Miguel Arteta

Miguel Arteta (born 1965 in San Juan, Puerto Rico) is an American director of film and television, best known for his independent film Chuck & Buck (2000).

Related Topics:
1965 - San Juan, Puerto Rico - American - Film - Television - Independent film - Chuck & Buck - 2000

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Born to a Peruvian father and Spanish mother, Arteta grew up all over Latin America due to his father's itinerant existence as a Chrysler auto parts salesman. He went to high school in Costa Rica, but was expelled, and went to live with his sister in Boston, Massachusetts, where he learned filmmaking. He then attended Harvard University's documentary program, but wanted to do more than just documentaries, so he left for Wesleyan University, where he met future collaborators Matthew Greenfield and Mike White.

Related Topics:
Peruvian - Spanish - Latin America - Chrysler - Costa Rica - Boston, Massachusetts - Harvard University - Documentary - Wesleyan University - Matthew Greenfield - Mike White

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After graduating in 1989, his student film Every Day is a Beautiful Day won a Student Academy Award, which got him a job as a second assistant camera to Jonathan Demme on Cousin Bobby. Demme then recommended him to the American Film Institute, and Arteta received his M.F.A. there in 1993.

Related Topics:
1989 - Student Academy Award - Second assistant camera - Jonathan Demme - American Film Institute - M.F.A. - 1993

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His first feature film Star Maps, which he wrote and directed, came in 1997, making its debut at the Sundance Film Festival. It was a critical hit, receiving five Independent Spirit Award nominations, including Best First Feature and Best First Screenplay. He then turned to directing television shows, helming episodes of ', Freaks and Geeks, and Six Feet Under.

Related Topics:
Star Maps - 1997 - Sundance Film Festival - Independent Spirit Award - Freaks and Geeks - Six Feet Under

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Arteta then on to win an 2001 Independent Spirit Award for Best Feature Under $500,000 for Chuck & Buck, which teamed him up with his fellow Wesleyan alumni Greenfield (producer) and White (screenwriter and star). The trio worked together once more on 2002's The Good Girl, starring Jennifer Aniston.

Related Topics:
2001 - Producer - Screenwriter - 2002 - The Good Girl - Jennifer Aniston

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Miguel's current project is called Date School, a romantic comedy starring Owen Wilson, due out in 2006.

Related Topics:
Date School - Romantic comedy - Owen Wilson - 2006

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~