EMERY, Robert J. 1941-

PERSONAL:

Born January 28, 1941, in Bristol, RI; son of Albert (a landscaper) and Angelina Carmela (a homemaker; maiden name, Arico) Emery; married Susanne K. Ley (an entertainment executive), August 13, 1961; children: Kevin Todd, Kelly Diane Emery Warhola. Education: Attended Roman Catholic schools in Rhode Island. Politics: Independent. Religion: "Raised Catholic." Hobbies and other interests: Cooking.

ADDRESSES:

Agent—c/o Author Mail, Allworth Press, 10 East 23rd St., Suite 510, New York, NY 10010. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Media Entertainment, Inc., Tampa, FL, president and chief executive officer, c. 1977—. Film and television producer and director; executive producer, director, and editor for the documentary television series The Directors, broadcast by Encore and Starz! cable networks, beginning c. 1998. Military service: U.S. Air Force, 1958-61.

MEMBER:

Directors Guild of America.

AWARDS, HONORS:

More than seventy-five film and television awards.

WRITINGS:

(And creator) The Directors (documentary television series), broadcast by Encore and Starz! cable networks, beginning c. 1998.

The Directors—Take One (based on the television series), Allworth Press (New York, NY), 2001.

The Directors—Take Two: In Their Own Words (based on the television series), Allworth Press (New York, NY), 2002.

The Directors—Take Three (based on the television series), Allworth Press (New York, NY), 2003.

The Directors—Take Four (based on the television series), Allworth Press (New York, NY), 2003.

Also author of screenplays.

SIDELIGHTS:

Robert J. Emery told CA: "I began writing screenplays, seven of which have been made into films. My current book series, The Directors, is derived from the television series I created. This series of books documents the body of work of seventy-eight international film directors. The purpose of the books is to preserve lengthy interviews that were conducted with the directors, since only parts of the actual interviews were used in the television programs.

"When I am writing, my habit is to go off someplace—anyplace, like the Virgin Islands, Italy, or my house in Maine—to get away from things so that I can concentrate on the work. My advice to anyone who wants to write is—just write. Write anything and write often."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, March 1, 2000, Mike Tribby, review of The Directors—Take Two: In Their Own Words, p. 1185.

Library Journal, February 15, 2000, Kelli N. Perkins, review of The Directors—Take Two, p. 164.

Publishers Weekly, January 24, 2000, review of The Directors—Take Two, p. 308.

Variety, April 8, 2002, Lauren Horwitch, review of The Directors—Take One and The Directors—Take Two, p. 36.