FILMS
(A few of the films JD wrote and/or directed)
Robin Hood: Men In Tights
JD Shapiro is best known as the original screenwriter of the film
Robin Hood: Men in Tights is a 1993 adventure comedy film that parodies the Robin Hood legend. It was directed and produced by Mel Brooks, with the screenplay by J. David Shapiro.
The film stars Cary Elwes, Richard Lewis, and features Dave Chappelle in his film debut. It humorously references earlier Robin Hood films, notably borrowing its plot structure from "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves."
Robin Hood: Men in Tights did not win any major awards, but it has garnered a cult following and positive reception for its humor. Rotten Tomatoes, Audience Score, now known as the Popcormeter, is 81%.
We Married Margo
JD Shapiro wrote & directed We Married Margo
Distributed by New Line Cinema
(USA) Koan (international)
We Married Margo won the much sought after Audience Award for Best Film at the The HBO Comedy Festival. It was also nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Slamdance Film Festival in the same year, among other notable awards.
We Married Margo is an American independent comedy film written and directed by JD Shapiro. The plot revolves around two friends who discover they were both married to the same woman, inspired by the real-life experiences of Shapiro and Dozier.
Battlefield Earth
Battlefield Earth became a battlefield for the studio and the original writer, JD Shapiro.
Fired writer accepts Golden Raspberry Award
JD Shapiro, was the original writer of the screenplay, "Battlefield Earth" -a film project expected to star John Travolta, with distribution initially planned by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).
Shapiro was fired due to his refusal to incorporate studio notes that altered the tone of his script, including the removal of key scenes and characters.
This conflict arose because Shapiro believed these changes would detrimentally affect the movie. Shapiro was later vindicated and went on to be the only person involved to accept the infamous Golden Raspberry Award for the film.
Eva's Comet
EVA'S COMET is a short film written and co-directed by JD Shapiro, featuring Elisabeth Larena and Kimberly Tell, which won the Jury Award for Best Actors at El Festival de Cine de L'Alfàs del Pi in 2021
Two gals, each a hot mess in their own right, totally anchored in yesteryears, and as different as chalk and cheese, collide in life's cosmic blender. They end up spinning each other's worlds in unexpected ways.
This tale's not just about personal drama; it's a cheeky allegory for the whole left-right political fandango. You know, where everyone's quick to throw shade without even peeking at what's behind the curtain, each convinced their own sob story trumps all.
But here’s the twist: once you dive into someone’s real story, you might just find yourself walking a mile in their shoes, picking up some wisdom, and maybe, just maybe, patching up your own heart with pieces you never knew were missing.
