Cameron Landisberg is a writer and director of films and a minor character in Pepper Ann. His name is a combination of, and homage to, three real-life writer-directors, James Cameron, John Landis, and Steven Spielberg. Judging by what we know of Landisberg's films, he seems to work primarily in the same genres that his namesakes often do: science-fiction and action-adventure. His personality, however, is more of a stereotypical self-important "artiste," and not modeled directly after any of them.
Landisberg first appears in the episode "Burn Hazelnut Burn," when Pepper Ann reviews his film, Macho Mucho for the school newspaper, Hazel Nuts N' Bolts. She describes it as "mucho stinko. I'd rather beat myself on the head with a wooden plank than sit through this mind-numbingly bad film again." This is the latest in a spate of harsh reviews from Pepper Ann, where she has similar opinions on the films Revengenator and Hard Asphalt (no indication that Landisberg has any connection to either of those).
Landisberg, clearly an avid reader of Hazel Nuts N' Bolts, drops by the Pearson home to confront Pepper Ann. He tells her that all reviewers are alike, criticizing the people who are actually doing something in a field the critic knows nothing about. This prompts Pepper Ann to make a film with friends and classmates, which turns out to be a nightmare. She documents the experience in another article, and apologizes to anyone in the film industry that she judged before "walking a mile in their moccasins." After reading this, Landisberg calls Pepper Ann to congratulate her and tells her not to worry if her film is terrible, because the true artist isn't in it for external rewards...right before he excuses himself to count his money.
Landisberg next appears in the episode "The Untitled Milo Kamalani Project," when Milo begins achieving fame and notoriety for artwork that he initially does as a joke. Landisberg appears at a gallery showing to buy a number of Milo's pieces, and then continues to hang out with Milo (or rather, let Milo hang out with him) and inducts him into the high-profile world of celebrities. Milo, a fan of Landisberg's films, is ecstatic at first, but soon understands the superficial nature of Landisberg and his associates, and takes his leave.
Landisberg seems like his own behavior might be swayed by Milo's actions, but that ultimately turns out not to be the case, and he remains as superficial as ever.
Filmography (believed to be chronological)[]
- Moonriser
- The Penguin Master
- Today We Rhumba, Tomorrow We Die
- Leg Breaker
- Leg Breaker Part 2
- Leg Breaker Part 4
- Macho Mucho
- Sha La La Doomsday
- He implies that he'll soon begin working on a "half-baked Moonriser prequel" in "The Untitled Milo Kamalani Project."