Biografia
Gerhard Schmidt is the founder and CEO of the former Cologne Gemini Group. With over 40 years of experience in producing and distributing national and international feature films, he is recognized as one of the most seasoned European producers specializing in inner-European and transatlantic co-productions. Throughout his career as a writer, director, and producer, he encountered many European talents who later found success in Hollywood and helped nurture their early careers. He gave directors Michael Ballhaus and Slavomir Idziak their first opportunities to direct. Additionally, he has worked with Paul Verhoeven, Richard Curtis, and the production companies of Dustin Hoffman, Danny DeVito, John Malkovich, and Nick Nolte.
After producing over one hundred award-winning programs for German television, Schmidt founded the Cologne Gemini Group in 1988 with his wife, Micha Terjung-Schmidt. He began collaborating with European directors such as Claude Lelouch and Andrzej Żuławski and produced TV events based on the Mary Higgins Clark Collection, starring Kristin Scott Thomas and Kim Cattrall among others, as well as the Konsalik Collection. At Disney Studios' request, he became involved in Whipping Boy, The (1994) (TV) and produced acclaimed family films including Joe My Friend and After the War. His successful partnerships with U.S. partners led to his appointment as Managing Director of International West Pictures (IWP) by Commerzbank, while maintaining Gemini Film’s role as a producer.
In 2001, Schmidt arranged a multi-picture deal with Brad Krevoy's MPCA, producing and executive producing Triggermen (2002), Bookies (2003), Barely Legal, Boat Trip (2002), and Joe and Max (2002) for IWP. He also served as executive producer for the Apollo film fund on the project I Am Dina (2002). In early 2003, he executive produced the action thriller Blast (2004).
Gerhard Schmidt studied law at the universities of Bonn and Cologne. He is the founder and board member of the Script Writing School Cologne, founder and chairman of the producers' association in North Rhine-Westphalia, and founder and president of the German Academy for Television. He lectures at prestigious film schools in Cologne and Ludwigsburg, Germany, and has authored various articles and books on film and television.
