Brad Simpson, `95

Independent Film Producer, Colorforce

Brad Simpson is a film producer and partner in Colorforce. He began his career at the legendary New York independent production company Killer Films. He was an executive and producer there from 1996-2003. While there, he co-produced Far From Heaven, which was nominated for four Academy Awards and three Golden Globes. Far From Heaven was an Official Selection in the 2002 Venice, Toronto, and New York Film Festivals and appeared on over 100 critics' top ten lists for the year. Simpson was an Associate Producer on Kim Pierce's acclaimed Boys Don’t Cry for which Hillary Swank won the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Actress. Boys Don’t Cry also played at the Venice, Toronto, and New York Film Festivals.   He also produced Party Monster, which played in Competition at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival and was featured at the 2003 Berlin Film Festival. Simpson was a co-producer on Home at the End of the World and an Associate Producer on Camp, which played in competition at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival.

 While working at Killer Films, Simpson was an executive on a series of acclaimed independent films including Velvet Goldmine, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Happiness, and One Hour Photo. From 2003-2007 Simpson was President of Appian Way, Leonardo DiCaprio's production company.  While there, he moved the company into a permanent and successful relationship with Warner Brothers. In 2008, he partnered with Marc Forster to form Apparatus.  In 2010, he produced the sleeper hit Diary of a Wimpy Kid for Fox 2000.  In 2011, he produced the follow up, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, which made headlines for opening as a surprise number one at the domestic box office.   He is an Executive Producer on Forster’s Machine Gun Preacher starring Gerard Butler. Machine Gun Preacher premiered at the 2011 Toronto Film Festival was released by Relativity.

Simpson is a producer on Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days which will be released by Fox 2000 in August of 2012.  In addition, Simpson is an Executive Producer on World War Z.  Based on the best-selling book by Max Brook, World War Z stars Brad Pitt and will be released by Paramount in June of 2013. In March of 2012, Simpson joined Nina Jacobson’s Colorforce as a partner.  Founded by Jacobson in 2007, Colorforce  is responsible for The Wimpy Kid franchise, One Day, and Hunger Games. Simpson graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Modern Culture and Media from Brown University.  He serves on the Board of Directors of 826LA, Dave Eggar’s Los Angeles based education charity.  He is originally from Little Rock, AR.