Lloyd Kaufmann |
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“His (Lloyd Kaufman) string of low-budget, lowbrow horror comedies stretching back to the ’80s has been cited as influence by Peter Jackson, the Farrelly Brothers, Quentin Tarantino, Takashi Miike, and Guillermo Del Toro, just to cite a few prominent examples.”
- Lou Lumenick, chief critic - New York Post
Whether or not he would accept the fame (or blame) for these raunchy, mainstream blockbusters, there can be no doubt that what Kaufman has achieved is enormous. In 30 years, Kaufman, along with Yale friend and partner Michael Herz, has built Troma Studios up from a young company struggling to find its voice in a field crowded with competitors to legendary status as a lone survivor, a bastion of true independence, and the world’s greatest concentration of camp. Among Troma Entertainment’s library of over 1,000 movies are the early performances of such stars as Kevin Costner, Billy Bob Thornton, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert DeNiro, Dennis Hopper, Dustin Hoffman, Fergie (Black Eyed Peas) and countless others! As a filmmaker, Lloyd Kaufman has accumulated a remarkable list of credits, as well as a more extraordinary list of debits to loan sharks and pawn shops across New York.
“Acclaimed directors such as Peter Jackson, Quentin Tarantino, Spain’s Álex de la Iglesia and Japan’s Takashi Miike have all sited independent film director Lloyd Kaufman and the infamous film The Toxic Avenger as major influences.”
- Rupert Bottenberg
In the late 1960’s, Kaufman was enrolled at Yale University (where he would later teach multiple Filmmaking Master Classes), diligently working on a respectable degree in Chinese Studies. However, Kaufman was destined for other things. As he explains in his hit book All I Need To Know About Filmmaking I Learned From The Toxic Avenger (published by Penguin Putnam), “At Yale I was placed in a dormitory room with two film fanatics, and I knew everything had irrevocably changed.” In fact, Kaufman was infected with a love of movies from which he never recovered.
In 1971, Kaufman met his future partner Michael Herz at Yale. The Troma Universe was born in 1974 with a series of highly original, sexy comedies such as Squeeze Play!, Waitress!, and other titles ending with an exclamation point. These movies, independent precursors to such later smash hits as National Lampoon’s Animal House and Porky’s, did well financially, although Kaufman continued to work on such outside productions as Rocky and Saturday Night Fever. Kaufman’s relationship with mainstream Hollywood would not last long. “There were problems,” Kaufman said, “as I always wanted to do things my own way and my employers insisted I do things the correct way.”
Kaufman proved his former employers wrong with his 1984 breakthrough movie, The Toxic Avenger. This tale of a health club mop boy named Melvin who is transformed into a hideously deformed creature of superhuman size and strength struck a chord with audiences and critics alike, demonstrating that there were a large number of people who were interested in seeing things done Kaufman’s way. The Toxic Avenger led to an animated television series, “Toxic Crusaders,” several different comic book titles (published by Marvel and, most recently, Troma’s own independent comic book imprint), and three sequels. The most recent film in the series is Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger Part IV.
“His (Lloyd Kaufman) string of low-budget, lowbrow horror comedies stretching back to the ’80s has been cited as influence by Peter Jackson, the Farrelly Brothers, Quentin Tarantino, Takashi Miike, and Guillermo Del Toro, just to cite a few prominent examples.”
- Lou Lumenick, chief critic - New York Post
The success of The Toxic Avenger was followed by a string of commercial and artistic triumphs in a similar vein, blending fantasy, heavy action, comedy, and eroticism in a style that can only be described as “Tromatic”. These films, including the Class of Nuke ‘Em High trilogy, Sgt. Kabukiman NYPD, and Troma’s War, were often ignored or scorned by the intelligentsia of the time but spoke to an entire generation of young people who rejected the pandering, commercial films of the mid-to-late 80’s. Some of these Troma fans went on to become filmmakers themselves, including Quentin Tarantino, Kevin Smith, Mike Judge, Peter Jackson, and Trey Parker. Thanks to these admirers, Kaufman has been asked to make cameo appearances in films like Trey Parker’s Orgazmo and Eli Roth’s Cabin Fever.
Lately, Kaufman and the Troma Team have begun to win respect from even their harshest critics. Tromeo & Juliet became a surprise theatrical and critical hit, earning the grand prize at the Fanta Festival in Rome. Kaufman’s following opus, Terror Firmer, inspired by the book All I Need To Know About Filmmaking I Learned From The Toxic Avenger, played for six months in Los Angeles alone. In addition, Kaufman has been an honored guest at various international film festivals and Troma retrospectives around the world. The San Sebastian Film Festival, the British Film Institute, the Cinematheque Francaise, the American Cinematheque, the Chicago International Film Festival, the UCLA Film Archives, the Tokyo Film Festival, and the Shanghai International Film Festival are just a few of the venues to have showered Kaufman with praise and free booze. In 2003, Kaufman received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Fantasy Film Festival of Amsterdam.
In January 2000, Kaufman founded the TromaDance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Determined to give independent film back to the people, Kaufman established a festival where there is no entry fee to filmmakers to submit their films, nor is there any admission charged to audience members. The TromaDance Film Festival presents a broad spectrum of films and film styles, creating an opportunity for everyone to put their own personal vision on film and have it seen.
“The impact of Troma can be seen in nearly every independent filmmaker who cut his teeth in the video era, from Peter Jackson and Quentin Tarantino to South Park’s Trey Parker (who’s debut, Cannibal! The Musical was a Troma production), and the Troma universe has a devoted worldwide fan base to rival that of any comic book.”
- The A.V. Club - The Onion
Kaufman is also a tireless innovator, constantly using new developments in technology to foster the growth of independent art. Troma has a dynamic web presence with Troma.com, TromaDance.com, and the newest site, Toxic Avenger.com. All three sites provide news and entertainment, as well as providing an outlet for Troma to sell videos, DVDs, clothing, Tromabilia, and other products from the Troma Universe directly to their fans. Troma has also been ahead of the curve in DVD production, releasing feature-packed titles since 1997.
Kaufman has also earned the respect and trust of his peers in the independent filmmaking community. He has served as Executive Vice Chairman of the American Film Marketing Association (AFMA). Thanks to his vision of independent cinema’s future on the Internet, Kaufman was asked to help create and currently chairs AFMA’s New Technologies Opportunities Committee. Recently, he was elected Chairman of the Independent Film & Television Alliance, a trade organization composed of 200 member companies.
Currently, Kaufman is hard at work promoting Produce Your Own Damn Movie! (published by Reed Elsevier/Focal Press), the latest installment of his acclaimed series of books on guerrilla filmmaking that includes Make Your Own Damn Movie! (published by St. Martin’s Press) and Direct Your Own Damn Movie! (published by Reed Elsevier/Focal Press). The books have inspired Kaufman to teach a successful series of Master Classes at colleges and institutions across the country and the world! In addition, he created 20 half-hour television episodes for England’s Channel 4. The series, “Troma’s Edge TV,” brought UK viewers all the Tromatic superheroes, cutting-edge humor, and great music they’ve come to expect from Troma movies. Kaufman’s latest cellu-Lloyd masterpiece is Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead, a satire about the fast food industry. It opened to sold out crowds in New York City and became the #1 grossing film, per screen average, over its opening weekend. Entertainment Weekly called Poultrygeist “genuine sick fun.”
On the personal front, Lloyd Kaufman has three daughters - Lily Hayes, Lisbeth and Charlotte. He serves on the Board of Directors of the American Film Marketing Association and Trinity School. His beloved wife of 26 years, Patricia, is the New York State Film Commissioner.
EDUCATION
TRINITY SCHOOL 1964
- Cum Laude Society
- President of Student Council
- Voted Most Likely to Soil Himself in Public
YALE UNIVERSITY, B.A. 1969
- Dean’s List and Lightweight Crew
- Spent one year in Africa, teaching and boffing in a small village in Chad, received letter of thanks from the U.S. Ambassador to Chad (for teaching only)
- Elected member of the Yale Elihu Society
- Languages: fluent French; some Chinese; pidgin English
Film & Television Credits
THE TOXIC AVENGER (Announced)
Feature Film (Remake)
Executive Producer
MOTHER\'S DAY (2010)
Feature Film (Remake)
Executive Producer
POULTRY IN MOTION: THE TRUTH IS STRANGER THAN CHICKEN (2008) Feature-Length Documentary Producer
POULTRYGEIST: NIGHT OF THE CHICKEN DEAD! (2006)Feature FilmDirector/Co-Writer/Actor
DOGGIE TAILS (2003)
Children\'s Film
Producer
TALES FROM THE CRAPPER (2003)
2 Feature Films
Producer/Actor
ALL THE LOVE YOU CANNES (2002)
Feature-Length Documentary
Co-Director/Co-Writer/Producer
"TROMA\'S EDGE TV" (2000)
Television Series
Director/Co-Writer/Actor/Producer/Executive Producer
CITIZEN TOXIE: THE TOXIC AVENGER PART IV (2000)
Feature Film
Director/Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Producer
TERROR FIRMER (1999)
Feature Film
Director/Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Producer
THE ROWDY GIRLS (1999)
Feature Film
Producer
DECAMPITATED (1998)
Feature Film
Executive Producer
SUCKER (1998)
Feature Film
Executive Producer
TROMEO & JULIET (1997)
Feature Film
Director/Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Producer
TROMAVILLE CAFE\' (1995)
Television Series
Director/Writer/Producer
CLASS OF NUKE \'EM HIGH (1993)
TV Pilot Script for Fox-TV
Co-Writer
TROMA INFOMERCIAL (1993)
Co-Director/Co-Writer/Co-Producer
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT (1992)
Anti-Pollution Spot for National Dance Institute
Producer
SGT. KABUKIMAN N.Y.P.D. (1991)
Feature Film
Co-Director/Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Co-Producer
THE SNAIL MUST GO THROUGH (1991)
TOXIC CRUSADERS TV Series Episode
Co-Writer
STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE SHEARS (1991)
TOXIC CRUSADERS TV Series Episode
Co-Writer
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE SUBHUMANOID: CLASS OF NUKE \'EM HIGH PART III (1991)
Feature Film
Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Co-Producer
CLASS OF NUKE \'EM HIGH PART II: SUBHUMANOID MELTDOWN (1990)
Feature Film
Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Co-Producer
THE TOXIC AVENGER PART III: THE LAST TEMPTATION OF TOXIE (1989)
Feature Film
Co-Director/Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Co-Producer
FORTRESS OF AMERIKKKA (1989)
Feature Film
Producer/Writer of Narration
THE TOXIC AVENGER PART II (1989)
Feature Film
Co-Director/Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Co-Producer
TROMA\'S WAR (1988)
Feature Film
Co-Director/Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Co-Producer
JAKARTA (1988)
Feature Film
Co-Executive Producer
MONSTER IN THE CLOSET (1987)
Feature Film
Executive Producer
LUST FOR FREEDOM (1987)
Feature Film
Executive Producer/Writer of Narration
CLASS OF NUKE \'EM HIGH (1986)
Feature Film
Co-Director/Co-Producer
GIRLS SCHOOL SCREAMERS (1986)
Feature Film
Executive Producer
BLOOD HOOK (1986)
Feature Film
Executive Producer
THE TOXIC AVENGER (1985)
Feature Film
Co-Director/Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Co-Producer
WHEN NATURE CALLS (1985)
Feature Film
Associate Producer
SCREAMPLAY (1984)
Feature Film
Executive Producer
THE FIRST TURN-ON (1983)
Feature Film
Co-Director/Co-Producer
STUCK ON YOU (1981)
Feature Film
Co-Director/Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Co-Producer
MY DINNER WITH ANDRE (1981)
Feature Film
Production Manager
MOTHER\'S DAY (1980)
Feature Film
Associate Producer
WAITRESS (1980)
Feature Film
Co-Director/Producer
SQUEEZE PLAY (1979)
Feature Film
Director/Producer
THE FINAL COUNTDOWN (1979)
Feature Film
Associate Producer
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (1977)
Feature Film
Location Manager
SLOW DANCING IN THE BIG CITY (1977)
Feature Film
Production Supervisor
ROCKY (1976)
Feature Film
Pre-Production Supervisor
SWEET SAVIOR (1973)
Feature Film
Production Manager
BIG GUS, WHAT\'S THE FUSS? (1972)
Feature Film
Director/Producer
THE BATTLE OF LOVE\'S RETURN (1971)
Feature Film
Director/Writer/Producer/Actor
SILENT NIGHT, BLOODY NIGHT (1971)
Feature Film
Associate Producer
SUGAR COOKIES (1971)
Feature Film
Writer/Executive Producer
ALLEN FUNT PRODUCTIONS (1970)
Production Assistant
CRY UNCLE! (1970)
Feature Film
Production Manager/Limited Partner
JOE (1970)
Feature Film
Production Assistant
THE GIRL WHO RETURNED (1969)
Feature FIlm
Director/Writer/Producer
RAPPACCINI (1969)
Feature Film
Producer
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