Alan Ball (screenwriter) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alan Ball
|
|
|---|---|
Ball in 2008
|
|
| Born |
Alan Erwin Ball
May 13, 1957 Marietta, Georgia, U.S.
|
| Education | University of Georgia, Florida State University |
| Occupation | Screenwriter, director, producer |
| Known for | Screenwriter of American Beauty |
| Television | Six Feet Under True Blood Banshee |
| Partner(s) | Peter Macdissi |
| Awards | Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay American Beauty (1999) |
Alan Erwin Ball (born May 13, 1957) is a famous American writer and director. He creates stories for movies and TV shows.
Alan Ball is best known for writing the movie American Beauty (1999). He won an Oscar for this film. He also created the popular TV shows Six Feet Under and True Blood for HBO.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Alan Ball was born in Marietta, Georgia, in the United States. His father, Frank, worked as an aircraft inspector. His mother, Mary, was a homemaker.
He went to high school in Marietta. Then, he studied at the University of Georgia and Florida State University. In 1980, he graduated from Florida State with a degree in theater arts. After college, he started his career as a playwright. He wrote plays for the General Nonsense Theater Company in Sarasota, Florida.
Career Highlights
Alan Ball began working in television as a writer. He wrote for sitcoms like Grace Under Fire and Cybill.
His big break came with the movie American Beauty in 1999. He won an Oscar for writing its screenplay. He also wrote and directed other films, including Uncle Frank (2020).
Ball is also known for creating and producing TV shows. He created the HBO drama series Six Feet Under. This show was about a family who ran a funeral home. He also created the popular vampire series True Blood. He was the main person in charge, called the showrunner, for the first five seasons of True Blood.
He was also an executive producer for the TV series Banshee. Later, he created another family drama for HBO called Here and Now.
Personal Beliefs
Alan Ball has talked about his Buddhist faith. He says it has influenced his work in movies and TV. He believes in finding amazing things in everyday life. This idea can be seen in his films and shows.
Awards and Recognition
Alan Ball has received many awards for his work. These include an Academy Award, an Emmy, and a Golden Globe. He has also won awards from the Writers, Directors, and Producers Guilds.
Major Awards Won
- 2000 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay – American Beauty
- 2000 Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay – American Beauty
- 2000 Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay – American Beauty
- 2002 Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Drama Series – Six Feet Under
- 2002 Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series – Six Feet Under
- 2004 Producers Guild of America Award for Dramatic Series – Six Feet Under
Works
Alan Ball has written and directed many projects for television and film.
Television Shows
| Title | Year | Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "The Road to Paris, Texas" | 1994 |
|
|
| "Grace vs. Wade" | 1994 | Writer | |
| "A Night at the Opera" | 1995 | Writer | |
| "Memphis Bound" | 1995 | Writer, with Marc Flanagan |
| Title | Year | Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Zing!" | 1995 | Teleplay, with Lee Aronsohn | |
| "To Sir, with ..." | 1996 | Writer | |
| "Three Women and a Dummy" | 1996 | Writer | |
| "Venice or Bust" | 1996 | Writer | |
| "Buffalo Gals" | 1996 | Writer | |
| "Name That Tune" | 1997 | Teleplay, with Michael Langworthy | |
| "Mother's Day" | 1997 | Story | |
| "Regarding Henry" | 1997 | Story | Season 4 premiere |
| "Halloween" | 1997 | Teleplay, with Mark Hudis | |
| "Where's a Harpoon When You Need One?" | 1997 | Teleplay, with Kim Friese | |
| "Bakersfield" | 1998 | Story | |
| "Oh Brother!" | 1998 | Teleplay, with Mark Hudis | |
| "Dream Date" | 1998 | Story |
| Title | Year | Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Pilot" | 1999 | Writer | Series premiere |
| "Good Pop, Bad Pop" | 1999 | Writer |
| Title | Year | Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Pilot" | 2001 |
|
Series premiere |
| "An Open Book" | 2001 | Writer | |
| "Knock Knock" | 2001 |
|
Season 1 finale |
| "In The Game" | 2002 | Writer | Season 2 premiere |
| "Someone Else's Eyes" | 2002 | Writer | |
| "The Last Time" | 2002 | Director | Season 2 finale |
| "Perfect Circles" | 2003 | Writer | Season 3 premiere |
| "Nobody Sleeps" | 2003 | Writer, with Rick Cleveland |
|
| "I'm Sorry, I'm Lost" | 2003 | Director | Season 3 finale |
| "Can I Come Up Now?" | 2004 | Writer | |
| "Untitled" | 2004 | Director | Season 4 finale |
| "Everyone's Waiting" | 2005 |
|
Series finale |
| Title | Year | Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Strange Love" | 2008 |
|
Series premiere |
| "The First Taste" | 2008 | Writer | |
| "Mine" | 2008 | Writer | |
| "You'll Be the Death of Me" | 2008 | Director | Season 1 finale |
| "Shake and Fingerpop" | 2009 | Writer | |
| "Frenzy" | 2009 | Writer | |
| "I Got a Right to Sing the Blues" | 2010 | Writer | |
| "Evil is Going On" | 2010 | Writer | Season 3 finale |
| "If You Love Me, Why Am I Dyin'?" | 2011 | Writer | |
| "Spellbound" | 2011 | Writer | |
| "Hopeless" | 2012 | Writer | |
| "Save Yourself" | 2012 | Writer | Season 5 finale |
| Title | Year | Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Eleven Eleven" | 2018 |
|
Series premiere |
| "It's Coming" | 2018 | Writer | |
| "It's Here" | 2018 | Writer |
Films
| Title | Year | Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Beauty | 1999 |
|
|
| Towelhead | 2007 |
|
|
| The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks | 2017 |
|
Television film |
| Uncle Frank | 2020 |
|
Plays
| Title | Year | Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Women Wearing the Same Dress | 1993 |
|
|
| All That I Will Ever Be | 2007 |
|
Images for kids
-
Ball with True Blood star Anna Paquin in July 2012
.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Alan Ball (guionista) para niños
