The Sum Of All Fears
Mace Neufeld Interview With his films grossing over one billion dollars worldwide, MACE NEUFELD (Producer) is one of the most prolific and successful producers in Hollywood. His keen eye for talent and ability to turn published works into box-office hits have helped launch the careers of such mega-stars as Kevin Costner, Alec Baldwin and directors Richard Donner, Roger Donaldson, Phillip Noyce and John McTiernan.
Neufeld recently produced Paramount’s crime thriller, “The General’s Daughter.” The film grossed over $100 million domestically -- Neufeld’s fifth film to do so -- and helped earn him the honor of being named “Producer of the Summer” by Daily Variety in 1999.
When Neufeld optioned the rights to Tom Clancy’s best-selling book, The Hunt for Red October, in 1984, he began producing what would become the first hit in one of the most successful film franchises in history. Released in 1990, the film featured Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin (in his first major role) and also marked the second significant directorial hit (after “Die Hard”) for John McTiernan.
With the success of “The Hunt for Red October,” Neufeld eventually went on to produce two additional Tom Clancy novels, Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger. In filming “Patriot Games,” Neufeld teamed with Harrison Ford, who took over the role of Jack Ryan, and Australian filmmaker Phillip Noyce, who was directing his first big-budget American film. Neufeld and Noyce joined forces with Ford again for “Clear and Present Danger,” which was the sixth-highest-grossing film of 1994.
Among Neufeld’s other film credits are the critically acclaimed “No Way Out,” “The Frisco Kid,” “The Saint” and “Lost in Space.”
In 1976, Neufeld produced his first feature film, “The Omen.” The supernatural thriller, directed by Richard Donner, became an international blockbuster and helped launch Neufeld’s career as a film producer.
In 1989, Neufeld teamed with former New World Entertainment head Robert G. Rehme to form Neufeld/Rehme Productions. The company had a successful string of hit films, all for Paramount, which included “Flight of the Intruder,” “Beverly Hills Cop III” and “Necessary Roughness.” In 1993, Neufeld and Rehme were voted ShoWest Producers of the Year, and in 1994, Showmen of the Year by the Publicists Guild.
Neufeld began his career as a manager, discovering some of the most important performing and production talent in the entertainment industry. He was responsible for guiding the careers of Don Adams (“Get Smart”), Don Knotts (“The Andy Griffith Show”), Jay Ward (“Bullwinkle and His Friends”), Gabe Kaplan (“Welcome Back Kotter”) and many others. In the music field, he did the same for numerous artists, including Jim Croce, Randy Newman, The Carpenters and Neil Diamond.
With a successful managing career already in force, Neufeld expanded his entertainment horizons in 1958 when he produced the first program for NBC starring Dick Van Dyke and the young comedy team of Elaine May and Mike Nichols. Neufeld’s other television productions include such distinguished television films as the 1981 eight-hour miniseries based on John Steinbeck’s prize-winning novel, East of Eden, which became the seventh-highest-rated miniseries ever, and won a Golden Globe. He also presented the pilot for “Cagney and Lacey,” which was one of the highest-rated television films of 1981, and subsequently produced 125 episodes of the show, which became one of the most watched television series in the ’80s. Neufeld also served as executive producer on the Writers Guild of America Award-winning miniseries “Death in California.”
In 1994, Neufeld/Rehme presented the miniseries “Gettysburg,” which was successfully released as a theatrical feature before it aired on television and became the highest-rated basic cable miniseries of all time. Neufeld also collaborated with director Ernest Dickerson and writer Frank Military on the Showtime drama, “Blind Faith,” a story about racism and homophobia set in New York in 1950. The film premiered at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival, and was nominated for three Screen Actors Guild Awards, three Independent Spirit Awards and two Writers Guild Awards.
As an award-winning still photographer, Neufeld received national recognition, including the Grand Prize Award in Eastman Kodak’s first National Salon of Photography. His photograph, “Sammy’s Home,” was voted Picture of the Year by The New York World Telegram-Sun.
Born and raised in New York City, Neufeld graduated from Yale University. He has an outstanding collection of primitive art, and holds a multi-engine instrument-rating pilot’s license. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the American Film Institute, ASCAP and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
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