Michael Shane Meredith (born September 22, 1967 in Dallas, Texas) is an American independent film director, screenwriter and producer. He frequently collaborates with German director Wim Wenders. Meredith is the son of the late former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and football commentator Don Meredith. He was the oldest of two children from Don Meredith's second marriage to the artist Cheryl King.
Background Meredith was born at Baylor Hospital in Dallas on September 22, 1967. He is married to Amit Nizan Meredith who is the mother of his children as well as his business partner. His film work includes Wim Wenders' Land of Plenty for which he co-wrote. He also wrote and directed Three Days of Rain and The Open Road.Variety, March 4, 2014 - Alex Gibney, Wim Wenders to Produce ‘Timbuktu’ Doc (EXCLUSIVE) By Dave McNary
He founded Maximon Pictures,The Baltimore Sun, October 17, 2018 - Fabled 1963 Navy football team to be subject of documentary film by Michael Meredith - Bill WagnerMaximon Pictures website - Maximon Pictures a production company which has produced work that has won awards.East Texas Journal - Meredith’s Son Lands NFL Film for Home Team The company is said to be named after the patron saint of good times and good luck.
Meredith was a multi-sport collegiate athlete, playing both basketball and football. As a freshman point guard he averaged 15 points per game. He then joined the University of Texas football program as a wide receiver. He was a member of the Texas Longhorns 1990 championship team, which went undefeated in the Southwest Conference.
Career Film Meredith's first feature film was Three Days of Rain,AllMovie - 3 Days of Rain (2002), Synopsis by Josh Ralske which starred Peter Falk, Blythe Danner, Lyle Lovett, Jason Patric and Don Meredith.Rotten Tomatoes - Three Days of Rain (2005), Cast Wim Wenders was also involved with the film.British Film Institute - Three Days of Rain (2002), Cast & Credits, Production: Presented by
In 2006, Meredith wrote the screenplay for Wenders' Land of Plenty, which earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Michelle Williams.Film Journal, Oct 18, 2005 - LAND OF PLENTY, NR By Eric Monder Broadway World, Sep. 4, 2013 - It's Official! Michelle Williams to Star Opposite Alan Cumming in CABARET, Opening April 24 at Studio 54 by BWW News Desk
Meredith wrote and directed The Open Road, starring Jeff Bridges, Justin Timberlake, Kate Mara, and Mary Steenburgen. Wenders was executive producer and Charlie Sexton did the score for the film.Variety, August 30, 2009 - FILM, REVIEWS, The Open Road, Pic gets respectable mileage from a familiar story - By Joe Leydon
In 2014, Alex Gibney and Wim Wenders partnered with Meredith to make a documentary feature, "Return To Timbuktu", centered on the efforts of Malian musicians trying to restore peace in the war torn Sahara. , IMDb, AllMovie, Variety Insight and other online film databases show that this film has not moved forward.
Other work Meredith served as producer, director and narrator of the Ice Bowl episode for NFL Films series The Timeline. The one-hour episode examines the historic game played between the Packers and Cowboys for the 1967 NFL Championship. The show features Meredith's journey over four years and nine states to interview surviving members of the Ice Bowl, and to understand more about the game's legacy and significance 50 years after it took place. The Ice Bowl features interviews with players such as Bart Starr, Jerry Kramer, Dave Robinson, Mel Renfro, Pettis Norman, Chuck Mercein, Lance Rentzel and Donny Anderson, former Cowboys Director of Player Personnel Gil Brandt, Cowboys broadcaster Bill Mercer, Meredith's former spouse Cheryl King, and more.NFL Communications - NFL Films' 'The Timeline' Examines the Ice Bowl Between the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys Peter King of Sports Illustrated called it “one of the most interesting shows in NFL Network history”.
In 2017, it was announced that Meredith was producing and directing a documentary film titled "First Cowboys"Arts, The filmmaker son of 'Dandy' Don Meredith descends on Dallas for 'First Cowboys' - Michael GranberryStar Telegram, July 14, 2017 - Don Meredith’s filmmaker son found an ideal subject: his dad By Mac Engel (subscription required) on the origins of the Dallas Cowboys. Roger Staubach, Walt Garrison, Mel Renfro, Pettis Norman, Gary Cartwright, Rayfield Wright, and Ralph Neely, among others, were featured. Willie Nelson and Alicia Landry, wife of the late Coach Tom Landry, were to make appearances.Dallas Morning News, Oct 1, 2017 - Blast from the past: The 1960s Cowboys, the 'First Cowboys,' descend on AT&T Stadium , IMDb, AllMovie, Variety Insight and other online film databases show that this film has not moved forward.
Filmography
+ Films+ Director, producer, writer Title Role Year Three Days of Rain Director 2002 Land of Plenty Writer 2004 The Open Road Director, writer, producer 2009 Martha Graham's Celebration Director 2010 Hands & Eyes Director 2010
References
Further reading New York Times: Michael Meredith filmography Land of Plenty Sports Illustrated: Merry Christmas, NFC: The No. 1 Seed Eagles Suddenly Look Very Beatable Guide Live This terrific Ice Bowl documentary is one every Dallas Cowboys fan needs to see Green Bay Press Gazette Documentary examines Ice Bowl's impact from both sides
External links
Maximon Pictures New York Times Review of Three Days of Rain (subscription required) Ebert Review of Three Days of Rain