Stephen Chbosky
Stephen Chbosky | |
---|---|
Born | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. | January 25, 1970
Occupation |
|
Years active | 1995–present |
Relatives | John Erick Dowdle (brother-in law) |
Stephen Chbosky (/ʃəˈbɒski/;[1] born January 25, 1970) is an American film director, screenwriter, and author. He is best-known for writing the bestselling coming-of-age novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower (1999), as well as for writing and directing the 2012 film adaptation of the book. Most recently, he directed the 2017 drama Wonder and the 2021 film adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen. His first psychological horror novel, Imaginary Friend, was published in October 2019.[2][3]
Early life
Chbosky was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was raised the suburb of Upper St. Clair Township, Pennsylvania.[4] He is the son of Lea (née Meyer), a tax preparer, and Fred G. Chbosky, a steel company executive and consultant to CFOs.[4][5][6] Chbosky has a sister, Stacy, who is married to director John Erick Dowdle.[7][8] He was raised Catholic.[9][10] As a teenager, Chbosky "enjoyed a good blend of the classics, horror, and fantasy."[11] He was heavily influenced by J. D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye and the writing of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Tennessee Williams.[11] Chbosky graduated from Upper St. Clair High School in 1988, around which time he met Stewart Stern, screenwriter of the 1955 James Dean film Rebel Without a Cause. Stern became Chbosky's "good friend and mentor", and proved a major influence on Chbosky's career.[12]
Career
In 1992, Chbosky graduated from the
In 1994, Chbosky was working on a "very different type of book" than The Perks of Being a Wallflower when he wrote the line, "I guess that's just one of the perks of being a wallflower."[11] Chbosky recalled that he "wrote that line. And stopped. And realized that somewhere in that [sentence] was the kid I was really trying to find."[11] After several years of gestation, Chbosky began researching and writing The Perks of Being a Wallflower, an epistolary novel that follows the intellectual and emotional maturation of a teenager who uses the alias Charlie over the course of his first year of high school. The book is semi-autobiographical; Chbosky has said that he "relate[s] to Charlie[...] But my life in high school was in many ways different."[11]
The book, Chbosky's first novel, was published by
In 2000, Chbosky edited Pieces, an anthology of short stories. The same year, he worked with director Jon Sherman on a film adaptation of Michael Chabon's novel The Mysteries of Pittsburgh,[6] though the project fell apart by August 2000.[18] Chbosky wrote the screenplay for the 2005 film adaptation of the Broadway rock musical Rent, which received mixed reviews.[19] In late 2005, Chbosky said that he was writing a film adaptation of The Perks of Being a Wallflower.[6]
In the mid-2000s, Chbosky decided, on the advice of his agent, to begin looking for work in television in addition to film.
Chbosky wrote the screenplay of and directed the film
Chbosky re-wrote Evan Spiliotopoulos original script for the 2017 live action reboot of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, directed by Bill Condon and starring Emma Watson as Belle and Dan Stevens as the Beast. Chbosky and Watson developed a close relationship during the production of The Perks of Being a Wallflower. The adaptation was faithful to the original 1991 animated film Beauty and the Beast, with all the original musical numbers included.[25] The film was released on March 17, 2017.
Chbosky directed the 2017 film
On November 29, 2018,
In October 2019, Chbosky's second novel, Imaginary Friend, debuted as a Top 10 New York Times Best Seller.[32][33]
Personal life
Chbosky currently resides in Los Angeles, California.[34]
Filmography
Film
Year | Film | Credited as | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Director | Writer | Producer | |||
1995 | The Four Corners of Nowhere | Yes | Yes | Associate | Also actor Role: Finneas |
2005 | Rent | No | Yes | No | |
2007 | The Poughkeepsie Tapes | No | No | Executive | |
2012 | The Perks of Being a Wallflower | Yes | Yes | Executive | Also based on his novel |
2016 | Leaving Vogue Moran | No | No | Executive | |
2017 | Beauty and the Beast | No | Yes | No | |
Wonder | Yes | Yes | No | ||
2021 | Dear Evan Hansen | Yes | No | No | |
TBA | Nonnas | Yes | No | No |
Television
Year | Film | Credited as | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Writer | Producer | Creator | |||
2000 | Brutally Normal | Yes | No | No | 2 episodes |
2006–08 | Jericho | Yes | Yes | Yes | Co-creator, executive producer |
Bibliography
Year | Title | Publisher | Pages | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1999 | The Perks of Being a Wallflower | MTV Books
|
224 |
|
2019 | Imaginary Friend | Grand Central Publishing | 720 |
References
- ^ "Stephen Chbosky Audio Name Pronunciation". TeachingBooks.net. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
- ^ Chbosky, Stephen (May 20, 2019). "Dear Friends, Twenty years ago I published my first novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I have spent the last nine years working on my second. It's called Imaginary Friend. It comes out October 1st". @StephenChbosky. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
- ^ "IMAGINARY FRIEND | Kirkus Reviews". Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ a b Thompson, Elizabeth (2007). "Chbosky, Stephen". Archived from the original on June 12, 2010. Retrieved May 20, 2010 – via Google Books.
- ISBN 978-0-8379-0326-2. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- ^ a b c d Blank, Ed (November 22, 2005). "Movie musical brings dream to life for screenwriter". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on February 27, 2007. Retrieved January 4, 2008.
- ^ Vancheri, Barbara (June 1, 2011). "The perks of a Pittsburgher: Back home, Stephen Chbosky directs a film version of his novel". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
- ^ Hanley, Ken W. (October 2, 2013). "Talking Terror: Stacy Chbosky". Diabolique Magazine. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
- ^ [1] [dead link]
- ^ "Screenwriter and Novelist Stephen Chbosky: Rebel with a Cause". Script Magazine. Scriptmag.com. September 21, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e Beisch, Ann (November–December 2001). "Interview with Stephen Chbosky, author of The Perks of Being a Wallflower". LA Youth. Retrieved July 10, 2007.
- ^ Stax (December 1, 2005). "10 Questions: Stephen Chbosky". IGN Film Force. Retrieved January 4, 2008.
- ^ a b c d Owen, Rob (September 10, 2006). "Upper St. Clair graduate writes for CBS's 'Jericho'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved January 4, 2007.
- ^ a b Bing, Jonathan (October 4, 2000). "'Perks' guy in pics; Nerve racking up deals". Variety. Retrieved January 4, 2008.
- ^ a b "THE ISLAND; Reluctant Readers? Try Resistant Parents". The New York Times. July 8, 2007. Retrieved January 4, 2008.
- ^ "An Interview with Stephen Chbosky by Marty Beckerman". Word Riot. December 9, 2004. Archived from the original on January 13, 2005. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- ^ [2] Archived October 19, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "In the Works". Michael Chabon's Web Site: Rattling Around. August 14, 2000. Archived from the original on September 26, 2000. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
- ^ "Rent". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- ^ Fitzgerald, Toni (April 5, 2007). "Flop sweat: 'Jericho' dips to new low". Media Life Magazine. Archived from the original on December 5, 2008. Retrieved January 4, 2008.
- ^ Adalian, Josef (May 15, 2007). "CBS cancels 'Jericho,' two others". Variety. Retrieved January 4, 2008.
- ^ Nina Tassler (June 6, 2007). "A Message From CBS Entertainment". CBS. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved June 6, 2007.
- ^ "Season Premieres of Two Returning Scripted Programs, and the Debut of a New Comedy Join CBS's Primetime Schedule in January and February". TheFutonCritic.com. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- ^ "WGA Announces Nominations Ranging from 'Lincoln' to 'Looper'". The Hollywood Reporter. January 4, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- ^ "Beauty and the Beast (2017)". IMDb. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
- ^ Kit, Borys; Ford, Rebecca (May 5, 2016). "Julia Roberts to Play Jacob Tremblay's Mother in 'Wonder'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
- ^ "Tony Award-Winning Musical 'Dear Evan Hansen' Will be Universal Pictures, Marc Platt Film; 'Wonder's Stephen Chbosky May Direct". November 29, 2018.
- ^ "Booksmart & Unbelievable Star Kaitlyn Dever Eyes Role in Dear Evan Hansen Movie".
- ^ "Kaitlyn Dever in Talks for 'Dear Evan Hansen' Film Adaptation at Universal". The Hollywood Reporter. June 11, 2020.
- ^ Nepales, Ruben V. (June 18, 2020). [3] Inquirer Entertainment.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (July 20, 2021). "Toronto Festival Unveils 'Dear Evan Hansen' As Opening-Night Premiere, Zhang Yimou's 'One Second' As Closer; Check Out First Slated Films". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
- ^ "Hardcover Fiction Books - Best Sellers - Books - Oct. 20, 2019". The New York Times.
- ^ "'Perks of Being a Wallflower' author Stephen Chbosky ventures to dark place with 'Imaginary Friend'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
- ^ "Pennsylvania Center for the Book". pabook.libraries.psu.edu. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
External links
- Stephen Chbosky at IMDb