Gary Winick, Digital Filmmaking Pioneer
As founder of the company InDigEnt, WInick was a force behind numerous acclaimed digital films. he also directed several films, as well as episodes of popular TV series.
Gary Winick, a director and producer known for such films as Pieces of April, 13 Going on 30 and Charlotte’s Web, as well as made-for-television movies and series, died February 27, 2011, following a lengthy battle with brain cancer. He was 49.
A native of New York City, where he grew up, Winick earned a B.A. from Tufts University and an M.F.A. from the University of Texas and the American Film Institute. He taught at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts for seven years, and in 1999 partnered with John Sloss and IFC Productions to create Independent Digital Entertainment (InDigEnt) to produce digital video feature films for theatrical release.
Regarded as a key figure on the vanguard of the American digital film movement, he produced films such as Final, directed by Campbell Scott; Chelsea Walls, directed by Ethan Hawke; Tape, directed by Richard Linklater; Women in Film, directed by Bruce Wagner; Ten Tiny Love Stories, directed by Rodrigo Garcia; Wake Up and Smell the Coffee, directed by Michael Rauch; Personal Velocity, directed by Rebecca Miller; Kill the Poor, directed by Alan Taylor; and November, directed by Greg Harrison.
He also directed his own films, and first drew attention with the independent comedy Tadpole, which led to his first mainstream success, 13 Going on 30, starring Jennifer Garner. Other titles of note included the animated family film Charlotte’s Web, Bride Wars and Letters to Juliet.
In addition, Winick worked in television. He produced the TV movie Remembering Sex and directed episodes of the series Ugly Betty and Lipstick Jungle.
Winick is survived by his parents and his fiancée.