Gary Weis facts for kids

Gary Weis is an American filmmaker born in 1942 or 1943. He is well-known for creating many short films. These films were shown on the popular TV show Saturday Night Live in the late 1970s.

He also helped make the documentary Jimi Hendrix in 1973. He worked on the visuals for that film. Gary Weis also directed several music videos in the 1980s. These included videos for famous artists like Paul Simon and George Harrison.

Gary Weis's Career in Film and TV

Gary Weis worked as a cameraman for a documentary about The Rolling Stones in 1970. This film was called Gimme Shelter. He described filming at the Altamont Free Concert as a very scary day.

Working on the Jimi Hendrix Documentary

Weis helped produce the 1973 documentary Jimi Hendrix. He was also in charge of how the film looked. He said that he wasn't a big fan of Jimi Hendrix at first. But he learned to appreciate the musician while working on the film.

Directing for Saturday Night Live

Gary Weis directed over 45 short films for Saturday Night Live (SNL). These films aired between 1975 and 1977. He started as an assistant director. Then, he became the main director for the show's short films. This happened after another director, Albert Brooks, left the show.

NBC, the TV network, then asked Weis to direct some full-length films. These films would be shown during SNL's time slot when the show was on break.

Making Comedy Films

One of these films was All You Need Is Cash (1978). This was a funny movie that made fun of the Beatlemania craze. Weis produced and directed it with Eric Idle, who also starred in the film.

Next, he directed Diary of a Young Comic (1979). This was a funny movie about Hollywood. It starred comedian Richard Lewis. Weis decided to cast Lewis after seeing him perform live. Weis also directed Steve Martin's comedy special A Wild and Crazy Guy in 1978.

Documenting Life in the South Bronx

Later, Weis filmed a documentary called 80 Blocks from Tiffany's. This film showed the lives of gang members in the South Bronx. This area was facing many problems at the time. Even though NBC paid for the film, they decided not to show it on TV. Weis explained that NBC was worried about legal issues.

Instead, 80 Blocks from Tiffany's was first shown at the Los Angeles Film Festival in 1980. It was later released for people to watch at home. The film became very popular over time. It was re-released on DVD in 2010.

Directing Feature Films

In 1980, Weis directed the comedy film Wholly Moses!. This was his first time directing a full-length movie. ..... He also directed Action Family, a TV comedy.

Creating Music Videos

Gary Weis directed many music videos in the 1980s. He made videos for bands like The Bangles and 38 Special.

His most famous music videos include:

• "You Can Call Me Al" by Paul Simon. In this video, Chevy Chase pretends to sing the song. Paul Simon sits next to him, looking unimpressed.
• "Got My Mind Set on You" by George Harrison. In this video, Harrison sits in a chair. Objects around him come to life and move to the music.

Gary Weis's Personal Life

Gary Weis was married to Kathryn Ireland. She was a star on the TV show Million Dollar Decorators. Together, they helped come up with ideas for music videos. These included videos for The Bangles' "Walk Like an Egyptian" and Paul Simon's "You Can Call Me Al". They are now divorced.

Filmography