Adam Rifkin (born December 31, 1966 in Chicago), sometimes credited as Rif Coogan, is an American film director, producer, actor and writer.His career ranges from broad family comedies to dark and gritty urban dramas. Rifkin is best known in Hollywood circles for writing family-friendly comedies like MouseHunt and 2007's Underdog.Most recently Rifkin wrote, executive produced and directed all 11 episodes of Look: The Series for Showtime. Look is a drama that takes the viewer into the foreboding world of hidden cameras. The series, like Rifkin's 2007 film of the same name, tells its story exclusively through the eyes of the security cameras, web cams, and cell phone cameras Americans live in front of everyday, bringing to light the realities of what it means to be watched in a camera consumed culture.
An Adam Rifkin movie is really a movie that I think of as a career movie. Rif Coogan movies are more for fun, my own personal edification, and for practice.
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Fact
1
Using his background as a cartoonist Rifkin designed the movie poster for the caveman comedy "Encino Man" as a favor to Hollywood Pictures President Ricardo Mestres. Coincidently 15 years later Rifkin wrote, directed and starred in his own caveman comedy "Homo Erectus".
2
John Faveraux played Adam in the film love and sex which was a based on Adam Rifkin and writer director Valerie Breiman's real life 3 year relationship. Famke Jensen plays the role based on Breiman.
3
At 21 Rifkin was hired by 20th Century Fox to write and direct a new version of The Planet Of The Apes. In Rifkin's original script the ape empire had reached its Roman era and the film was going to feel very much like Spartacus with primates. The studio loved Rifkin's draft but several days before pre-production was to commence the head of the studio was fired and the project was shelved. Subsequently the project changed many hands including Oliver Stone, Chris Columbus, James Cameron and eventually Tim Burton.
4
Basis for character "Adam Rafkin" on the show "Action" (1999) .
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Dog Years
2016
post-production
Shooting the Warwicks
2015
writer
Giuseppe Makes a Movie
2014
Documentary
Reality Show
2012
TV Series 8 episodes
Chillerama
2011
written by - segment "Wadzilla"
Knucklehead
2010
written by
Look
2010
TV Series written by
Underdog
2007
screenplay / story
Look
2007
written by
Homo Erectus
2007
written by
Zoom
2006
screen story / screenplay
Without Charlie
2001
Night at the Golden Eagle
2001
written by
Welcome to Hollywood
1998
story
Small Soldiers
1998
written by
Denial
1998/II
written by
Mousehunt
1997
written by
Bone Chillers
TV Series writer - 3 episodes, 1996 co-creator - 2 episodes, 1996 creator - 2 episodes, 1996
The Chase
1994
written by
The Dark Backward
1991
The Invisible Maniac
1990
screenplay - as Rif Coogan / story - as Rif Coogan
Going Overboard
1989
uncredited
Never on Tuesday
1989
written by
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
Dog Years
2016
post-production
Director's Cut
2016
Shooting the Warwicks
2015
Giuseppe Makes a Movie
2014
Documentary
Reality Show
2012
TV Series 8 episodes
Chillerama
2011
segment "Wadzilla"
Look
2010
TV Series 2010
Look
2007
Homo Erectus
2007
Without Charlie
2001
Night at the Golden Eagle
2001
Detroit Rock City
1999
Welcome to Hollywood
1998
Denial
1998/II
Bone Chillers
1996
TV Series 4 episodes
The Chase
1994
Psycho Cop Returns
1993
as Rif Coogan
The Nutt House
1992
The Dark Backward
1991
The Invisible Maniac
1990
as Rif Coogan
Tale of Two Sisters
1989
Never on Tuesday
1989
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Going Overboard
1989
co-producer
The Grounds
2017
producer filming
Dog Years
2016
producer post-production
Director's Cut
2016
producer
Shooting the Warwicks
2015
executive producer / producer
Giuseppe Makes a Movie
2014
Documentary producer
Chillerama: House of Psycho Charger
2012
Video short producer
Reality Show
2012
TV Series executive producer - 8 episodes
Chillerama
2011
executive producer
Look
2010
TV Series executive producer
Blump's Squeezable Documentary
2007
Video documentary short producer
Garbanzo Gas
2007
Video producer
Grandpa
2005/I
producer
Getting Hal
2003
producer
Night at the Golden Eagle
2001
producer
Touch Me in the Morning
1999
producer
Bone Chillers
1996
TV Series co-executive producer - 6 episodes
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Director's Cut
2016
Adam Rifkin
Shooting the Warwicks
2015
Mickey Wagner
Wrestling Isn't Wrestling
2015
Video documentary short
Theater Audience Member
Reality Show
2012
TV Series
Mickey Wagner
Chillerama
2011
Miles Munson (segment "Wadzilla")
Fairy Tale Police
2008
Short
Donner
Homo Erectus
2007
Ishbo
Without Charlie
2001
Norman
Night at the Golden Eagle
2001
Man in Private Booth (uncredited)
Detroit Rock City
1999
It's Raining Men Billboard Model (uncredited)
Susan's Plan
1998
Gambler #1
Welcome to Hollywood
1998
Adam Rifkin
Denial
1998/II
Reuben
Bikini Squad
1993
Singing Teacher (as Rif Coogan)
The Flesh Merchant
1993
Man In Bondage Room
Psycho Cop Returns
1993
Man with Video Camera
Last Dance
1992
Mark (as Rif Coogan)
Bikini Island
1991
Desk Boy
The Dark Backward
1991
Rufus Bing
Disturbed
1990
Gary
Going Overboard
1989
Croaker / Miss Spain
Never on Tuesday
1989
William (uncredited)
Cinematographer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Giuseppe Makes a Movie
2014
Documentary
Special Effects
Title
Year
Status
Character
Hot Shots! Part Deux
1993
special effects makeup - uncredited
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Warren
2014
special thanks
Charm
2012
special thanks
2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams
2010
special thanks
2001 Maniacs
2005
special thanks
Expiration
2003
special thanks
Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy
2001
Documentary special thanks
The Steaks
2000
special thanks
Love & Sex
2000
special thanks
Wadd: The Life & Times of John C. Holmes
1999
Documentary special thanks
Detroit Rock City
1999
the film-makers wish to extend their personal thanks: for their contribution to the making of this movie - as Rif Coogan
Gunfighter
1999
special thanks
The Dark Backward
1991
grateful acknowledgment - as Rif Coogan
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Schlitzie: One of Us
2017
Documentary filming
Himself
To Hell and Back: The Kane Hodder Story
2016
Documentary post-production
Himself
The Playboy Morning Show
2015
TV Series
Himself
That Guy Dick Miller
2014
Documentary
Himself
Visions: Live from the Red Carpet
2013
TV Movie
Himself
Chillerama Presents: Anton Troy, the Man Behind the Beast
2011
Short
Himself
Advice for New Screenwriters
2010
Video documentary short
Himself
Starz Inside: Sex and the Cinema
2009
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Tales from the Script
2009
Documentary
Himself
Starz Inside: In the Gutter
2008
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Spread TV
2008
TV Series
Himself
Entertainment Tonight
2008
TV Series
Himself
Blump's Squeezable Documentary
2007
Video documentary short
Himself
Trailers from Hell
2007
TV Series
Himself
Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy
2001
Documentary
Himself
Detroit Rock City: Look Into the Sun - Behind the Scenes of 'Detroit Rock City'
1999
Video documentary short
Himself
Miscellaneous Shit: Behind the Scenes of 'Detroit Rock City'
1999
Video documentary short
Himself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2011
Rondo Statuette
Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards
Best Independent Film
Chillerama (2011)
2007
Grand Jury Award
CineVegas International Film Festival
Best Film
Look (2007)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2014
Grand Prix
T-Mobile New Horizons International Film Festival, Poland
$800,000
