Mitch Cullin facts for kids

Mitch Cullin (born March 23, 1968) is an American writer. He has written seven novels and one collection of short stories. He lives in Arcadia, California and Tokyo, Japan with his partner, Peter I. Chang. Peter often works with Mitch on creative projects. Mitch Cullin's books have been translated into more than 10 languages. These include French, Polish, Japanese, and Italian.

Mitch Cullin's Books and Movies

Mitch Cullin's novel Tideland was made into a movie. The famous director Terry Gilliam directed it in 2003. Mitch Cullin even had a small part in the film. He later said he wanted to see how Terry worked. But he also wanted to enjoy the movie later without knowing all the filming secrets. Even though critics had mixed feelings, the movie Tideland won an award in 2005. It received the FIPRESCI prize at the San Sebastián International Film Festival.

In 2005, Cullin released his sixth novel, A Slight Trick of the Mind. This book tells the story of Sherlock Holmes when he is old. The New York Times newspaper praised Cullin for understanding people very well. The Washington Post said reading the book was a joy. The audio version of this novel won an Audie Awards in 2006. This award is for the best unabridged fiction audiobook.

Cullin's seventh novel, The Post-War Dream, came out in March 2008. It was published by Random House.

In April 2012, Cullin published a long poem. It was called "The House of Special Purpose". He had written it almost 20 years before. The poem tells the story of the Romanov family's last days. This was during the Russian Revolution in 1918. Peter I. Chang created illustrations for the poem.

From May 2012 to February 2013, Cullin released a novel online. It was called Everything Beautiful is Far Away. He published it as a monthly online magazine. He worked on this book with Peter I. Chang. Each month, different artists and musicians contributed. These included Moby and others. You can read each part of Everything Beautiful is Far Away online for free.

A movie based on Cullin's novel A Slight Trick of the Mind was released in 2015. It was called Mr. Holmes. Ian McKellen played Sherlock Holmes in the film. Jeffrey Hatcher wrote the script, and Bill Condon directed it.

Mitch Cullin's Career Journey

In the mid-1990s, Mitch Cullin studied at the University of Houston. There, he became friends with the author Mary Gaitskill. She taught him in several writing classes. Mary Gaitskill continued to guide him after he left college. He moved to Tucson, Arizona to focus on writing. Cullin and Gaitskill have remained friends. In 2005, they even appeared together at an event in Manhattan.

Some of Cullin's early writings are kept at Syracuse University. These include Afternoon Misdemeanors and "The House of Special Purpose". They are part of a collection of papers from a poet named Robert S. Phillips.

Mitch Cullin was also one of the first authors on the Red Room website. This website for authors existed from 2008 to 2014. Other famous writers like Salman Rushdie were also part of it.

Music and Film Projects

Cullin has worked with Howe Gelb from the band Giant Sand. He helped design the cover for Gelb's 2003 album, The Listener.

In 2004, Cullin co-wrote a song. It was called "Lift Me Up To Sweet Jesus". He wrote it with Canadian musicians Todd Bryanton and Rob Bryanton. This song was for the movie soundtrack of Tideland. This film was based on his own novel.

Cullin is also a film producer. He produced Peter I. Chang's film I Want to Destroy America. This was a documentary about Hisao Shinagawa. Cullin also worked as the cinematographer and producer for Peter I. Chang's 2008 documentary, Tokyo is Dreaming.

Mitch Cullin's Works

Books Written by Mitch Cullin

Short Story Collections

Photography Books

Movies Mitch Cullin Has Been Involved With

• Tideland (2005) – He appeared as a passenger on a bus. This was Terry Gilliam's film version of Mitch Cullin's novel.
• Getting Gilliam (2006) – He appeared as himself. This was a documentary about Terry Gilliam making Tideland.
• This Band Has No Members (2006) – He appeared as himself in this unreleased concert film.
• I Want to Destroy America (2006) – He was the producer and interviewer for this documentary by Peter I. Chang.
• Making of Tideland (2007) – He appeared as himself in this special feature on the DVD of Tideland.
• Regina Monologue (2007) – He appeared as himself in this short film.
• Q&A with Terry Gilliam and Mitch Cullin at the Hay Festival (2007) – He appeared as himself in this bonus feature on the UK DVD of Tideland.
• Tokyo is Dreaming (2008) – He was the producer and cinematographer for this documentary by Peter I. Chang.
• Mr. Holmes (2015) – This movie was based on Cullin's novel A Slight Trick of the Mind.