The writing/directing team of Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini first began their collaboration at Columbia University Graduate Film School. Their award-winning debut documentary, Off The Menu: The Last Days Of Chasen's, was named one of the Ten Best Movies of 1998 in USA Today and CNN, in addition to winning awards at several international film festivals. Their follow-up non-fiction feature, The Young And The Dead, premiered at the 2000 Venice Film Festival then at Telluride in the U.S., and later aired on HBO's America Undercover Series.

Berman & Pulcini's first narrative feature, American Splendor, premiered in dramatic competition at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival and won the Grand Jury Award. Starring Paul Giamatti and Hope Davis and produced by Ted Hope of Good Machine, the movie is based on the life and acclaimed work of autobiographical comic book author, Harvey Pekar.

Several other feature projects are also in the works. The first is an original comedy on the fast track at New Line entitled Family Planning, which Pulcini & Berman have written and plan to direct with Ted Hope and Anne Carey of This Is That producing. Another screenplay the team penned and are attached to direct is AXA. Romanoff, based on the life of Prince Michael Romanoff -the infamous Hollywood restaurateur / Imperial Russian Prince who was one of the world's greatest imposters. The legendary David Brown, his partner Kit Golden and Alicia Sams will produce. The duo have also collaborated on an original comedy for Paramount Pictures entitled Get Serious, and are currently writing Brother Sam for Universal (based on the wild life of comedian Sam Kinison) to be directed by Tom Shadyac. Esquivel!, their offbeat biopic about the cosmic Mexican bandleader who became the king of Space Age Bachelor Pad music, is in development at Fox Searchlight.

Berman and Pulcini are married and live in New York City.

Credit: filmbug.com