David Valdes was born on August 12, 1950 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is a producer and assistant director, known for The Green Mile (1999), Unforgiven (1992) and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007).
When everyone said the Western was dead, Unforgiven (1992) came out ... and then you get all these copycat pictures trying to trail on success --- and you get The Quick and the Dead (1995) where you have SHaron Stone wearing Armani sunglasses in the 1800s.
2
On one of the first pictures I did, the make-up department had to change a dog into a wolf. The process was so impressive and I never forgot that little piece of movie-magic.
3
Now you see the term 'Line Producer', and I'm really against it... Thirty years ago you hardly heard the term associate producer or executive and co-executive - there was a producer ... that was it.
4
I enjoy reading Frank Darabont scripts because every period, every comma, every hyphen ... they all mean something in his writing.
5
I did two pictures in a row for Francis Ford Coppola right after One from the Heart (1981), which, in the early 1980s, cost over thirty million dollars to make. It was a complete disaster for the company and Francis had to liquidate assets just to keep the Studio going... But he wouldn't let go of the Unforgiven (1992) screenplay. He really believed in it. Eventually Clint (Eastwood), who knew about the project, asked for a copy of the script and within a week Malpaso purchased the rights. Clint then proceeded to shelve the project with intent to make it at a later date... Because he felt, as an actor, he wanted to age into the character of William Munny, and he'd make the movie when it felt right.
6
When I was a teenager my sister burst in the door and said they were shooting a movie down the street where we lived. It was a picture called Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970). I ran down there and saw all these guys wearing shorts and sandals and they had hair down to their waist -- this was an era when you couldn't get a job if you had long hair. So I approached them and the film crew was very nice to me, gave me food and I watched everybody work. I was completely mesmerized by the process and stayed there until the sun came up.
7
The one thing that makes this business so interesting is you can dig for five years (or more). And it's frustrating when you have the feeling of no forward motion. Then one day you find that ten-ounce nugget of gold and it makes the previous years of searching evaporate and disappear...That's what happens when you find the right screenplay.
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Stars Fell on Henrietta
1995
producer
A Perfect World
1993
producer
In the Line of Fire
1993
executive producer
Unforgiven
1992
executive producer
The Rookie
1990
producer
White Hunter Black Heart
1990
executive producer
Pink Cadillac
1989
producer
The Dead Pool
1988
producer
Bird
1988
executive producer
Like Father Like Son
1987
producer
Gardens of Stone
1987
co-executive producer
Ratboy
1986
associate producer
Pale Rider
1985
associate producer
Alita: Battle Angel
2018
executive producer filming
Point Break
2015
producer
Transcendence
2014/I
producer
Beautiful Creatures
2013
producer
The Magic of Belle Isle
2012
producer
I Am Number Four
2011
executive producer
The Book of Eli
2010
producer
Paul Rodriguez & Friends: Comedy Rehab
2009
TV Special documentary executive producer
Babylon A.D.
2008
executive producer
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
2007
producer
Open Range
2003
producer
The Time Machine
2002
producer
The Green Mile
1999
producer
Turbulence
1997
producer
Assistant Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
Angora Ranch
2006
Video assistant director
Gardens of Stone
1987
first assistant director
Ratboy
1986
first assistant director
Doctor Duck's Super Secret All-Purpose Sauce
1986
Video first assistant director
Pale Rider
1985
first assistant director
Television Parts Home Companion
1985
Video short first assistant director
City Heat
1984
first assistant director
Tightrope
1984
first assistant director
Sudden Impact
1983
first assistant director
Rumble Fish
1983
first assistant director
Murder 1, Dancer 0
1983
TV Movie second assistant director
The Outsiders
1983
first assistant director
Firefox
1982
second assistant director
Hammett
1982
second assistant director - as David Valdés
Partners
1982
second assistant director
Any Which Way You Can
1980
second assistant director
Oh, God! Book II
1980
second assistant director
Production Manager
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
2007
unit production manager
A Perfect World
1993
production manager
Unforgiven
1992
production manager: Sonora
The Rookie
1990
production manager
Pink Cadillac
1989
production manager
The Dead Pool
1988
production manager
Bird
1988
production manager
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Tightrope
1984
Manes
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser
1988
Documentary production executive
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Green Mile: Walking the Mile
2014
Video documentary special thanks
The Assassination of Jesse James: Death of an Outlaw
2008
Video documentary short special thanks
Walking the Mile
2000
Video documentary short special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Made in Hollywood: Teen Edition
2016
TV Series
Himself
Eastwood Directs: The Untold Story
2013
Documentary
Himself
Clint Eastwood's West
2011
Video documentary short
Himself
Miracles and Mystery: Creating 'The Green Mile'
2006
Video documentary
Himself
Walking the Mile
2000
Video documentary short
Himself - Producer
Biography
1994
TV Series documentary
Himself
Eastwood & Co.: Making 'Unforgiven'
1992
TV Short documentary
Himself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2004
Bronze Wrangler
Western Heritage Awards
Theatrical Motion Picture
Open Range (2003)
1993
DGA Award
Directors Guild of America, USA
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
Unforgiven (1992)
1993
Bronze Wrangler
Western Heritage Awards
Theatrical Motion Picture
Unforgiven (1992)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2011
Black Reel
Black Reel Awards
Best Film
The Book of Eli (2010)
2008
OFTA Film Award
Online Film & Television Association
Best Picture
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
2007
ACCA
Awards Circuit Community Awards
Best Motion Picture
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
2000
Oscar
Academy Awards, USA
Best Picture
The Green Mile (1999)
Known for movies
The Green Mile (1999) as Producer
Unforgiven (1992) as Producer
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) as Producer
$12 Million
