Quick Facts
Biography
Gregory J. "Greg" Mottola (born July 11, 1964) is an American film director, screenwriter, and television director. Mottola wrote and directed the 1996 independent film The Daytrippers, then concentrated for several years on directing in television for series such as Undeclared and Arrested Development. More recently, he has directed the feature films Superbad, Adventureland, and Paul.
Life and career
Mottola grew up in Dix Hills, New York, in a Catholic family of Irish and Italian descent. He received his BFA in art from Carnegie Mellon University and MFA in film from Columbia University.
Mottola directed Adventureland, set in the 1980s, a "first love" story about a group of college-age kids working at an amusement park. The protagonist's plans go awry when circumstances cause him to miss out on a backpacking trip to Europe with his friends. It premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and received critical praise.
Mottola's 2011 science fiction/comedy film Paul is about two comic book nerds (played by the film's screenwriters Simon Pegg and Nick Frost) who meet an alien named Paul while vacationing in the US.
As of 2011 Mottola is writing a screenplay based on Leanne Shapton's Important Artifacts and Personal Property From the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion and Jewelry, to be produced by Natalie Portman and Plan B Entertainment.
Mottola is married to Sarah Allentuch and has three children.
Filmography
Film (as director)
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Swingin' in the Painter's Room | Short film |
| 1996 | The Daytrippers | Also screenwriter |
| 2007 | Superbad | |
| 2009 | Adventureland | Also screenwriter |
| 2011 | Paul | |
| 2013 | Clear History | Television film |
| 2016 | Keeping Up with the Joneses |
Television
| Year | Show | Episode | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Undeclared | "Addicts" | |
| "Sick in the Head" | |||
| "Eric Visits Again" | |||
| 2002 | "Jobs, Jobs, Jobs" | ||
| "Truth or Dare" | |||
| "The Perfect Date" | |||
| 2003 | The Big Wide World of Carl Laemke | "Pilot" | Unaired television pilot |
| Arrested Development | "Charity Drive" | ||
| "Visiting Ours" | |||
| 2004 | "Storming the Castle" | ||
| Cracking Up | "Scared Straight | ||
| 2005 | The Comeback | "Valerie Demands Dignity" | |
| "Valerie Saves the Show" | |||
| 2012 | The Newsroom | "We Just Decided To" | |
| "The 112th Congress" | |||
| "The Greater Fool" |