Press

Hollywood Reporter
06 November 2006
by Nellie Andreeva
Source

Helmer Semel breaking out ‘Life’ for NBC

Hot off directing and executive producing the pilot for the breakout new series “Heroes,” David Semel has been tapped to direct and executive produce another NBC drama pilot, Rand Ravich’s “Life.”

Meanwhile, veteran director Stephen Gyllenhaal has come on board to helm the pilot for Showtime’s single-camera comedy “Manchild.”

“Life,” from NBC Universal TV Studio, is a quirky drama about a former cop who rejoins the force after having spent years wrongly imprisoned.

Ravich penned the script and is executive producing with his producing partner, Far Shariat, and Semel.

Semel, who recently directed episodes of ABC’s “Six Degrees” and NBC’s “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” helmed the pilots for NBC’s “Windfall,” “Revelations” and “American Dreams.”

He is repped by UTA and 3 Arts Entertainment.

“Manchild,” from Darren Star Prods. and Sony Pictures TV, revolves around four 40-ish male friends, two played by John Corbett and Paul Hipp, who are knee-deep in midlife crises.

Gyllenhaal worked with “Manchild” executive producers Robb and Mark Cullen on their FX comedy series “Lucky.”

He also directed episodes of CBS’ “Numbers,” the pilot for CBS’ “Robbery Homicide Division,” CBS’ telefilm “Living With the Dead” and the feature “Time Bomb.”

He is repped by WMA.