Daniel Scheinert (born June 7, 1987) is an American filmmaker, known for his work with Daniel Kwan as the filmmaking duo Daniels. They began their career as directors of music videos, including ones for “Houdini” (2012) by Foster the People and “Turn Down for What” (2013) by DJ Snake and Lil Jon, both of which earned them nominations at the Grammy Awards.
In 2016, the Daniels transitioned to feature films with their debut film Swiss Army Man, starring Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe. The film received critical acclaim and won the Directing Award at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.
In 2022, the Daniels released their second feature film, Everything Everywhere All at Once, which became a critical and commercial success. The film was nominated for ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. Scheinert and Kwan won the awards for Best Picture and Best Director, making them the first filmmaking duo to win both awards since the Coen brothers in 2007.
In addition to his work with Kwan, Scheinert has also directed the black comedy-drama film The Death of Dick Long (2019) and several episodes of television shows such as Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, Legion, and On Becoming a God in Central Florida.
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Daniel Scheinert Net Worth
Daniel Scheinert’s net worth is estimated to be around $1 million as of 2023. This is based on his earnings from his work as a filmmaker, including his music videos, feature films, and television episodes.
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Awards
Daniel Scheinert has won numerous awards for his work as a filmmaker, including:
- 2023 Academy Award for Best Picture for Everything Everywhere All at Once (shared with Daniel Kwan)
- 2023 Academy Award for Best Director for Everything Everywhere All at Once (shared with Daniel Kwan)
- 2023 Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Director for Everything Everywhere All at Once
- 2023 Independent Spirit Award for Best Picture for Everything Everywhere All at Once (shared with Daniel Kwan)
- 2016 Sundance Film Festival Directing Award for Swiss Army Man (shared with Daniel Kwan)
- 2022 Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Director for Everything Everywhere All at Once (shared with Daniel Kwan)
- 2022 Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Director for Everything Everywhere All at Once (shared with Daniel Kwan)
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Parents
Daniel Scheinert’s parents are Becky and Ken Scheinert. They live in Guntersville, Alabama.
Scheinert’s father Ken Scheinert recalls that his son has always had a love for theater. “Very creative, very curious, he was heavily into musical theater and drama,” Ken Scheinert said. “He took dance lessons, he was in choir, he was in band. He was just always interested in the arts.”
Scheinert’s parents have been very supportive of his career in filmmaking. They attended the 2023 Academy Awards to see him and Daniel Kwan win the awards for Best Picture and Best Director for their film Everything Everywhere All at Once.
“We’re just so proud of him,” Ken Scheinert said. “He’s worked so hard for this, and it’s just amazing to see it all come to fruition.”
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Ethnicity
Daniel Scheinert is white American. He was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, to American parents.
Scheinert has not publicly discussed his ethnicity in detail, but he has spoken about his upbringing in the South. In a 2022 interview with The Guardian, he said, “I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, which is a very complex and interesting place. It’s a city with a lot of history, both good and bad. I think my upbringing there has definitely shaped who I am as a filmmaker.”
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Wife
Daniel Scheinert is married to Kirsten Lepore. They got married on August 21, 2016. They have one child together.
Kirsten Lepore is a filmmaker and producer. She has worked on several of Scheinert’s projects, including the music videos for “Turn Down for What” and “Turn Down for What (Remix)”, and the feature films Swiss Army Man and Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Lepore is also a co-founder of the production company and creative agency SuperMega.
Scheinert and Lepore are a private couple and do not share much about their relationship publicly. However, they have spoken about their mutual support for each other’s careers in interviews.
In a 2022 interview with Variety, Scheinert said, “Kirsten is my best friend and my closest collaborator. I couldn’t do what I do without her.”
Lepore echoed this sentiment in a 2023 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, saying, “Daniel is the most talented person I know. I’m so lucky to get to work with him and support him in his career.”
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FAQs
How did Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert meet?
Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert met while they were both students at Emerson College in Boston. Kwan graduated in 2010 and Scheinert graduated in 2009. They went to college with Sunita Mani, who starred with Kwan in the music video for “Turn Down for What”, which they directed. Since 2011, the duo have directed music videos for artists including Foster the People, The Shins and Tenacious D. In 2018, Kwan co-founded the group We Direct Music Videos (W.D.M.V.), described as “a global community of music video directors who are committed to sustainable directorial labor practices”.
Where did Daniel Scheinert go to high school?
Daniel Scheinert went to high school at the Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School at Shades Valley High School in Birmingham, Alabama. This is a rigorous magnet program that offers students the opportunity to earn an International Baccalaureate diploma, which is recognized by universities around the world.