Jeffrey Clark Wadlow (born March 2, 1976) is an American screenwriter, producer and director. He's best known for writing and directing feature films including Truth or Dare, Kick-Ass 2 and Fantasy Island.[1] In 2022, Wadlow was nominated for a DGA award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television, Commercials and Documentary.[2][3]
Early life
Wadlow was born in Arlington, Virginia, the son of Emily Couric, a state senator, and R. Clark Wadlow.[4] He is the nephew of journalist Katie Couric.[5] Wadlow attended Dartmouth College, graduating with a BA in History and Film modified by Drama and a citation for outstanding work in Animation.[6] The following year, he attended the University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television after being Awarded a USC Associates Endowment Scholarship for academic achievement, Wadlow went on to graduate in 2001.[7][8]
Career
Writing and Directing
Film
Wadlow's short film, tHE tOWeR oF BabBLe (2002), received more than two dozen awards, including: Best Short Film at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival, Best Short Film at the St. Louis International Film Festival, the George Méliès Cinematography Award at the Taos Talking Picture Festival, and a Student Award at USA Film Festival.[9][10]
In 2005, Wadlow came up with the idea for his theatrical directorial debut Cry Wolf with the money Wadlow won in the 2002 Chrysler Million Dollar Film Competition.[1][11]
In 2008, Wadlow directed the film Never Back Down, starring Djimon Hounsou and Sean Faris.[9] The movie went on to beat out big budget competition to win the MTV movie award for "Best Fight."[1]
Wadlow directed, executive produced and co-wrote the horror film, Truth or Dare, starring Lucy Hale and Tyler Posey, in 2018.[15] The premise of the movie surrounds the popular party game, Truth or Dare, and the deadly results that ensue from a group of friends playing while on a spring break trip to Mexico.[16]
In 2020, Wadlow directed, produced and co-wrote the film Fantasy Island, inspired by a 1970s television show with the same name.[17] That same year, Wadlow wrote the story and co-wrote the screenplay for the action thriller Bloodshot, starring Vin Diesel and based on the 1990s comic book.[18][19]
Wadlow's forthcoming horror film, Imaginary, which he directed, produced and co-wrote, is scheduled to be released in 2024.[21] The film grapples with the idea of a childhood imaginary friend, in this case a Teddy bear, turning evil.[22] The film is Wadlow's third collaboration with Jason Blum and is financed by Blumhouse Productions and Lionsgate Films.[15]
Television
Wadlow was a writer and executive producer for the television series, Bates Motel, starring Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga, and also for the final season of the series, The Strain.[16][23] He wrote two pilots picked up by CBS, The Odds in 2010 and Hail Mary in 2011, on which he was also an executive producer.[24]
In 2021, Wadlow directed and executive produced the re-boot of the classic 1990's television show, Are You Afraid of the Dark? for Paramount/Nickelodeon.[26][27] Wadlow was nominated for a DGA award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television, Commercials and Documentary for his work on the series.[2]
Acting
In 2001, Wadlow played a small role in Pearl Harbor and a professor on an episode of the sci-fi television series Roswell.[28] The following year, Wadlow performed in the short, tHE tOWeR oF BabBLe (2002), which he also co-wrote and directed.[10] In 2007, Wadlow played Billy in the independent romantic comedy, I'm Through with White Girls (2007), starring Anthony Montgomery.[29]
The Adrenaline Film Project
Wadlow founded The Adrenaline Film Project in 2004 during the Virginia Film Festival.[30] An annual event, the project involves teams of amateur filmmakers (aged high school and college) writing, casting, directing, and editing short films in a 72 hour time frame under the mentorship of Wadlow and other industry leaders.[31] Each film, with a duration or five minutes or less, is screened at the end of the competition to be judged for the three cash awards: audience, mentor and jury prizes.[32]
