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Cary Woods is a film producer best known for producing the worldwide blockbusters "Scream" and "Godzilla", the beloved independent films "Kids", "Cop Land", and "Gummo", as well as modern classics like "Rudy" and "Swingers".
He is also responsible for producing the breakthrough features of such notable directors as James Mangold, Doug Liman, M. Night Shyamalan, Alexander Payne, Harmony Korine, and Larry Clark, as well as the screenwriting debuts of Jon Favreau, Kevin Williamson, and Scott Rosenberg.
Woods is known for consistently developing material that has attracted A-List actors including Robert Downey, Jr., Robert De Niro, Sylvester Stallone, Marisa Tomei, Christopher Walken, Harvey Keitel, Mike Myers, Laura Dern, Heather Graham, Ray Liotta, Burt Reynolds, Drew Barrymore, Matthew Broderick, Courteney Cox, Andy Garcia, Neve Campbell, Sean Astin, Michael Rapaport, Jean Reno, and Steve Buscemi.
Born and raised in the Bronx, Woods graduated from the USC Gould School of Law before beginning his career at the William Morris Agency (now WME). As an agent, Woods represented - and in many cases introduced audiences to - the likes of Gus Van Sant, Uma Thurman, Jennifer Connelly, Milla Jovovich, Charlie Sheen, Matt Dillon, Todd Solondz, and most prominently, Gregory Peck.
Woods also represented many of the industry's most successful stand-up comedians including Sam Kinison, Gilbert Gottfried, Andrew Dice Clay, Sandra Bernhard, Tommy Davidson, and Jackie Mason.
After developing the Indie favorites "Heathers" and "Drugstore Cowboy", Woods accepted a position at Sony Pictures Entertainment (parent company of Columbia Pictures & TriStar Pictures) as a Vice President - Office of the Chairman, reporting directly to Peter Guber. Woods later segued to a production deal at Sony, resulting in the release of a succession of iconic films, including "So I Married An Axe Murderer", "Rudy", "Only You", and "Threesome".
After starting his own production company - Independent Pictures - the explosive release of the 1995 cultural phenomenon "Kids" (starring then-newcomers Rosario Dawson and Chloe Sevigny) began a streak of culturally significant, critically-acclaimed independent films produced by Woods under his banner.
The next few years saw the releases of "Citizen Ruth" (the first film from future two-time Oscar winner Alexander Payne), "Beautiful Girls" (which introduced American audiences to Natalie Portman), and "Swingers" (thrusting Vince Vaughn to comedy mega-stardom).
His 1996 film "Scream" grossed over $170 million and set a box office record for slasher films that would stand for 22 years. The film instantly and single-handedly pivoted horror toward postmodernism, spawning a massive billion-dollar franchise (consisting of successful sequels, a TV series, toys, and Halloween costumes), as well as inspiring countless knockoffs in the years since.
"Scream" marked a turning point not only for horror, but for Hollywood at large, inspiring a youth movement and long running streak of films packaged or marketed off the strength of both Scream's young cast and cultural impact. The teen genre - from "American Pie" to "Riverdale" - would not have existed had "Scream's" success not illuminated an interest in stories about attractive, angsty teenagers being thrust into high-concept situations. Even the "Scooby Doo" franchise was rebooted and literally marketed as "Scream for kids," with Scream's Matthew Lillard cast in the lead role.
"Gummo" - the directorial debut of "Kids'" screenwriter Harmony Korine - received the FIPRESCI Prize at the 1997 Venice Film Festival. Bernardo Bertolucci, the famed director of "Last Tango in Paris", praised Korine's film, calling it "The one revolutionary film of the late 20th century."
In 1998, the first ever US-produced entry of the iconic "Godzilla" film franchise would become Woods' and Independent Pictures' single highest-grossing film, earning nearly $400 million. Woods had been instrumental in brokering the unprecedented rights deal, and the film was launched with a visionary marketing campaign, culminating in a world premiere at Madison Square Garden. The soundtrack featured the Sean "Diddy Combs' global hit-song "Come With Me", which sampled Led Zeppelin's 1975 classic "Kashmir". Combs personally recruited Jimmy Page to replay his iconic guitar riff. "Godzilla" went on to spawn a successful spinoff cartoon and generate tremendous merchandise sales.
In addition to producing, Woods was a founding partner and served as Co-Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Plum TV. Broadcasting in many of America's most affluent and influential markets (i.e. Aspen, the Hamptons, Miami Beach), the luxury lifestyle cable network would go on to earn eight Emmy Awards.
Woods is in post-production on the film "Maggie Moore(s)", starring John Hamm and Tina Fey, and directed by John Slattery.
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