Martin Kunert
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Martin Kunert (Martin Stanislaw Kunert-Dziewanwski) is a founding partner of Booya Studios and a feature film and television writer, director and producer. In 2004, Mr. Kunert conceived the critically acclaimed documentary Voices of Iraq, made by sending 150 DV cameras to Iraqis to film their own lives. MovieMaker magazine hailed the film as “truly a groundbreaking film…both in terms of its content and the process behind its production.” As the creative force behind the film, Mr. Kunert generated a film so innovative that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences added Voices of Iraq to its permanent collection. Working with Avid Technologies and Pair of Hands Post, Mr. Kunert developed techniques which enabled off-the-shelf editing software to inexpensively channel DV footage into 35mm blow-ups for theatrical distribution.
Previously, Mr. Kunert created and executive produced MTV's Fear, the first reality show to have contestants film themselves. Mr. Kunert created the show’s frightening ambiance, developed the oft-mimicked visual and musical style and streamlined the show’s editing process where on a weekly basis, over 250 hours of contestant generated video was edited into 45-minute episodes. MTV's Fear spawned TV specials, fan clubs, DVDs, and numerous copycat television shows, including NBC’s “Fear Factor” and VH1’s “Celebrity Paranormal Project.”
Mr. Kunert has also directed television and feature films, including the cult favorite Campfire Tales (starring Amy Smart, Jimmy Marsden, Ron Livingston, and Christine Taylor) for New Line Cinema and Rogue Force (starring Michael Rooker and Robert Patrick) for Miramax. His screenplays include Warner Bros.’ Dodging Bullets for Will Smith and Halle Berry, Paramount’s The Brazilian, and 20th Century Fox’s Hindenburg for Jan Da Bont. He created and executive produced “HRT” (starring Michael Rooker and Ernie Hudson) for CBS and Columbia Tristar and “Catch” for CBS. With Doug Liman, Mr. Kunert reinvented “CHiPs” for NBC and Warner Bros. He also created the reality show “Mayor” for Columbia TriStar. In 2002, NBC/StudiosUSA signed Mr. Kunert to an exclusive writing/directing/producing contract.
Mr. Kunert is a graduate of New York University’s film school. He’s a member of the Directors Guild of America and Writers Guild of America and is represented by ICM Agency and Evolution Entertainment Management. He was born in Warsaw, Poland.
