Production Timeline
From a high school debate team in Bellaire, Texas, to the red carpet at the Tribeca Film Festival — the complete timeline of how Puncture came to be.
Paul Danziger and Mike Weiss meet on the debate team at Bellaire High School in Houston, Texas. Weiss, a year younger, is the team captain and a national merit scholarship semi-finalist. A lifelong friendship and legal partnership begins.
Weiss earns his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law.
Source: 1997 Michael D. Weiss biographyThomas Shaw’s early retractable-syringe development received $649,497 across three NIH SBIR awards made to Checkmate Engineering from 1992 through 1994.
Source: Retractable TechnologiesThomas Shaw brings his case to Mike Weiss and Paul Danziger. They file a federal antitrust lawsuit against Becton Dickinson, Novation, Tyco, and Premier — a two-man Houston firm taking on a $4.5 billion corporation to bring safety needles to healthcare workers.
Source: Blurred by LinesMichael David Weiss dies of a drug overdose at age 32, before the case goes to trial. His memorial service is held at the United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit Ceremonial Courtroom — a testament to the respect he commanded in the legal community.
Source: WikipediaRetractable Technologies announces a $100 million cash settlement with Becton Dickinson. The company’s announcement is a contemporaneous source record, not an independent court finding.
Source: Retractable Technologies announcementContemporaneous reporting says Danziger wrote an earlier screenplay about the case. The final film credits list Chris Lopata for screenplay and Paul Danziger and Ela Thier for story.
Source: Tribeca Film Festival creditsDanziger connects with brothers Mark and Adam Kassen. The filmmakers later work with Chris Lopata on the screenplay, based on a story by Danziger and Ela Thier.
Source: Moveable Fest InterviewChris Evans reads the script and is immediately drawn to the character of Mike Weiss. 'The script was so good, it was so intimate, and I was so shocked no other actor was going to steal this from me.' Danziger finances the production, breaking Hollywood's cardinal rule.
Source: Moveable Fest InterviewProduction begins on location in Houston — the same city where the case unfolded. Real judges offer their courtrooms, family members serve as extras, and paintings from Mike's house decorate the sets. Brett Cullen, a Houston native, plays the legal villain.
Source: ABC7/KTRK HoustonPuncture premieres as a Spotlight selection at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. For a first-time executive producer with no Hollywood connections, it's a remarkable achievement. Chris Evans attends the premiere and after-party.
Source: Tribeca Film FestivalMillennium Entertainment acquires all U.S. distribution rights for Puncture, securing theatrical release. The deal validates the unconventional path Danziger took from courtroom to screen.
Source: The Hollywood ReporterPuncture opens in New York, Los Angeles, and Houston. Roger Ebert gives it 3 out of 4 stars, calling Evans' performance 'electrifying.' The film plays in five theaters with a limited domestic run before expanding nationwide.
Source: Roger Ebert ReviewPuncture is released on home video and later becomes available on streaming platforms including Netflix, Amazon, and Freevee — where it finds a much wider audience than its limited theatrical run allowed.
Fifteen years after its premiere, Puncture experiences a resurgence on social media. New audiences discover the film and its connection to Chris Evans' pre-Captain America career. The true story continues to resonate as healthcare worker safety remains a global concern.
Source: Puncture Film Official SiteAbout the Executive Producer
Paul Danziger is the founding partner of Danziger & De Llano, LLP, a nationally recognized mesothelioma and asbestos litigation firm. The same tenacity that drove him to take on a $4.5 billion medical supply corporation in the 1990s now drives his representation of families devastated by corporate negligence and toxic exposure.
As Executive Producer of Puncture, Danziger brought the same commitment to truth and justice that defines his legal practice. The film stands as both a memorial to his late partner Mike Weiss and a testament to the power of individual courage against systemic corruption.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact Danziger & De Llano for a free consultation. Nationwide representation. Call 855-699-5441.