Martin Kunert

Martin Kunert (born Marcin Stanisław von Kunert-Dziewanowski (herb Jastrzębiec)); 1974) is a feature film and television writer, director and producer; and since 2010, a fashion photographer. When the Shanghai Media Group and Disney Pictures agreed on a 15 year co-production of producing Chinese films driven by Hollywood creatives, Martin Kunert was hired to create and write the original franchises. That was part of Kunert’s long career of creating innovative content. In 2004, Kunert conceived and directed the documentary Voices of Iraq, made by sending 150 DV cameras to Iraqis to film their own lives. MovieMaker Magazine hailed the film as "truly a groundbreaking film…both in terms of its content and the process behind its production."

Previously, Kunert created and executive produced MTV's Fear, the first reality show to have contestants film themselves. Kunert created the show's frightening ambiance, developed the oft-mimicked visual and musical style and streamlined the show's editing process, where on a weekly basis, over 250 hours of contestant generated video was edited into 45-minute episodes. MTV's Fear spawned TV specials, fan clubs, DVDs, and numerous copycat television shows, including NBC's Fear Factor and VH1's Celebrity Paranormal Project.

Kunert has also directed television and feature films, including the cult favorite Campfire Tales (starring Amy Smart, Jimmy Marsden, Ron Livingston, and Christine Taylor) for New Line Cinema and Rogue Force (starring Michael Rooker and Robert Patrick) for Miramax. His screenplays include Warner Bros.' Dodging Bullets for Will Smith and Halle Berry, Paramount's The Brazilian, and 20th Century Fox's Hindenburg for Jan de Bont. He created and executive produced "HRT" (starring Michael Rooker and Ernie Hudson) for CBS and Columbia TriStar and "Catch" for CBS. With Doug Liman, Kunert reinvented "CHiPs" for NBC and Warner Bros. He also created the reality show "Mayor" for Columbia TriStar. In 2002, NBC/StudiosUSA signed Kunert to an exclusive writing/directing/producing contract. He wrote and executive produced "Witch Doctor", a TV pilot for Beacon TV and ABC television studios in 2008.

As a fashion photographer, he shot with multiple high-luxury brands and for prestigious fashion magazines like Harpers Bazaar.

Kunert is a graduate of New York University's film school. He is a member of the Directors Guild of America and Writers Guild of America.

He was born in Warsaw, Poland and grew up in Westfield, New Jersey before attending the New York Military Academy. He comes from a noble family originating in the Polish region of Mazovia, a family known for their close relationship with and support of Frédéric Chopin.

Filmography Year Project Credit Studio/Network 2026 Ben writer, director Moriah Media 2023 Women of Iran director Moriah Media 2023 Children of Selvino director Moriah Media 2023 Sinatra director Moriah Media 2021 The Magic Knight writer Disney Pictures 2020 Emperor of a Thousand years writer Disney Pictures, Shanghai Media Group 2013 Legend of Sheriff Gus Skinner creator, executive producer A&E 2011 Ripper writer, director Booya Studios, DirectTV, Panasonic 2011 Misny Makes Them Pay creator, executive producer Booya Studios 2009 WaterSigns director Imagination9 Productions 2009 Ambrose: All I Ever Wanted director, DP Booya Studios 2008 Witch Doctor writer, executive producer ABC Studios 2008 Miracle Chasers writer, executive producer Columbia Tristar 2008 Fugue State writer, director Booya Studios 2005 Dodging Bullets writer Warner Bros. 2004 Voices of Iraq producer, director Booya Studios, Magnolia Pictures 2002 The Mayor creator, executive producer Columbia Tristar 2003 CHiPs writer, executive producer Warner Bros. 2002 The Brazilian writer Paramount 2002 Catch writer, executive producer CBS 2002 Beautiful People writer, executive producer USA Networks 2001 HRT writer, executive producer CBS, Columbia TriStar 2001 Inside Fear creator, executive producer MTV 2001 Faces of Fear creator, executive producer MTV 2000 MTV's Fear creator, executive producer MTV 1998 Hindenburg writer 20th Century Fox 1998 Renegade Force director Miramax 1997 Campfire Tales writer, director New Line Cinema