Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant

Paul John Weitz (born November 19, 1965) is an American film producer, screenwriter, actor, and film director. He is the brother of filmmaker Chris Weitz.

Weitz was born in New York City, New York. He is son of the actress Susan Kohner and Berlin-born novelist/fashion designer John Weitz (born Hans Werner Weitz), and the grandson of Bohemia-born producer Paul Kohner and Mexican actress Lupita Tovar. His father, and maternal grandfather, were Jewish, and his maternal grandmother was Catholic; he was raised in a “nonreligious” household.

Growing up in New York City, he attended The Allen-Stevenson School and later Collegiate. Then, he graduated from Wesleyan University, where he wrote the play Mango Tea. The play was performed off-Broadway.

Weitz first achieved mainstream success by directing American Pie with his brother Chris. He then co-directed 2002’s About a Boy, an adaption of Nick Hornby’s novel which was Weitz’s greatest critical success and earned him and his brother an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. The brothers have since worked on establishing separate film careers, although they often serve as a producers on each other’s projects. Weitz has written and directed two films by himself: the well-received romantic comedy In Good Company and the political satire American Dreamz, which faced mixed reviews. Additional writing credits include Antz and the television show Cracking Up.

He has also directed an adaptation of Darren Shan’s young adult novel Cirque du Freak called The Vampire’s Assistant. He was set to direct a Vampire’s Assistant sequel, but due to the failure of the first movie, the studio does not plan to make a second.

He directed the 2010 film Little Fockers, the sequel to Meet the Parents, and Meet the Fockers.

In addition to film, Weitz has written a number of plays, including Roulette, Privilege, Show People, and Trust, all of which have been produced Off-Broadway in New York City. Trust starring Zach Braff, Bobby Cannavale, Sutton Foster, and Ari Graynor, directed by Peter DuBois ran from July 23, 2010, until September 12, 2010, at Second Stage Theatre. Second Stage previously produced Privilege and Show People and recently announced that they would be producing Lonely, I’m Not a new comedy by Weitz in their 2011-2012 season.

Weitz and his brother are also producing a potential trilogy based upon the Elric saga by Michael Moorcock. —Wikipedia