David Alexanian

David Alexanian (born September 11, 1967) is an American director and producer. He is the CEO of Elixir Films, which he co-founded with his sister Alexis Alexanian.

After filming Eric Bogosian's one man show, Wake Up And Smell The Coffee for the Independent Film Channel (IFC) and the Los Angeles theater production of Connor MacPherson's The Good Thief starring Brian D'Arcy James, Alexanian sought to acquire the rights of one of his favorite childhood books, Where The Red Fern Grows. Though the original film was produced in 1974, Elixir remade it for Disney in 2003, starring Grammy winner Dave Matthews, in his acting debut, as well as Kris Kristofferson and Dabney Coleman.

In 2004, Alexanian directed and produced Long Way Round, which followed Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman on a 20,000 miles (32,000 km) motorcycle journey from London to New York, through Europe, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Siberia, Far Eastern Russia and North America.

In 2007, Long Way Round was followed by Long Way Down. This time reuniting with the team for a ride from the northern tip of Scotland, down through Europe, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and ending in South Africa.

Alexanian's involvement with The Way began in 2008 when actor-writer-director Emilio Estevez attended the theatrical release of Long Way Down. At the time, Estevez was scripting The Way and he asked Alexanian if he would come aboard to produce. The duo flew to Spain, embarking on a different sort of road trip, an ancient pilgrimage called the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. They spent the next months travelling the 800 km (500 miles) trek, scouting locations, hiring local crew, casting, and producing The Way.

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