Daniels Trivia | 35 facts about the directors

The Daniels are a directing duo made up by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert.

So let’s dive into some trivia and facts about the duo.

1. Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert are known collectively as Daniels
2. They are American film directors and screenwriters
3. They began their career as directors of music videos
4. The have directed for the popular DJ Snake & Lil Jon music video for the single “Turn Down for What” (2013)
5. They have since ventured into film
6. Having written and directed the surreal black comedy-drama Swiss Army Man (2016)
7. And the science-fiction film Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
8. The latter became A24’s highest-grossing film of all time
9. The Daniels were nominated for Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay
10. Kwan and Scheinert met while they were both studying film at Emerson College in Boston
11. They went to college with Sunita Mani
12. Sunita starred with Kwan in the music video for “Turn Down for What”
13. They directed the music video
14. Since 2011, the duo have directed music videos for artists including Foster the People, The Shins and Tenacious D
15. In 2018, Kwan co-founded the group We Direct Music Videos (W.D.M.V.)
16. Described as “a global community of music video directors who are committed to sustainable directorial labor practices”
17. In 2016, the duo expanded to feature films, writing and directing Swiss Army Man, starring Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe
18. The film received positive reviews
19. As well as the duo winning the Directing Award at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival
20. Daniels have since accumulated several television directing credits
21. These include Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, Legion (Kwan only) and On Becoming a God in Central Florida (Scheinert only)
22. Daniels were attached as directors on a prospective TV adaption of Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
23. Being developed by Noah Hawley
24. But the project was not picked up
25. The duo announced in 2017 they would write, direct and produce a sci-fi film, with their producing partner Jonathan Wang and the Russo brothers
26. Everything Everywhere All at Once, starring Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, James Hong and Jamie Lee Curtis, was released in March 2022 to widespread critical acclaim
27. As of 2022, Daniels have signed a first look TV deal with A24
28. The same year, they also signed a five-year film deal with Universal Pictures
29. Daniels were on the Time 100 Next list in 2022
30. Kwan was born in Westborough, Massachusetts
31. He is married to fellow filmmaker and animator Kirsten Lepore
32. Scheinert was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama
33. He is the son of Becky and Ken Scheinert
34. He attended Oak Mountain Elementary and Middle School
35. He was a student in the International Baccalaureate program at Shades Valley High School