BRIAN ROBBINS (Director) and MIKE TOLLIN (Producer) comprise the directing/producing team of Tollin/Robbins, one of the hottest production companies in film and primetime television. It is in the scope and diversity of its projects, rather than in the sheer quantity, that Tollin/Robbins Productions’ critical and commercial success lies. Directors as well as producers, Tollin and Robbins take an artistic, story-driven view of development, as reflected in the company’s current slate. TRP has a two-year, first-look deal with Paramount Pictures and a growing management division that includes actors, writers and other filmmakers. TRP’s production “Big Fat Liar,” a rollicking family comedy featuring Frankie Muniz, Paul Giamatti and Amanda Bvnes and directed by Shawn Levy, opened to huge box-office numbers in February 2002.
In addition to “The Perfect Score,” TRP recently released “Radio,” directed by Mike Tollin and starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Ed Harris.
Tollin made his feature directorial debut in 2001 with “Summer Catch” starring Freddie Prinze, Jr., Jessica Biel and Matthew Lillard. That was followed by the Robbins-directed “Hardball” starring Keanu Reeves and Diane Lane. The film was No. 1 at the box office two weeks in a row, grossing more than $40 million to date.
An award-winning television provider since its inception, TRP is currently in a joint venture with Warner Bros. to create and produce network, cable and first-run programming. Their most recent series included “Birds of Prey” and “What I Like About You.” TRP’s credits also include the critical and commercial hit series “Smallville,” Nickelodeon’s “All That,” HBO’s longest-running original series, “Arli$$,” “The Nightmare Room” and “The Nick Cannon Show,” a new behind-the-scenes show that is TRP’s third series spin-off from “All That.”
The foundation for TRP’s swift ascent was built with a series of documentaries produced after the company’s launch in 1993. First up was “Hardwood Dreams,” a gripping inner-city sports documentary for Fox. Narrated by Wesley Snipes, it went on to win the prestigious Crystal Heart Award, a Cine Golden Eagle and the NBPC’s Prized Pieces Award. Soon after, “Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream” was honored with a Peabody Award, as well as Oscar® and Emmy nominations. TRP’s third film, “The Show,” a colorful look at hip-hop artists such as Run-DMC, Snoop Dogg and Notorious B.I.G., was one of the highest grossing documentaries of the year and spawned a platinum-selling soundtrack.
TRP’s first major feature film was “Goodburger,” which starred teen sensations Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell in one of the highest-grossing live action family films of 1997. Two years later TRP produced the Robbins-directed “Varsity Blues” in association with Paramount Pictures and MTV Films. Starring Jon Voight and James Van Der Beek, it topped the box-office charts for two consecutive weeks, grossed more than $53 million domestically, became one of the year’s top video rentals, and generated a gold soundtrack album. That was followed in 2000 by the Warner Bros. comedy “Ready to Rumble” starring David Arquette, Oliver Platt, Rose McGowan, Martini Landau and Joe Pantoliano.
Movie Database
In Theaters
(90 votes)
(25 votes)
(333 votes)
(75 votes)
(8 votes)