MAY 18, 2005 TheRecord 11

Taking a Meeting with Screenwriter Simon Kinberg

By Sheri M. Whitley award-winning films: Valmont, Silkwood, The People vs. Larry Flynt, Amadeus, No his isn’t how it usually happens Mercy,Places in the Heart,Ragtime,The with Hollywood types. His peo- Firm, Nobody’s Fool and Man on the ple (manager, agent, publicist) Moon. From Hausman, Kinberg says he T didn’t call my people (there learned the details of the physical aren’t any).There were no hovering wait- process of making movies. ers serving minuscule portions for outra- Kinberg absorbed crucial advice from geous prices at a swank eatery.It was just each of his SOA mentors, with his writ- me and the fabulously popular screen- ing garnering attention even before he writer Simon Kinberg chatting at a small graduated. His senior thesis project table on the third floor of Dodge Hall. became the movie Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Kinberg graduated from the due in theaters June 10, which boasts an Columbia’s School of the Arts (SOA) in all-star cast, including and 2003 and has penned, or helped pen, . some of the biggest blockbusters of the His affinity for comic books and past few years. Elektra, Charlie’s Angels: action movies has made Kinberg Full Throttle and XXX: State of the Hollywood’s go-to-guy for explosive Union, which recently opened, all bene- scripts. The film adaptation of The fited from his attention. Fantastic Four, long awaited by Marvel Kinberg, who was born in but Comics fans, hits the big screen July 8. grew up in California, attended Brown And X-Men 3 is slated to begin filming in University, where he graduated Phi Beta the fall. Fans of the mutant superheroes Kappa and magna cum laude after study- are really in for a treat ing film and literature. But he credits the with the screenplay for exceptional education he received at the third installment of SOA—and guidance from its professors— this franchise, Kinberg as instrumental in the crafting of his skill teases. and in shaping his career. But his biggest sum- That now-famous career began with a Courtesy Pictures Sony mer project will arrive in post-college stint as an intern at Simon Kinberg, right, is Hollywood’s go-to-guy for action-packed scripts. XXX: June. Kinberg and his Redeemable Features, the New York-based State of the Union, above, is one of his recent projects. wife, Mali, are expecting film production company co-founded by their first child.“I’m final- Ira Deutchman, longtime Hollywood pro- ly going to take some ducer and adjunct professor of film at SOA. time off to spend with Deutchman, producer of such films as opened a lot of doors, Kinberg explains. mals,”he says,“difficult to fig- him,” says Kinberg, who Swimming to Cambodia and Mrs. Parker and “The most influential professor for me as a ure out.” But his professors hasn’t taken a vacation in

the Vicious Circle, took Kinberg under his writer was Jamal Joseph,” says Kinberg. armed him with the proper Courtesy Simon Kinberg nearly five years. Given wing, nudging Kinberg’s career into action. Joseph, an assistant professor of professional Hollywood jargon. The cur- how passionate he is “The first stage is the hardest to pene- practice and co-founder of the International riculum at SOA also prepared him for work- about his craft, after a few months there’s no trate,” says Kinberg. Deutchman helped Black Panther Film Festival, was also his aca- ing in the industry.“Classes I didn’t like,I feel, doubt Kinberg will be itching to swap chang- Kinberg make that step by coaching him on demic advisor.“He encouraged my bent and were some of the most important. I really did ing diapers for changing dialogue. how to pitch film ideas and by convincing pushed me to learn good [writing] habits.” not like the [required] acting class. I hated it,” The first 10 times Kinberg had meetings him to attend SOA. “[Deutchman] was both Kinberg returned the mentoring favor he he says.“But the truth is, the lessons I learned on studio lots, he got lost.“I felt so small,”he the reason I went to Columbia and the reason received from SOA professors by teaching a in those classes were profoundly valuable.” says.You’d think he was kidding if he didn’t I got into the film business.The first dollar I master class in film this semester. Another big influence on Kinberg’s craft look so sincere; fame seems to have changed made in film, I made with Ira,”says Kinberg. The adjustment from schoolwork to real was Michael Hausman, adjunct professor at him precious little. But now that he’s a regu- Deutchman sent his protégé’s first-year work was tough, Kinberg explains, with a SOA. Hausman is a Hollywood veteran who lar, at least one thing is different: “I still feel screenplay to contacts in Hollywood, which chuckle. “Studio executives are strange ani- either produced or co-produced a long list of small, but now I don’t get lost.”

On Campus University Establishes Kraft Family Fund for Interfaith and Intercultural Awareness n April 21, at a special and perhaps even intractable ques- pool of applicants. event in Lerner Hall, tions of the moment, it is all the Chaplain Davis President Lee C. more important that we are able to believes that the OBollinger and Trustee do so in environments that sustain Kraft Family Fund Emeritus Robert Kraft, CC’63, our commitment to civil dis- “will provide our announced the establishment of course, critical inquiry and aca- students with addi- the Kraft Family Fund for demic freedom.” He also thanked tional opportunities Interfaith and Intercultural the Krafts “for this very thoughtful for discussing and Awareness.This one million dollar and helpful gift.” exploring important fund, created through a $500,000 Robert Kraft said that “issues issues so that we, as gift from Robert and Myra Kraft that invoke passionate debate, a University com- and a matching contribution from especially those surrounding reli- munity, can contin- the University,will be used to sup- gion, culture, ethnicity and poli- ue to learn more port student and University pro- tics, for example, are often the about each other gramming that fosters open issues that matter most. and from each debate and civil discourse on a “Columbia has a unique and other.” wide range of topics, including important role in fostering open “What I think is issues of race,religion and culture. discussion on these issues in a really exciting about An estimated 150 student lead- way that inspires dialogue that is the Kraft Family ers, faculty and administrators respectful of different points of Fund is that it is still attended the event. Bollinger and view,”he continued. He expressed malleable,”said Jung. Kraft were part of a panel that his hope and belief that the fund “Students will help included Nobel Laureate and “will lead to an even stronger and determine what University Professor Eric Kandel healthier campus environment.” issues will be dis- and incoming chair of the The fund will support student- cussed and how Student Governing Board Alex initiated programs designed to those discussions Jung, CC’07.The open discussion facilitate greater understanding will take shape. that followed the announcement among community members of What we want to gave attendees the opportunity diverse backgrounds and perspec- accomplish most is Eileen Barroso to discuss with the panel their tives. It will build upon existing to engage students From left, President Bollinger, President of the Student Governing Board Alex Jung, Robert thoughts and ideas on how activities organized by various stu- throughout the Kraft and University Professor Eric Kandel at a press conference announcing the fund. Columbia can facilitate construc- dent groups based in Earl Hall and University and inte- tive exploration of important administered by the University grate intersecting community issues from a multi- Chaplain.The portion of the fund identities—whether they pertain Kandel; Carol Gluck, the George tor of the plicity of perspectives. used to support student programs to ethnicity, culture, religion, gen- Sansom Professor of History and Center for Jazz Studies. The com- In a letter to the Columbia com- will be administered by a nine-per- der or sexuality—into different professor of East Asian languages mittee will designate three issues munity, Bollinger said, “Nothing is son committee, composed of aspects of community life.” and cultures; Nicholas Lemann, for the University community to more important to the life of the Chaplain Jewelnel Davis, The fund also will be used to dean of the Graduate School of explore each year and will deter- University than having many Executive Director of sponsor University programming Journalism and Henry R. Luce mine appropriate programming forums for discussion and reflec- Columbia/Barnard Hillel Simon developed by a committee of dis- Professor of Journalism; and that has a public component, tion on the ideas and issues of our Klarfeld,Associate Dean of Student tinguished faculty on behalf of the Robert O’Meally, the Zora Neale including symposia, conferences time…When it comes to debating Affairs Corlisse Thomas and six Offices of the President and Hurston Professor of English and or lectures and other events and some of the most controversial, students selected from an open Provost. The committee includes Comparative Literature and direc- activities that engage students.