Fran Rubel Kuzui

Movie director and producer Fran Rubel Kuzui is best known for lending a major hand in the creation of both the movie and television versions of teen fantasy "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Kuzui got her start in show business by directing and co-writing the 1988 film "Tokyo Pop" (which was produced by Kuzui's husband, Kaz Kazui), before directing the film version of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" in 1992, a broad comedy starring Kristy Swanson in the lead role. Though the film was not particularly successful commercially, it would spawn a more successful television series, which ran from 1997 through 2003 featuring Sarah Michelle Gellar as the lead character. Kuzui served as executive producer for all of the show's 145 episodes. Kuzui also served as executive producer for the popular "Buffy"spinoff "Angel," starring David Boreanaz as a conflicted vampire, from 1999 through 2004. Additionally, Kuzui has produced films, including Trey Parker and Matt Stone's "Orgazmo" and the indie sleeper "Telling Lies in America."