Dennis Maguire, Director of Studio Operations, Head of Raleigh Film

  • 17 Aug 2012 12:00 PM
Dennis Maguire, Director of Studio Operations, Head of Raleigh Film
Dennis was born in NYC and moved to California, because his father was asked to Produce and Direct 2nd Unit for the feature film, The Sand Pepples; which was directed by academy award winning director, Robert Wise. He moved to the Orient for a year, living in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Once the film returned to 20th Century Fox Studios to complete the stage work, his father decided to stay in California and work out of Los Angeles.

He went to Our Lady of Malibu School and was graduated from Loyola High School. After High School Dennis signed a National Letter of Intent to play College Football at Santa Clara University; but unfortunately fell asleep while driving home after work from All The President’s Man. It cost him a football career, but he did remain in the film business and eventually joined the I.A.T.S.E. as a propmaker. He graduated from Santa Clara University with a B.A. in History.

After graduation from Santa Clara University he went to work on, The Legend Of The Lone Ranger, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Dennis spent 5 years building sets before Roger Rothstein, a producer, was kind enough to allow him to interview as the Set P.A. on the feature film, Only When I Laugh. Eventually, Dennis did 400 days as a Set P.A. and became a member of the Directors Guild of America as a 2nd Assistant Director.

He moved up to 1st Assistant Director shortly after that and has enjoyed a successful career on many feature films, including: Angela's Ashes, Evita, Soldier, The Specialist, Patriot Games, Misery, The Scarlet Letter, Rambo III, Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade. More recently Dennis has been Involved with The Mechanic, Medallion, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D, Stolen, and Leprechaun’s Revenge.

From 2002-2003 Dennis was Head of Production for a small Indie Production Co.called, CDMI Productions. In the Fall of 2004, Dennis Line Produced an Independent film, Blue Sombrero which was filmed in San Jose, Costa Rica. Following this, Dennis was named Vice President of Right Time Productions in charge of Film Production in 2005. Dennis directed a Spec TV Pilot called, The Frank & Judy Show. It's an exciting concept of a TV show within a TV show. The producers won several Film Festival Awards.

Dennis also directed a music video shoot in New Orleans several months after Katrina for a rock band called, Superna.
He is involved with several talented young screenwriters and recently produced Death Perception which was written and directed by Layton Matthews. The film has completed post production and will begin submitting to Film Festivals this year.

Dennis was named, director of developement, at Horizon Entertainment in 2009. His latest projects are: Bedlam Stories, to be shot in Budapest during 2013. And, he is involved with the award winning playwright and former Tulane Professor, Jim Fitzmorris, developing a Feature Film to be shot also in New Orleans. At present, he is involved as a producer with two very exciting films, A Doll’s House to be directed by, Charles Huddleston, with Sir Ben Kingsley and Jena Malone and the Teen Suspense Thriller, St. Vincent’s Asylum, to be directed by Drew Daywalt.

Presently Dennis is Director of Studio Operations and Head of Raleigh Film at Raleigh Studios Budapest.

Dennis has 4 children, Caitlin, Molly, Wilder and Jack.


1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
I came April 20th, 2012; and work brought me here.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
Yes, several times thru out my life; because of work.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
It's transformatio from 1996 when I was last here for about 7 weeks of work.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
The Castle area of Buda, The Citadel for the view of the city/river; Hero Square and City Park. Andrassy út. Opera House. Basilica. Cafes and restaurants.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
All of it.

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
Soproni

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?
Igen

8. What do you miss the most from home?
My children

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
Travel Writer.

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?
President of a country.

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
Perdido Keys, Florida

12. Where do you hope to spend your next one?
Lake Balaton, Hungary

13. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Lawrence of Arabia. Sailing.

14. What can't you resist?
Sushi

15. Red wine or white?
White, and very chilled...

16. Book or movie?
Movie, you can share the moment with some one

17. Morning person or night person?
Night, definitely...

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
All of them...

19. Buda side or Pest side?
Pest side so far...but one never knows...

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
Be true to yourself.

  • How does this interview make you feel?