Ben Younger (born October 7, 1972) is an American screenwriter and film director. He wrote and directed the feature films Boiler Room (2000), Prime (2005), and Bleed for This (2016).
Early life and education Younger was born in Brooklyn and raised in a Modern Orthodox Jewish household in Eltingville, Staten Island and in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. He attended a yeshiva, before entering Queens College, part of the City University of New York, where he studied political science. While at university, he started performing comedy.
Career After leaving university, he set his sights on a career in politics, taking on a role as a policy analyst for the New York City comptroller's office, where he served as a legislative aide to Alan Hevesi. After that, he successfully managed the State Assembly campaign for Queens Democrat Melinda Katz, becoming, at 21, the city's youngest ever campaign manager.
He wrote and directed a short film, L & M, as well as working on a number of feature films as a grip, and directing music videos and commercials.
Boiler Room In 1995, he attended an interview for a job in a brokerage firm, and immediately conceived the idea that went on to become his first film, Boiler Room. He spent two years researching the underground telemarketing brokerage industry as background for his screenplay. Boiler Room was released in 2000. A corporate drama in the mold of Wall Street and Glengarry Glen Ross, with colorful dialogue that some critics compared to David Mamet, the film exposed the shady world of "chop shops" (underground brokerage firms), and starred Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel, Nicky Katt, Jamie Kennedy, and Ben Affleck.
Prime Younger's second film, Prime (2005), is a romantic comedy about the relationship between a young Jewish man and an older gentile woman. The film stars Uma Thurman and Meryl Streep. The movie was prominently featured in the HBO show Unscripted because Bryan Greenberg, star of Unscripted was also the male lead in Prime. Younger appeared as himself in the episodes where the movie was featured.
Bleed for This Younger's third film Bleed for This is an American biographical drama based on the life of former World Champion Boxer Vinny Pazienza. Younger both wrote and directed. The film stars Miles Teller, Katey Sagal, Amanda Clayton, and Aaron Eckhart, and is executive produced by Martin Scorsese. The film was released on November 18, 2016.
Filmography Short film Year Title Director Producer 1998 Maestro 2001 The Car Thief and the Hit Man The Investigator and the Man in the Tan Jacket The Hit Man and the Investigator 2004 Toothpaste 2015 Share Feature film Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes 2000 Boiler Room 2005 Prime 2016 Bleed for This Left Seat Television Year Title Director Executiveproducer 2007 Army Wives (1) 2019–23 Snowfall (6) 2023 The Company You Keep (1) 2024 The Vince Staples Show (2) 2026 The Drop: A Snowfall Saga (1)
Awards and nominations Year Award Result Category Film 2000Deauville American Film Festival Nominated Grand Special Prize Boiler Room Won Jury Special Prize Boiler Room (Tied with Memento)2001Independent Spirit AwardNominated Best First Screenplay Boiler Room Best First Feature Boiler Room (Shared with Jennifer Todd and Suzanne Todd)
References
External links
Bard of the Boiler Room – New York Metro feature The Prime of Ben Younger