Chez Group – fall workshop program
Shay Griffin and the Chez Group are very excited to be bringing in Los Angeles Producer, Writer, and Actor Matt Battaglia. He will apply his perspectives as a professional producer, actor, and writer to work with our actors. He also brings a lot of insight about actors who live and work on both coasts. With so many films, episodic productions, and commercials now filming in Georgia, it is now more imperative than ever that we present prepared Southeastern talent to Hollywood directors and producers.
Matt will be joining us on the weekend of Sept 22nd and 23rd. The whole class will consist of either two morning sessions or two afternoon sessions.
We anticipate that this class will fill quickly so please reply to this email as soon as possible with your interest!
MATT BATTAGLIA BIO
(Emmy Winning Producer, Writer, Actor, Philanthropist)
Battaglia is an Emmy winning producer, has co-produced a two time Golden Globe nominated film and has been an actor in over 90 films, network pilots and television shows.
Battaglia Executive Produces the television show “Last Shot with Judge Gunn”, which he sold straight into syndication with 130 episodes in season one (2011). He was nominated and won the Emmy in June 2012 as Executive Producer for it’s first season on the air. The show also won an Emmy for Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Drama. It was both his and the show’s first nomination and first win.
Battaglia served as Co-Producer on the two time Golden Globe nominated film Brothers, starring Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal and Oscar winner Natalie Portman. The film was directed by six-time Academy Award nominee Jim Sheridan, from a script written by David Benioff (“Game of Thrones”) and was distributed by Lionsgate.
Battaglia was also a Co-executive producer on the 2009 horror film Kill Theory, directed by producer Chris Moore.
His production company has optioned the national and international bestsellers “Bad Monkeys” by Matt Ruff, which is currently set up at Fox Studios, and “Or I’ll Dress You in Mourning” by Larry Collins and Dominque Lapierre. In 2011, he also Executive Produced the documentary “Do As You Likey”, currently in post-production.
As an actor, Battaglia has acted in over 90 films and television shows. Battaglia appeared in the Paramount Studios/Marvel tentpole film “Thor”, starring Chris Hemsworth (the star of “Avatar”), Natalie Portman, Samuel Jackson, Renee Russo & Anthony Hopkins for director and Oscar winner Kenneth Branaugh.
Matt is often remembered for his memorable role as the fireman Vince, a boyfriend of Lisa Kudrow’s character on NBC’s hit sitcom “Friends”. Other recent notable guest stars include recent stints on “The Mentalist”, “The Client List”, “Longmire”, in addition to two episodes on “24” with Keiffer Sutherland, two episodes of HBO’s “Big Love”, “Shark”, “CSI-NY”, “Bones” and “CSI-Miami” just to name a few.
Matt Battaglia co-founded “The Mint Jubilee” charity event in memory of his mother Nancy Van Cleve Battaglia whom he lost to cancer in 1993. It has successfully raised millions of dollars for cancer patients and has provided financial resources to scientists, cancer centers and hospitals committed to finding cures and controls for cancer. The annual black tie gala takes place in Louisville, Kentucky the night before the Kentucky Derby. It has become a world class event attracting high profiled celebrities, entertainers and dignitaries from around the globe and was televised worldwide in over 130 countries and over 200 million homes. As a producer, Battaglia was successful in having portions of The Mint Jubilee covered on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Entertainment Tonight, E! News Daily, E! Entertainment’s “FYE” and “Wild On Dixie”, ESPN, NBC, ABC and FOX. It has in itself become part of the Kentucky Derby tradition.
Born in Tallahassee, Florida, Matt grew up in the towns of Tucker and Lithonia, Georgia, two suburbs of Atlanta but his family currently resides in Roswell, Georgia. A football scholarship led him to the University of Louisville, where he became an All-American and All-South middle linebacker, leading the nation in tackles his senior year, and breaking former All-Pro Otis Wilson’s college tackling record. He was team captain his junior and senior year and was voted Most Valuable Player by his teammates and coaches. Matt went on to play in the N.F.L. with the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles.
www.mattbattagliaproductions.com
The Chez Group
2221 Peachtree Rd NE
Suite D, Box 335
Atlanta, GA 30309
404-771-1361 (C)