee Brothers to Direct He-Man Movie (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  9. ^ Donnelly, Matt (January 28, 2022). "'Masters of the Universe' Movie Finds Its He-Man: 'West Side Story' Star Kyle Allen". Variety. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  10. ^ Massoto, Erick (March 22, 2022). "Exclusive: 'Masters of the Universe' Directors Tease a "Colorful, Fun, and Irreverent" Live-Action Movie". Collider. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  11. ^ Donnelly, Matt (July 18, 2023). "'Masters of the Universe' Movie Dead at Netflix After at Least $30 Million in Development; Mattel Shopping for New Buyer (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  12. ^ "Mattel's 'Masters of the Universe' Moves From Netflix to Amazon for Summer 2026 Release, Travis Knight to Direct". Variety. May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  13. ^ "Untitled Document". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved June 4, 2007.
  14. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 11, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. ^ "g.r.o.w. media design production". Growmdp.com. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  16. ^ Catsoulis, Jeannette (September 10, 2008). "A Conspiracy Theorist, Closing in on That Smoking Gun". The New York Times. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  17. ^ Guerrasio, Jason (May 4, 2005). "Production Report: "American Gothic, "Manhattan, Kansas," "One Last Thing," "South of Heave", "Unknown"". IndieWire. Archived from the original on February 12, 2008. Retrieved December 9, 2007.
  18. ^ "2006 Gems". Archived from the original on October 24, 2007. Retrieved December 9, 2007.
  19. ^ "Anthony Kaufman's blog: The SXSW All-Stars: A New Ultra-Indie Movement". Archived from the original on December 14, 2007. Retrieved December 9, 2007.