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Fran Rubel Kuzui facts for kids

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Fran Rubel Kuzui
cropped headshot of Fran Rubel Kuzui at Tokyo International Film Festival 2023
Kuzui in 2023
Born
United States
Alma mater New York University
Occupation
  • Film director
  • film producer
  • script supervisor
Years active 1988–present
Spouse(s) Kaz Kuzui

Fran Rubel Kuzui is an American film director and producer. She is known for directing movies like Tokyo Pop (1988) and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992). She also helped produce films such as Orgazmo (1997) and Telling Lies in America (1997).

About Fran Rubel Kuzui

Early Life and First Films

Fran Rubel Kuzui studied at New York University. She earned her master's degree there. Before becoming a director, she worked as a script supervisor for ten years. A script supervisor makes sure movies are filmed correctly. They check that everything matches from scene to scene.

Her first movie was Tokyo Pop in 1988. She helped write and direct this film. Tokyo Pop was shown at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival. Many people praised the movie. It showed an American woman trying to understand Japanese youth culture.

Directing Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Kuzui is most famous for directing the 1992 film Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This movie later became the basis for the popular television series. She found the script written by Joss Whedon. She then worked with him to make the Buffy character even better.

Together with producer Kaz Kuzui, she found the money to make the movie. Fran Kuzui also worked as an executive producer on the Buffy TV series. She also helped produce its spin-off show, Angel.

Life and Work in Tokyo

Since the year 2000, Kuzui has lived in Tokyo, Japan. She and her husband, Kaz Kuzui, started a company called Kuzui Enterprises. This company is a leader in distributing independent films in Japan. They bring U.S. films to Japan. They also bring Japanese films to the U.S. market.

In 2003, the Kuzuis were executive producers for the film Last Life in the Universe. This was a movie made in Thailand and Japan. In 1997, Kuzui started working with Trey Parker and Matt Stone. She produced their film Orgazmo. The Kuzuis also helped bring their TV series South Park to Japan. Kuzui Enterprises helped pay for movies like Orgazmo and Telling Lies in America.

The Kuzuis also worked with the artist Keith Haring. They helped create Pop Shop Tokyo. This was an art project that is now recognized by museums around the world.

In 2018, news came out that the Kuzuis are helping to develop a new Buffy project. This would be a new version of the story. Fran Kuzui also writes for the Nikkei Asian Review. She is the Tokyo bureau chief for Culinary Backstreets.

Filmography

Feature films

Year Title Director Writer Producer
1988 Tokyo Pop Yes Yes No
1992 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Yes No No
1997 Orgazmo No No Yes
1997 Telling Lies in America No No Yes

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Fran Rubel Kuzui para niños

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