Brent Shields

Brent Shields (March 1, 1963) is an American television and film producer[1][2] and director. Many of his films have been made in conjunction with the Hallmark Hall of Fame,[3] and most were made for television,[4] family-oriented[5] "feel good" stories.[6]

Early life

Brent Shields was born in Woodland Hills, CA. His family later moved to Huntington Beach, CA, where Shields graduated from Fountain Valley High School in '81. Shields earned his Bachelor's of Science degree, Telecommunications & Film, from San Diego State University in '87. Shields married Jayne Macomber in '88 and resides in Pasadena, CA. The couple has one daughter, Jill Shields. Shields has five siblings.

Career

In his role as producer of over 80 films, Brent has successfully adapted for television such classic works as William Faulkner's Old Man, Thomas Hardy's Return of the Native, Oscar Wilde's The Canterville Ghost as well as contemporary works by such acclaimed writers as August Wilson, John Grisham, Pat Conroy, Anne Tyler, Richard Paul Evans, E.L. Konigsburg, and Norman McLean. Shields has directed five Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, starting with his first film Durango in 1998. He subsequently directed Cupid & Cate, which starred Mary Louise Parker, Brush with Fate starring Glenn Close and Ellen Burstyn, the critically acclaimed The Magic of Ordinary Days starring Keri Russell and Skeet Ulrich, which aired in 2005 and became the season's highest-rated film on television. And he helmed the 2007 season's highest-rated television film The Valley of Light starring Chris Klein and Gretchen Mol. Shields has been a member of the Directors Guild of America since 1998. Brent has worked with such noted artists as Kathy Bates, Cuba Gooding Jr., Anna Paquin, Laurence Fishburne, Diane Lane, Jessica Lange, Laura Linney, Gary Sinise, Sissy Spacek, Jessica Tandy, Alfre Woodard, James Woods, Sam Elliott, Judy Davis, Vanessa Redgrave, Andy Garcia, William Hurt, Ellen Burstyn, Jennifer Garner, Clive Owen, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Alicia Keys, Christopher Lloyd, Julia Stiles, Odette Annable, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Alexis Bledel.

Shields' first production, To Dance with the White Dog, was in 1993.[3]

Shields' productions have been nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards. His credits include The Makeover (an update of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion), A Smile as Big as the Moon,[7][8] Firelight, Brush with Fate,[9][10] Christmas with Holly, and Mitch Albom's Have a Little Faith.[11]

In 2008 he was executive producer of the film Front of the Class, based on the true story of a person with Tourette syndrome.[6][12]

Other credits:

References

  1. ^ "Review: 'The Canterville Ghost'". Variety, January 21, 1996
  2. ^ The Hollywood Reporter. Hollywood Reporter Incorporated. 2009. p. 91.
  3. ^ a b Jerry Roberts (5 June 2009). Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors. Scarecrow Press. pp. 545–. ISBN 978-0-8108-6378-1.
  4. ^ Marsha Ann Tate (2007). Canadian Television Programming Made for the United States Market: A History with Production and Broadcast Data. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-2745-1.
  5. ^ "The Valley of Light Network Premier: January 28, 2007". Dove Foundation.
  6. ^ a b Alvin H. Marill (11 October 2010). Movies Made for Television: 2005-2009. Scarecrow Press. pp. 21–. ISBN 978-0-8108-7659-0. (various pages in this book describe his productions)
  7. ^ "Executive Producers Dan Paulson (left) and Brent Shields accept the Academy Honor award for 'A Smile as Big as The Moon' onstage at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences". Yahoo News.
  8. ^ "Movie Review A SMILE AS BIG AS THE MOON". Movie Guide.
  9. ^ Emmy. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. 2003.
  10. ^ "Cuba Gooding Jr. to Star in 'Firelight' TV Movie for ABC". Hollywood Reporter, 1/27/2012 by Philiana Ng
  11. ^ Randy Sly. "Interview: 'Mitch Albom's Have a Little Faith' is Food for the Soul" Catholic Online.
  12. ^ The Hollywood Reporter. Hollywood Reporter Incorporated. 2008.
  13. ^ "Hallmark's "The Magic of Ordinary Days" airs Jan. 30, KPIX-Channel 5" Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine.Catholic San Francisco. January 27th, 2010 By Harry Forbes
  14. ^ "The unexpected puts magic in TV movie". ROB OWEN, The Toledo Blade.
  15. ^ "Crossroads a haunting tragedy". Reuters, By Barry Garron, Apr 19, 2007
  16. ^ "The 59th Annual Christopher Award Winners" Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine. Christopher Awards.
  17. ^ "A Season for Miracles". Variety. (review)