Independent Film Actor, Writer, Director & Producer; Sundance Grand Jury Prize Winner; Creator of "The Brothers McMullen"
Ed Burns Biography
Edward Burns is an American actor, writer, director, and producer recognized for his contributions to independent film. Burns gained attention with his debut film, "The Brothers McMullen," which was produced on a modest budget and filmed at his parents' home. The film, shot on 16mm with a small crew, explores themes of love, fidelity, maturity, and family among three siblings. "The Brothers McMullen" won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance and was released theatrically by Fox Searchlight Pictures, earning significant box office success.
Following this breakthrough, Burns expanded his work as a filmmaker with "She's the One," which featured a larger budget and included performances by Jennifer Aniston and Cameron Diaz, as well as an original score by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. As an actor, Burns appeared alongside Tom Hanks and Matt Damon in Steven Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan." He also starred in "15 Minutes" with Robert De Niro, "Confidence" with Dustin Hoffman, and the romantic comedy "27 Dresses" with Katherine Heigl. On television, Burns was a recurring presence on Entourage as the creator of Johnny Drama's series, "Five Towns."
Burns has been a pioneer in digital film distribution, releasing "Purple Violets" as the first film to debut exclusively on iTunes. He continued to embrace video-on-demand and day-and-date releases with films such as "Nice Guy Johnny" and "Newlyweds." Burns received the Best Director Award at the Boston Film Festival for "Nice Guy Johnny." He also created, directed, wrote, and starred in "Public Morals" on TNT, portraying Terry Muldoon, a police officer in 1960s New York.
Burns has discussed the challenges of maintaining an independent filmmaking career in his memoir, "Independent Ed," which details his experiences making micro-budget films and navigating the evolving film industry. Over the course of his career, Burns has produced 11 independent features, experiencing both critical acclaim and professional setbacks.
Burns returned to the story that launched his career with "The Family McMullen," a follow-up film streaming on HBO Max, which continues the narrative of the Irish American brothers from Long Island. With a career spanning more than a dozen films as a writer, director, and actor, Burns is known for his enduring presence in American independent cinema and his commitment to creative independence.
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Ed Burns Speaking Topics
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A Conversation With Ed Burns
And how do good stories get told when the Hollywood studio system is a business about the bottom line? Is it possible to remain authentic and not "sell out?" With his film, Nice Guy Johnny, Burns deliberately resisted the traditional distribution channels where there is little control, and embraced a changing marketplace-one where filmgoers want their content immediate and accessible across a variety of digital platforms.A true indie filmmaker at heart from his early days of breaking into the industry with The Brothers McMullen at Sundance, Ed Burns knows what it takes to follow the dream of being a writer and director.
His latest film, Newlyweds, continues the trend of "anytime, anyplace, anywhere" by being available directly to viewers across a variety of platforms. It also confirms Burns' proclivity for retaining his independent spirit and keeping him at the forefront of low-budget indie filmmaking. Passionate about making personal films with candor and integrity, Burns' perseverance inspires the dreamer in others, no matter what industry or field they pursue. In an intimate and lively conversation format, Ed Burns shares his experiences in the world of filmmaking and how to make use of the current technology to get great stories told.
Ed Burns Videos
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How do I book Ed Burns to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Ed Burns for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Ed Burns, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Ed Burns or any other speaker of your choice. -
What are the speaker fees for Ed Burns
Speaking fees for Ed Burns, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Ed Burns are available upon request for live events and $50,000 - $100,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Ed Burns, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Ed Burns speak about?
Ed Burns is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Actor, Business, Celebrity, Change Management, College, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Inspirational, Motivational, Music, Non-Fiction Authors, Personal Growth, Storytelling, Technology, Television & Film -
Where does Ed Burns travel from?
Ed Burns generally travels from New York, NY, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
Who is Ed Burns’s agent?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Ed Burns for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Ed Burns for your next private or corporate function. -
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AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Ed Burns or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
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Ed Burns is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as A Conversation With Ed Burns. The estimated speaking fee range to book Ed Burns for your event is available upon request. Ed Burns generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are John Wood, Common, Mike Rayburn, Malcolm Gladwell and Tom Hanks. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Ed Burns for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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