Born in upstate New York, David Weisman dropped out of Syracuse University's School of Fine Arts in the early 1960s to pursue a career in film design.
Weisman's passion for filmmaking led him to Rome, where he designed film posters, including the iconic poster for Federico Fellini's Otto e mezzo (8 1/2). During his time in Rome, Weisman learned fluent Italian, which enabled him to work as an artist in various countries, including Québec, France, Holland, Israel, Germany, and Brazil.
Weisman's linguistic skills also led him to work with prominent filmmakers, including Pier Paolo Pasolini. Back in New York, he was discovered by Otto Preminger, who hired him to replace Saul Bass and create the titles for Hurry Sundown (1967).
Weisman's experimental film-making led him to collaborate with Andy Warhol's Factory and produce the underground cult classic Ciao Manhattan (1972),a chronicle-à-clef about and starring Edie Sedgwick. The film, which Weisman co-wrote and co-directed with John Palmer, was a chronicle of the 1960s counterculture.
Weisman's next project was the avant-garde film The Telephone Book (1971),followed by Shogun Assassin (1980),a film edited from a series of Japanese samurai movies. Weisman's collaboration with Roger Corman's New World Pictures led to the successful release of Shogun Assassin.
In the 1980s, Weisman began working on documentaries, including The Killing of America (1981),a feature documentary about the evolution of U.S. violence. He also produced the comedy Bad Manners (1984),starring Martin Mull and Karen Black.
Weisman's collaboration with Leonard Schrader led to the production of Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985),a feature film about the evolution of U.S. violence. The film, which starred William Hurt and Raul Julia, was accepted into the Official Competition at the Cannes Film Festival in 1985, where Hurt won the Best Actor award.
Weisman's subsequent projects included the production of Seven Tropical Sins, Chica Boom, and Madrid 1937, a film about the Spanish Civil War. He also collaborated with novelist Manuel Puig on two original screenplays, including Girl on Fire (2011),an original screenplay based on Weisman's experiences with Edie Sedgwick during the making of Ciao Manhattan.
Throughout his career, Weisman has been recognized for his contributions to the film industry, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture for Kiss of the Spider Woman. He has also produced a range of films, including Ironweed (1987),Spike of Bensonhurst (1988),and Naked Tango (1990).
