LLOYD KAUFMAN - Curriculum Vitae

"Lloyd Kaufman represents one of the true, great auteurs." So says Sam Grogg, dean of the American Film Institute's Center for Advanced Film and TV Studies, quoted in Creative Screenwriting magazine. "Without Lloyd Kaufman," writes film critic Michael H. Klienschrodt in the New Orleans Times-Picayune newspaper, "there probably never would have been There's Something About Mary or Deuce Bigalow, Male Gigolo." Whether or not he would accept the credit (or blame) for these raunchy, mainstream blockbusters, there can be no doubt that what Kaufman has achieved is enormous. In 25 years, Kaufman, along with partner Michael Herz, has built Troma Studios up from a young company struggling to find its voice in a field crowded with competitors to legendary status as a lone survivor, a bastion of true independence, and the world's greatest concentration of camp. He has accumulated a remarkable list of credits, as well as a more extraordinary list of debits to loan sharks and pawn shops across New York.

In the late 1960's, Kaufman was enrolled at Yale University, diligently working on a respectable degree in Chinese Studies. However, Kaufman was destined for other things. As he explains in his hit book All I Need To Know About Filmmaking I Learned From The Toxic Avenger (published by Penguin Putnam), "At Yale I was placed in a dormitory room with two film fanatics, and I knew everything had irrevocably changed." In fact, Kaufman was infected with a love of movies from which he never recovered.

In 1971, Kaufman met his future partner Michael Herz at Yale. The Troma Universe was born in 1974 with a series of highly original, sexy comedies such as Squeeze Play!, Waitress!, and other titles ending with an exclamation point. These movies, independent precursors to such later smash hits as National Lampoon's Animal House and Porky's, did well financially, although Kaufman continued to work on such outside productions as Rocky and Saturday Night Fever. Kaufman's relationship with mainstream Hollywood would not last long. "There were problems," Kaufman said, "as I always wanted to do things my own way and my employers insisted I do things the correct way."

Kaufman proved his former employers wrong with his 1984 breakthrough movie, The Toxic Avenger. This tale of a health club mop boy named Melvin who is transformed into a hideously deformed creature of superhuman size and strength struck a chord with audiences and critics alike, demonstrating that there was a large number of people who were interested in seeing things done Kaufman's way. The Toxic Avenger led to an animated spin-off series, Toxic Crusaders, several different comic book titles (published by Marvel and, most recently, Troma's own independent comic book imprint), and three sequels. The most recent film in the series is Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger Part IV.

The success of The Toxic Avenger was followed by a string of commercial and artistic triumphs in a similar vein, blending fantasy, heavy action, comedy, and eroticism in a style that can only be described as "Tromatic". These films, including the Class of Nuke 'Em High trilogy, Sgt. Kabukiman NYPD, and Troma's War, were often ignored or scorned by the intelligentsia of the time but spoke to an entire generation of young people who rejected the pandering, commercial films of the mid-to-late 80's. Some of these Troma fans went on to become filmmakers themselves, including Quentin Tarantino, Kevin Smith, Mike Judge, Peter Jackson, and Trey Parker. Thanks to these admirers, Kaufman has been asked to make cameo appearances in films like Trey Parker's Orgazmo and Richard Martini's Cannes Man.

Lately, Kaufman and the Troma Team have begun to win respect from even their harshest critics. Tromeo & Juliet became a surprise theatrical and critical hit, earning the grand prize at the Fanta Festival in Rome. Kaufman's most recent opus, Terror Firmer, inspired by the book All I Need To Know About Filmmaking I Learned From The Toxic Avenger, played for six months in Los Angeles alone. In addition, Kaufman has been an honored guest at various international film festivals and Troma retrospectives around the world. The San Sebastian Film Festival, the British Film Institute, the Cinematheque Francaise, the American Cinematheque, the Chicago International Film Festival, the UCLA Film Archives, the Tokyo Film Festival, and the Shanghai International Film Festival are just a few of the venues to have showered Kaufman with praise and free booze.

In January 2000, Kaufman founded the TromaDance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Determined to give independent film back to the people, Kaufman established a festival where there is no entry fee to filmmakers to submit their films, nor is there any admission charged to audience members. The TromaDance Film Festival presents a broad spectrum of films and film styles, creating an opportunity for everyone to put their own personal vision on film and have it seen.

Kaufman is also a tireless innovator, constantly using new developments in technology to foster the growth of independent art. Troma has a dynamic web presence with Troma.com, Tromaville.com, and the newest site, Toxicavenger.com. All three sites provide news and entertainment, as well as providing an outlet for Troma to sell videos, DVDs, clothing, Tromabilia, and other products from the Troma Universe directly to their fans. Troma has also been ahead of the curve in DVD production, releasing feature-packed titles since 1997.

Kaufman has also earned the respect and trust of his peers in the independent filmmaking community. He serves as Executive Vice Chairman of the American Film Marketing Association (AFMA). Thanks to his vision of independent cinema's future on the Internet, Kaufman was asked to help create and currently chairs AFMA's New Technologies Opportunities Committee.

Currently, Kaufman is hard at work putting the finishing touches on Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger Part IV. In addition, he will be creating 20 half-hour television episodes for England's Channel 4. The series, Troma's Edge TV, will bring UK viewers all the Tromatic superheroes, cutting-edge humor, and great music they've come to expect from Troma movies. Kaufman will again go behind the camera for a zombie film in the inimitable Troma style, currently being developed.

On a personal front, Lloyd Kaufman has three daughters - Lily Hayes, Lisbeth and Charlotte. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the American Film Marketing Association and Trinity School. His beloved wife of 26 years, Patricia, is the New York State Film Commissioner.

EDUCATION

TRINITY SCHOOL 1964
* Cum Laude Society
* President of Student Council
* Voted Most Likely to Soil Himself in Public

YALE UNIVERSITY, B.A. 1969
* Dean's List and Lightweight Crew
* Spent one year in Africa, teaching and boffing in a small village in Chad, received letter of thanks from the U.S. Ambassador to Chad (for teaching only)
* Elected member of the Yale Elihu Society
*Languages: fluent French; some Chinese; pidgin English

MOTION PICTURE, TELEVISION AND PRINT

CITIZEN TOXIE (2000)
Feature Film
Director/Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Producer

TERROR FIRMER (1999)
Feature Film
Director/Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Producer/Actor

ALL I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FILMMAKING I LEARNED FROM THE TOXIC AVENGER (August 1998)
Book published by the Putnam Berkley Group
Co-author

ROWDY GIRLS (1999)
Feature Film
Producer

DECAMPITATED (1998)
Feature Film
Executive Producer

SUCKER (1998)
Feature Film
Executive Producer

TROMA'S EDGE TV (1997)
TV Channel
Producer/Director/Writer

TROMEO & JULIET (1997)
Feature Film
Director/Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Producer

TROMAVILLE CAFÉ (1995-Present)
Television Series
Director/Producer/Writer

CLASS OF NUKE 'EM HIGH (1993)
TV Pilot Script for Fox-TV
Co-Writer

TROMA INFOMERCIAL (1993)
Co-Director/Co-Writer/Co-Producer

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT (1992)
Anti-Pollution Spot for National Dance Institute
Producer

SGT. KABUKIMAN N.Y.P.D. (1991-1992)
Feature Film
Co-Director/Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Co-Producer

THE SNAIL MUST GO THROUGH (1991)
TOXIC CRUSADERS Animated TV Series Episode
Co-Writer

STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE SHEARS (1991)
TOXIC CRUSADERS Animated TV Series Episode
Co-Writer

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE SUBHUMANOID: CLASS OF NUKE 'EM HIGH PART III (1991)
Feature Film
Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Co-Producer

CLASS OF NUKE 'EM HIGH PART II: SUBHUMANOID MELTDOWN (1990)
Feature Film
Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Co-Producer

THE TOXIC AVENGER III: THE LAST TEMPTATION OF TOXIE (1989)
Feature Film
Co-Director/Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Producer

FORTRESS OF AMERIKKKA (1989)
Feature Film
Producer/Writer of Narration

THE TOXIC AVENGER: PART II (1989)
Feature Film
Co-Director/Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Co-Producer

TROMA'S WAR (1988)
Feature Film
Co-Director/Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Co-Producer

JAKARTA (1988)
Feature Film
Co-Executive Producer

MONSTER IN THE CLOSET (1987)
Feature Film
Executive Producer

LUST FOR FREEDOM (1987)
Feature Film
Executive Producer/Writer of Narration

CLASS OF NUKE 'EM HIGH (1986)
Feature Film
Co-Director/Co-Producer

GIRLS SCHOOL SCREAMERS (1986)
Feature Film
Executive Producer

BLOOD HOOK (1986)
Feature Film
Executive Producer

THE TOXIC AVENGER (1985)
Feature Film
Co-Director/Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Co-Producer

WHEN NATURE CALLS (1985)
Feature Film
Associate Producer

SCREAMPLAY (1984)
Feature Film
Executive Producer

THE FIRST TURN-ON (1983)
Feature Film
Co-Director/Co-Producer

STUCK ON YOU (1981)
Feature Film
Co-Director/Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Co-Producer

MY DINNER WITH ANDRE (1981)
Feature Film by Louis Malle
Production Manager

WAITRESS (1980)
Feature Film
Co-Director/Producer

SQUEEZE PLAY (1979)
Feature Film
Director/Producer

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN (1979)
Feature Film
Associate Producer

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (1977)
Feature Film
Location Manager

SLOW DANCING IN THE BIG CITY (1977)
Feature Film directed by John G. Avildsen
Production Supervisor

ROCKY (1976)
Feature Film directed by John G. Avildsen
Pre-Production Supervisor

MOTHER'S DAY (1973)
Feature Film
Associate Producer

SWEET SAVIOR (1973)
Feature Film
Production Manager

BIG GUS, WHAT'S THE FUSS? (1972)
Feature Film
Director/Producer

THE BATTLE OF LOVE'S RETURN (1971)
Feature Film
Director/Writer/Producer/Actor

SILENT NIGHT, BLOODY NIGHT (1971)
Feature Film
Associate Producer

SUGAR COOKIES (1971)
Feature Film
Writer/Executive Producer

ALLEN FUNT PRODUCTIONS (1970)
Production Assistant

CRY UNCLE! (1970)
Feature Film Directed by John G. Avildsen
Production Manager/Limited Partner

JOE (1970)
Feature Film Directed by John G. Avildsen
Production Assistant

THE GIRL WHO RETURNED (1969)
Feature Film
Director/Writer/Producer

RAPPACCINI (1968)
Feature Film
Producer