# Robert Schwartzman
**Robert Schwartzman** (Robert Coppola Schwartzman, born 1982, also known as Robert Carmine) is an American filmmaker, actor, and musician, a member of the [Coppola family](https://www.edgepedia.org/coppola-family) and the lead vocalist and guitarist of the pop/rock band Rooney.[1](https://letterboxd.com/director/robert-schwartzman/) He is known for playing Michael Moscovitz in *The Princess Diaries* (2001) and for directing the independent features *Dreamland* (2016), *The Unicorn* (2018), *The Argument* (2020), and *The Good Half* (2023).[1](https://letterboxd.com/director/robert-schwartzman/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1982, Los Angeles, California, to actress Talia Shire and producer Jack Schwartzman[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0777521/) |
| Family | Nephew of Francis Ford Coppola; cousin of Nicolas Cage and Sofia Coppola; older brother of Jason Schwartzman[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0777521/) |
| Music career | Formed Rooney in 1999; signed with Interscope/Geffen Records in 2002; the band's self-titled debut album sold over 500,000 copies[3](https://www.talkhouse.com/three-great-things-robert-schwartzman/) |
| Signature acting role | Michael Moscovitz in *The Princess Diaries* (2001)[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/robert-schwartzman) |
| Directorial debut | *Dreamland* (2016), which he also produced, co-wrote, and scored; premiered at the Tribeca Festival[3](https://www.talkhouse.com/three-great-things-robert-schwartzman/) |
| Distribution company | Co-founded Utopia with Cole Harper in 2018, specializing in independent and documentary cinema[5](https://riverrunfilm.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/RR_2024FilmGuide.pdf) |
| Recent work | Directed *Hung Up on a Dream: The Zombies Documentary* and *The Good Half*, both premiering in 2023[3](https://www.talkhouse.com/three-great-things-robert-schwartzman/) |
## Family background
Schwartzman was born in Los Angeles to actress [Talia Shire](https://www.edgepedia.org/talia-shire) and producer Jack Schwartzman. His father was of Polish Jewish descent and his mother is of Italian ancestry.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0777521/) The extended family includes his uncle [Francis Ford Coppola](https://www.edgepedia.org/francis-ford-coppola), his cousins [Nicolas Cage](https://www.edgepedia.org/nicolas-cage) and Sofia Coppola, his former cousin-in-law Spike Jonze, and his older brother Jason Schwartzman.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0777521/) His brother John Schwartzman is an Oscar-nominated cinematographer and his niece Gia Coppola directed *Palo Alto*.[6](https://www.filminquiry.com/interview-robert-schwartzman/)
During post-production of *The Princess Diaries*, he tried to change his name to Robert Cage in honor of his cousin Nicolas Cage, but promotional material had already been finalized, so the name Robert Schwartzman remained.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0777521/)
## Acting career
Schwartzman's film career began in front of the camera. He appeared in his cousin [Sofia Coppola](https://www.edgepedia.org/sofia-coppola)'s first short film, *Lick the Star* (1998), playing Greg, and then played Paul Baldino in her feature directorial debut, *[The Virgin Suicides](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-virgin-suicides-film)* (1999).[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0777521/) His best-known acting role came as Michael Moscovitz, the love interest of [Anne Hathaway](https://www.edgepedia.org/anne-hathaway)'s character, in *The Princess Diaries* (2001).[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/robert-schwartzman) The film also featured a section of "Blueside," a song he wrote for Rooney that was set to become the band's first single.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0777521/)
Later acting credits include Ben in *It Happened in L.A.* (2017), Beb in *The Unicorn* (2018), Darron in *Lost Transmissions* (2019), and The Notary in *Not an Artist* (2023).[7](https://www.metacritic.com/person/robert-schwartzman/) He also appeared uncredited in his cousin Sofia's *Somewhere* (2010).[8](https://www.moviemeter.nl/personen/17242/robert-schwartzman/filmografie)
## Rooney and music
Schwartzman has said that a career in music was unexpected for him; as a younger brother he watched Jason's band [Phantom Planet](https://www.edgepedia.org/phantom-planet) play at The Roxy and the Whiskey a Go Go, began writing songs, and started Rooney.[9](https://crypticrock.com/interview-robert-schwartzman/) He formed the band in 1999 and signed with Interscope/[Geffen Records](https://www.edgepedia.org/geffen-records) in 2002, writing many of the group's songs; their self-titled debut album has sold over 500,000 copies.[3](https://www.talkhouse.com/three-great-things-robert-schwartzman/) As a performer he is sometimes credited under the name Robert Carmine.[1](https://letterboxd.com/director/robert-schwartzman/)
His music and film work overlap. He composed the score for *Palo Alto* (2013), co-credited with [Dev Hynes](https://www.edgepedia.org/dev-hynes), and wrote songs for his own films: two Rooney songs, "Do You Believe" and "Time And Time Again," appear in or with *The Unicorn*.[10](https://coupdemainmagazine.com/rooney/14860) For *The Good Half* he wrote much of the score and performed it with Rooney.[11](https://fliff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Release-OPENING-NIGHT.pdf) His business ventures are grouped under the Beachwood Park name, covering film production, a recording studio, music releases, and touring.[10](https://coupdemainmagazine.com/rooney/14860)
## Directing
Schwartzman moved behind the camera in 2016 with *Dreamland*, a music-centric coming-of-age story about a piano player, Monty, entangled with an older wealthy patron; he produced, co-wrote with Benjamin Font, and scored the film, and it premiered at the Tribeca Festival.[3](https://www.talkhouse.com/three-great-things-robert-schwartzman/) • [12](https://anthemmagazine.com/screen-test-robert-schwartzman/) Critics noted its debt to *The Graduate*; the New York Times called it "a smart, understated sex comedy" and remarked that one would never suspect it was a first feature.[13](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dreamland_2016)
His second feature, *The Unicorn* (2018), a romantic comedy about an indefinitely engaged couple, Cal and Mal, who seek a threesome, was based on his original story and premiered at SXSW.[5](https://riverrunfilm.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/RR_2024FilmGuide.pdf) • [6](https://www.filminquiry.com/interview-robert-schwartzman/) Schwartzman has said the idea came from a woman he and his wife met at a bar who described herself as a "unicorn," a term he had never heard before.[6](https://www.filminquiry.com/interview-robert-schwartzman/) *The Argument* (2020), his third feature, is a comedy set almost entirely in the apartment of an amateur theater director, starring [Maggie Q](https://www.edgepedia.org/maggie-q) and [Danny Pudi](https://www.edgepedia.org/danny-pudi).[14](https://screenanarchy.com/amp/2020/09/review-the-argument-trifling-theatrical-experimentation.html) • [3](https://www.talkhouse.com/three-great-things-robert-schwartzman/)
In 2023 he released two films: *Hung Up on a Dream: The Zombies Documentary*, about the English rock band [The Zombies](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-zombies), and *The Good Half*, a comedy-drama starring [Nick Jonas](https://www.edgepedia.org/nick-jonas), Brittany Snow, and [David Arquette](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-arquette) that premiered at the Tribeca Festival.[3](https://www.talkhouse.com/three-great-things-robert-schwartzman/) *The Good Half* follows an emotionally distant writer, Renn, who returns to Cleveland for his mother's funeral; Schwartzman has described the film as personally connected to him because he lost his father to cancer when he was 11 years old.[15](https://www.tribecafilm.com/films/good-half-2023) • [9](https://crypticrock.com/interview-robert-schwartzman/) The film was made independently with a six-actor main ensemble and Nick Jonas in every scene.[9](https://crypticrock.com/interview-robert-schwartzman/) At the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival in November 2023, Schwartzman received the Renaissance Award.[11](https://fliff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Release-OPENING-NIGHT.pdf)
## Utopia and producing
In 2018 Schwartzman and Cole Harper co-founded Utopia, a film distribution and sales company specializing in independent and documentary cinema.[5](https://riverrunfilm.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/RR_2024FilmGuide.pdf) He has described it as a startup built around the idea that independently made micro-budget films needed more engaged buyers and a more collaborative dialogue with filmmakers.[16](https://film-fest-report.com/after-triumphant-tribeca-premiere-the-good-half-set-for-north-american-theaters-interview-with-robert-schwartzman/)
His producing credits have grown alongside his directing. In 2024 alone he was credited as producer on *The Last Showgirl*, *Drugstore June*, and *The Good Half*, and as executive producer on *Linda Perry: Let It Die Here*, *Chestnut*, and *Takin' Care of Business*.[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/robert-schwartzman) On Rotten Tomatoes, *Linda Perry: Let It Die Here* (2024) stands as his highest-rated credit at 100 percent, and *Chestnut* (2023) his lowest at 47 percent.[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/robert-schwartzman)
## References
1. [Films directed by Robert Schwartzman, Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/director/robert-schwartzman/)
2. [Robert Schwartzman, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0777521/)
3. [Three Great Things: Robert Schwartzman, Talkhouse (June 12, 2023)](https://www.talkhouse.com/three-great-things-robert-schwartzman/)
4. [Robert Schwartzman Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/robert-schwartzman)
5. [Robert Schwartzman, Emerging Master of Cinema, RiverRun International Film Festival 2024 Film Guide](https://riverrunfilm.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/RR_2024FilmGuide.pdf)
6. [Interview With Robert Schwartzman, Writer & Director Of THE UNICORN, Film Inquiry](https://www.filminquiry.com/interview-robert-schwartzman/)
7. [Robert Schwartzman, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/person/robert-schwartzman/)
8. [Filmografie Robert Schwartzman, MovieMeter](https://www.moviemeter.nl/personen/17242/robert-schwartzman/filmografie)
9. [Interview - Robert Schwartzman, Cryptic Rock](https://crypticrock.com/interview-robert-schwartzman/)
10. [Interview: Robert Schwartzman on new Rooney music + upcoming film 'The Unicorn', Coup de Main Magazine](https://coupdemainmagazine.com/rooney/14860)
11. [FLIFF Opening Night press release (2023)](https://fliff.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Release-OPENING-NIGHT.pdf)
12. [Screen Test: Robert Schwartzman, Anthem Magazine (November 19, 2016)](https://anthemmagazine.com/screen-test-robert-schwartzman/)
13. [Dreamland (2016), Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dreamland_2016)
14. [Review: THE ARGUMENT, Trifling Theatrical Experimentation, Screen Anarchy (September 3, 2020)](https://screenanarchy.com/amp/2020/09/review-the-argument-trifling-theatrical-experimentation.html)
15. [The Good Half, 2023 Tribeca Festival](https://www.tribecafilm.com/films/good-half-2023)
16. [After Triumphant Tribeca Premiere, "The Good Half" Set for North American Theaters: Interview with Robert Schwartzman, Film Fest Report](https://film-fest-report.com/after-triumphant-tribeca-premiere-the-good-half-set-for-north-american-theaters-interview-with-robert-schwartzman/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Film and television directors › Directors of the United States and Canada › Contemporary film directors › Directors debuting in the 2010s and later*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license