Nightcrawler is a 2014 American satirical psychological thriller film written and directed by Dan Gilroy in his directorial debut. It stars Jake Gyllenhaal as an unhinged stringer who seeks out violent and morbid events late at night in Los Angeles so he can film them and sell the exclusive footage to a local television news station. The supporting cast includes Rene Russo, Riz Ahmed, and Bill Paxton. Gilroy originally wanted to make a film about the life of the American photographer Weegee, but switched focus after discovering the unique narrative possibilities surrounding the stringer profession.