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Matt Stone

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Matt Stone is a versatile American creator who works in many different artistic fields. He is an animator, writer, producer, songwriter, filmmaker, and actor.

Matt Stone at the 2024 Telluride Film Festival (cropped)
Matt Stone at the 2024 Telluride Film Festival (cropped)

Stone is best known for co-creating the long-running animated series South Park with his creative partner, Trey Parker. Together, they have also produced the Broadway musical The Book of Mormon. His career is defined by a wide range of media, from television and film to stage productions. Stone has earned significant industry recognition for his contributions to entertainment.

Stone’s professional journey began during his time at the University of Colorado Boulder. He pursued a double major in both film and mathematics.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone by Gage Skidmore
Trey Parker and Matt Stone by Gage Skidmore

While studying, he met Trey Parker, and the two began collaborating on various creative projects. In 1992, they helped found a production company called Avenging Conscience. This group worked on short films, such as the animated piece Jesus vs. Frosty. They used a cutout paper technique to create these early animations. This method involves moving physical pieces of paper to create the illusion of motion.

One of their first major collaborative efforts was the feature-length film Cannibal! The Musical. The project grew from a three-minute trailer about a fictional musical based on Alfred Packer. Parker had become interested in Packer, a nineteenth-century prospector accused of cannibalism. To fund the film, the group raised $125,000 from friends and family. The production was physically demanding, as the crew filmed on Loveland Pass during the end of winter. They had to endure freezing weather to complete the movie. The film eventually became a "cult classic" and has been adapted into stage plays for high schools and community theaters.

After college, Stone and Parker moved to Los Angeles to pursue more professional opportunities. This period was marked by significant financial struggle. For more than a year, Stone could not afford a mattress and slept on dirty laundry. They attempted to pitch various projects, such as a children's program called Time Warped to Fox Kids. Although a development executive approved the pilots, the Fox Kids division was disbanded. They also worked on a film called Orgazmo, which received an NC-17 rating from the Motion Picture Association of America. This rating, caused by the film's content, led to poor box office performance.

The creation of South Park followed a series of smaller, experimental projects. One such project was a video greeting card titled Jesus vs. Santa. When a digital version of this clip was placed on the internet, it became one of the first viral videos.

Trey Parker Matt Stone 2007
Trey Parker Matt Stone 2007

This popularity led to negotiations with networks like MTV and Comedy Central. While Fox passed on the idea because they did not want certain characters in the show, Comedy Central executive Doug Herzog commissioned the series. The pilot episode was produced on a $300,000 budget. It took between three and three and a half months to complete the animation in Denver, Colorado.

South Park premiered on Comedy Central in August 1997 and achieved immediate massive success. The show's popularity helped transform Comedy Central from a small network into a major industry power. At the time of the premiere, the network had only 21 million subscribers. The show averaged between 3.5 and 5.5 million viewers. The brand also became a massive commercial success through merchandise. By the end of 1998, the show had generated more than $150 million in sales from items like dolls and T-shirts. The show's popularity even helped the network add 3 million new subscribers in the first half of 1998.

Beyond television, Stone has expanded his reach into major motion pictures and musical theater. In 1999, he and Parker directed the film South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut. They also worked on the satirical action film Team America: World Police in 2004.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone by Gage Skidmore
Trey Parker and Matt Stone by Gage Skidmore

Their work on The Book of Mormon brought them significant success on Broadway. Stone's career is marked by high-level accolades from various organizations. He has received five Primetime Emmy Awards for his work on South Park. Additionally, he has won three Tony Awards and one Grammy Award for his contributions to The Book of Mormon.

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File:Trey Parker Matt Stone 2007.jpg
Trey Parker Matt Stone 2007.jpg
File:Trey Parker and Matt Stone by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Trey Parker and Matt Stone by Gage Skidmore.jpg
File:Matt Stone at the 2024 Telluride Film Festival (cropped).jpg
Matt Stone at the 2024 Telluride Film...
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