Production biographies

8 April 2014

In alphabetical order.

ADAM BERNSTEIN

Executive Producer and Director (Episodes 1 and 2) on Fargo

Adam Bernstein is an Emmy® Award winning director whose work spans across television, film, and music videos. On Fargo, he will direct and serve as executive producer on the premiere episode.

For his directorial work on the critically-acclaimed 30 Rock, Bernstein earned an Emmy Award and a DGA® nomination in 2007. His additional television credits include Breaking Bad, Californication, Scrubs, Rescue Me, Bored to Death, Weeds, Shameless, Nurse Jackie, Entourage and Oz.

In film, Bernstein directed Bad Apple starring Chris Noth, Elliot Gould and Robert Patrick. He also wrote and directed the 1997 feature Six Ways to Sunday starring Norman Reedus and Deborah Harry.

Additionally, Bernstein directed several music videos for the alternative band They Might Be Giants, Barenaked Ladies ("Alternative Girlfriend"), Beastie Boys ("Hey Ladies"), The B-52's ("Love Shack"), Sir Mix-a-Lot ("Baby Got Back") and Frank Black ("Headache").

In 1973, he was the recipient of the Good Citizenship Medal from the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Bernstein currently lives in New York City with his wife and two children.

COLIN BUCKSEY

Director (Episodes 5 & 6) on Fargo

Colin Bucksey was born in London, England, and began his directing career working for the BBC. His first opportunity to direct for American television was with the iconic and groundbreaking (at the time) series, Miami Vice. After directing multiple episodes of that series, Bucksey transitioned into TV movies, which, in the 1990’s were extremely prolific and popular.

When TV movies went on the wane near the turn of the century, he returned to series television where he has been working steadily ever since.

Bucksey was fortunate enough to have directed a never-aired episode of the 2005 remake of The Night Stalker on ABC that had been written and produced by Vince Gilligan. Vince was so happy with his work that he lobbied AMC for a year and a half to hire Bucksey in Breaking Bad, even though the network was insisting that the look and feel of in independent filmmaker was more appropriate. The first episode that Bucksey directed was at the end of the second season and one of the most highly regarded of the entire series: the episode in which “Jessie’s” (Aaron Paul) girlfriend, “Jane” (Krysten Ritter) dies choking on her own vomit with Walter (Bryan Cranston) standing by not saving her life.

Following that episode Bucksey directed three more episodes of Breaking Bad. His other television credits include House, Elementary, Person of Interest and most recently Fargo and The Bridge for FX.

JOHN CAMERON

Co-Executive Producer on Fargo

John Cameron began his career in motion pictures and television with a series of inventive shorts made in collaboration with high school friends, director Sam Raimi and actor Bruce Campbell. He left New York University film school to work on Raimi’s first feature The Evil Dead, and subsequently worked as his assistant director on Crimewave, Army of Darkness, Darkman and The Quick and the Dead.

Cameron has also had a lengthy association with the Coen Brothers, first as assistant director on The Hudsucker Proxy, then as co-producer on the Academy Award®-winning Fargo, as well as The Big Lebowski, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, The Man Who Wasn't There, Intolerable Cruelty and The Ladykillers.

Cameron went on to produce the box office hit Bad Santa for Dimension Films and executive produce Friday Night Lights for Universal and director Peter Berg. After that successful collaboration, he and Berg co-founded the film and television production company Film 44. At Film 44 he executive produced the Universal feature The Kingdom and five seasons of the Emmy Award®-winning Friday Night Lights television series for NBC.

Cameron also produced the Academy Award-nominated Lars and the Real Girl and executive produced many other films, including Rushmore for director Wes Anderson, Lakeview Terrace for director Neil LaBute and producer Will Smith, and The Odd Life of Timothy Green for writer/director Peter Hedges.

Cameron is a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the Producers Guild of America, and the Directors Guild of America.

RANDALL EINHORN

Director (Episodes 3 and 4) on Fargo

Randall Einhorn is the executive producer and series director of Wilfred under an overall deal with FX. In addition to his episodic work on Fargo, Einhorn is actively developing several new projects for the network, including an adaptation of Mac Lethal’s popular tumblr-turned-novel, Texts from Bennett.

Einhorn began his career in comedy as “The Documentarian” on The Office, becoming the most prolific director of the show during its Emmy® Award winning seasons. He has worked episodically directing many series, including Parks and Recreation, Modern Family, and Shameless. He served as a producer and series director on FX’s hit comedy, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Showtime's Nurse Jackie. Einhorn is currently in preproduction on the fourth and final season of Wilfred.

CHAD OAKES & MIKE FRISLEV

Producers on Fargo

Chad Oakes and Mike Frislev founded Nomadic Pictures in 1995. As Co-Chairmen of Nomadic, they have produced, financed and/or co-financed over 53 film and television projects. Their feature film debut, Hugo Pool starring Sean Penn and Robert Downey Jr., was the audience favourite at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival. Since then, Nomadic has produced over $450 million in movies-of-the-week, miniseries, TV series and feature film projects in Canada, U.S. and Europe.

In addition to their 21 Emmy® nominations and countless awards, Oakes and Frislev won three Daytime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Children’s/Youth/Family Special for Showtime’s The Incredible Mrs. Ritche. In 2005, Nomadic co-produced AMC’s first scripted original miniseries, Broken Trail starring Robert Duvall and Thomas Haden Church, which went on to win four Primetime Emmy Awards, including Best Mini-Series for Nomadic.

NOAH HAWLEY

Executive Producer/Writer/Showrunner on Fargo

Noah Hawley is an author, screenwriter, and producer. He has published four novels: A Conspiracy of Tall Men, Other People’s Weddings, The Punch and The Good Father. He penned the script for the 2006 feature film Lies and Alibis and is currently adapting the book Dragonology as a feature film for Universal and executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Bob Orci. In television, Hawley created, executive produced and served as showrunner for ABC’s My Generation and The Unusuals. He also served as a writer and producer on the hit series Bones.

Hawley is currently executive producer, writer and showrunner on FX’s adaptation of the Coen Brother's Academy Award®-winning feature film, Fargo, premiering in early 2014.

GEYER KOSINSKI

Executive Producer on Fargo

Geyer Kosinski got his start in the mailroom of the William Morris Agency in 1992 and became an agent within a year. There, he represented talent including Billy Bob Thornton, Angelina Jolie, George Clooney, Kevin Spacey, Bill Paxton and Robert Downey Jr. He supported packaging movies such as Swimming With Sharks, Sling Blade, The Usual Suspects, LA Confidential, Albino Alligator and Gia.

Kosinski left the William Morris Agency in 1997 for Addis-Wechsler, which evolved into Industry Entertainment. Kosinski was managing partner and co-owner of this major management/production company that revolutionized the entertainment industry by combining management and production under the same roof, housing over 150 clients including Academy Award®-winning actors, writers, directors, producers and musicians while producing 14 motion pictures and seven television shows.

In 2004, as a manager and producer, Kosinski formed Media Talent Group. As chairman and CEO, he and his staff continue to cultivate the careers of actors, writers and directors. Media Talent Group has approximately 30 feature films and television shows in active production or development. Some of them include Code Name: Sasha, Scarpetta, Before I Go to Sleep, Grace of Monaco, Queen of the Desert, Eliza Graves, Maleficent, London Fields, The Disappointments Room and Bad Santa 2.

Kosinski was also involved in packaging or producing several projects such as Jayne Mansfield’s Car; Standing Up; Stoker; The Changeling; Girl, Interrupted; Mr. & Mrs. Smith; Salt; The Astronaut Farmer; School for Scoundrels; Beyond Borders and Monster’s Ball.

Television shows in active production or development include Fargo, Magic City, Donor Party, The Follower and Untitled Billy Bob Thornton Premium Cable Show. Past television credits include Magic City, Hemingway and Gelhorn (15 Emmy® nominations), Hope & Faith, Going to California and Live from Baghdad.

Kosinski sits on the board of directors for SKECHERS USA, one of the fastest-growing and largest shoe companies based in the United States. Additionally, Kosinski sits on the board for the Seattle-based social-gaming company, King of the Web and is an advisor for the World Wildlife Fund. He also was a member of both the Cultural Alliance of Washington D.C. and Junior Achievement of Southern California while working with Habitat for Humanity. Prior to working in the entertainment business, Kosinski worked in Strategic Planning and Change Management for Anderson Consulting in Washington, D.C.

WARREN LITTLEFIELD

Executive Producer on Fargo

Warren Littlefield is the founder and President of The LITTLEFIELD Company, which represents the latest chapter in his television career. He currently serves as executive producer on FX’s television adaptation of the Academy Award®-winning feature film, Fargo, alongside Noah Hawley, and Joel and Ethan Coen.

Under his production banner, Littlefield has produced six primetime television series including the innovative documentary series My Generation and the critically-acclaimed Keen Eddie. His current development slate includes comedy and drama for both network and cable. Littlefield had a history-making two decade career at NBC where, under his watch as President of the Entertainment Division, the network won an amazing 168 Emmy® Awards. In this role, he oversaw the development and production of NBC’s primetime, late night and Saturday-morning entertainment programming. During his last three seasons with the network, NBC sold an industry record $6.5 billion in primetime advertising — $2 billion more than its closest competitor.

While at NBC, Littlefield was responsible for developing many of the series that defined quality programming. As head of the comedy department he developed The Cosby Show, The Golden Girls, Alf and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. In his last four years, Littlefield orchestrated a renaissance at NBC and a return to first place in the ratings race, fueled by a long roster of hit series that he developed. They included: Seinfeld, ER, Friends, Frasier, Mad About You, Just Shoot Me, 3rd Rock From the Sun, NewsRadio, Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order. In his final year at NBC, he supervised the development of Will & Grace, Providence and The West Wing. He initiated the development of Law & Order: SVU, which began the industry trend of procedural spin-offs. Actor Bob Balaban portrayed Littlefield in the HBO film The Late Shift as well as a handful of memorable episodes of Seinfeld.

Littlefield is also widely regarded as the NBC executive who hired and tirelessly supported Jay Leno as host of The Tonight Show following the retirement of the legendary Johnny Carson. This controversial decision led to NBC’s return to dominance in late night. He also oversaw handing David Letterman’s late night spot to Conan O’Brien. Littlefield had nothing to do with putting Jay Leno at 10 p.m.

In May 2012, Doubleday books published Littlefield’s The New York Times bestselling memoir Top of the Rock: Inside the Rise and Fall of Must See TV which documents his record breaking years at NBC.

Littlefield is on the Board of Directors of Dynamic Digital Depth, an AIM listed 3-D technology company, and on the Friends Board of the Saban Community Clinic in Los Angeles.

MATT SHAKMAN

Director (Episodes 9 and 10) on Fargo

Matt Shakman’s television directing résumé includes Mad Men, The Good Wife, New Girl, Six Feet Under, House, Hung and Weeds. He is also the director and co-executive producer of FX’s It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Shakman is also the founder and artistic director of the Black Dahlia Theatre in Los Angeles, which was named one of “a dozen young American companies you need to know” by American Theatre Magazine. His theatre directing work has received multiple Ovation, Garland, GLAAD and LA Drama Critics Circle awards. He was recently represented off-Broadway by the New York premiere of Secrets of the Trade at Primary Stages. His production of David Lindsay-Abaire’s Good People starring Jane Kaczmarek and Jon Tenney at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles received eight Ovation Award nominations, including Best Production and Best Director. This past fall he directed the premiere of a new adaptation of Wait Until Dark starring Alison Pill, also at the Geffen. Matt was the recipient of the 2012 LA Drama Critics Circle Award for Career or Special Achievement in Direction.

Shakman is currently in post-production on his feature film debut, Cut Bank, a dramatic thriller starring John Malkovich, Billy Bob Thornton, Bruce Dern, Liam Hemsworth, Oliver Platt and Michael Stuhlbarg.

KIM TODD

Producer on Fargo

Kim Todd has produced television series and movies for ABC, CBS, PBS, Showtime, Disney, BBC as well as the Canadian broadcasters CBC, Bell Media (CTV), Shaw Media (Global), YTV, TMN, Movie Central and Super Channel. Her awards include a Cable Ace and several Geminis (Canadian TV Awards). She was executive producer and showrunner for ABC Family’s first original series Falcon Beach, producer of the series My Life as a Dog for Showtime and producer of Imperfect Justice: Prosecuting Casey Anthony for Fox Studios and Lifetime. The variety of her work stretches from the movie Tasmanian Devils for SyFy to the series The Atwood Stories for Corus Entertainment. Recently she produced the feature Midnight Sun directed by Roger Spottiswoode, a Canadian/Italian co-production.

SCOTT WINANT

Director (Episodes 8 and 9) on Fargo

A two-time Emmy® Award–winning director and producer, Scott Winant began his career on the critically-acclaimed series thirtysomething. He produced all five seasons of the series and was responsible for establishing its unique cinematic style. The hit series earned four Emmy nominations in the “Best Drama Series” category and won in 1998. For his directorial work on the series, Winant received his first Emmy nomination in 1989 and won the following year.

After thirtysomething, Winant partnered with Winnie Holzman to create and produce the groundbreaking series My So-Called Life for which he earned an Emmy in 1995 in the directing category. Subsequently, he produced and directed a number of series including Earth 2, Significant Others, Cupid, Get Real, Georgetown, Hidden Palms and Women’s Murder Club. Additionally, Winant created, produced and directed the HBO series Carnival, and Showtime’s Dead Like Me and Huff for which he was once again honored with an Emmy Award nomination for directing.

Winant’s gone on to direct the first episode of True Blood as well as 12 additional episodes and will direct the Season 7 finale. He also executive produced and directed the pilots for Men of a Certain Age and Save Me while also directing multiple episodes of Breaking Bad and new series including Rake and Resurrection.

Winant also served as executive producer/director for the hit Showtime series Californication. His feature film credits include directing ‘Til There Was You starring Jeanne Tripplehorn and Sarah Jessica Parker, and producing the independent horror film The Initiation.