Directors Who Worked With Patrick Swayze
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- Writer
- Producer
- Director
John Milius is a screenwriter and director who came to prominence in the 1970s, when he was associated with Francis Ford Coppola and the pre-Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) George Lucas. Born on April 11, 1944 in St. Louis, Missouri, Milius was one of the first movie industry professionals to be a film school graduate, having matriculated at the University of Southern California. In 1967, Milius won first prize at USC School of Cinema-for his student film Marcello, I'm Bored (1970).
A gun enthusiast, Milius serves as a member of the National Rifle Association's Board of Directors.- Writer
- Director
- Additional Crew
Rowdy Herrington was born in 1951 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Rowdy is a writer and director, known for Road House (1989), Striking Distance (1993) and Repo Man (1984). Rowdy is married to Toni Semple.- Director
- Producer
- Actress
A very talented painter, Kathryn spent two years at the San Francisco Art Institute. At 20, she won a scholarship to the Whitney Museum's Independent Study Program. She was given a studio in a former Offtrack Betting building, literally in an old bank vault, where she made art and waited to be critiqued by people like Richard Serra, Robert Rauschenberg and Susan Sontag. Later she earned a scholarship to study film at Columbia University School of Arts, graduating in 1979. She was also a member of the British avant garde cultural group, Art and Language. Kathryn is the only child of the manager of a paint factory and a librarian.- Producer
- Director
- Actor
William Theodore Kotcheff was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to Bulgarian parents from Plovdiv. He graduated with a degree in English Literature from the University of Toronto. He began his professional career directing TV drama at age 24 at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, at the time becoming the youngest director in the CBC. After two years there he went to live and work in England, directing in television and the theatre.
He twice won the British Emmy for Best Director, the second time for an extraordinary docudrama about a female derelict entitled, "Edna, the Inebriate Woman" episode of Play for Today (1970). The film also won the Best Actress and Best Script Award. Kotcheff's television work in Great Britain was part of the new wave of working-class actors and drama that changed British theatre and television in the late 1950s. His stage successes include the long-running Lionel Bart musical, "Maggie May." His film career started in England: Tiara Tahiti (1962), a social comedy starring James Mason and John Mills; Life at the Top (1965), starring Laurence Harvey and Jean Simmons; Two Gentlemen Sharing (1969), starring Robin Phillips, a film set in the West Indian community of London and dealing with relationships between blacks and whites which was the official British entry at the Venice Film Festival. His next film, Wake in Fright (1971), was made in Australia. It was the Australian entry in the Cannes Film Festival and many Australians still think it is the finest Australian film ever made and the beginning of the renaissance of the Australian cinema. Kotcheff returned to Canada in 1972 to make a film of a novel written by his best friend, Mordecai Richler, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1974). This film, thought to be one of the best Canadian films ever made, won the Golden Bear First Prize at the Berlin Film Festival and numerous other awards including an Academy Award nomination for best script. Kotcheff also directed Fun with Dick and Jane (1977), starring Jane Fonda and George Segal; Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? (1978), starring Jacqueline Bisset and George Segal; North Dallas Forty (1979)--which he also wrote--starring 'Nick Nolte' (a film considered by many in the sport to be one of the best ever made about professional football); First Blood (1982), starring Sylvester Stallone--one of the biggest box-office winners of all time--Uncommon Valor (1983), starring Gene Hackman; and Weekend at Bernie's (1989). In the mid-'80s Kotcheff made a film of another Mordecai Richler novel, Joshua Then and Now (1985). This film, starring James Woods and Alan Arkin, was the official Canadian entry in the Cannes Film Festival, and together with "The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz", is one of the most widely known and acclaimed Canadian films in the United States. Kotcheff is married to Laifun Chung and has two children, Thomas age 7 and Alexandra age 9. Laifun Chung is President of their film company, Panoptica Productions, Inc. He has homes in Toronto and Los Angeles.- Director
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Emile Ardolino was born on 9 May 1943 in Maspeth, New York, USA. He was a director and producer, known for Dirty Dancing (1987), Great Performances: Dance in America (1976) and He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin' (1983). He died on 20 November 1993 in Bel Air, California, USA.- Producer
- Writer
- Director
Jerry Zucker was born on 11 March 1950 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Airplane! (1980), Ghost (1990) and Top Secret! (1984). He has been married to Janet Zucker since May 1987. They have two children.- Producer
- Writer
- Director
Timothy Linh Bui was born on 13 April 1970 in Saigon, Vietnam. He is a producer and writer, known for Green Dragon (2001), Powder Blue (2009) and Live Fast, Die Laughing.- Writer
- Producer
- Director
A native of Canada, James Orr attended the Carleton University Journalism School, and then the undergraduate film school at York University in Toronto. In 1977, he was the first Canadian to be accepted as a Director Fellow at the prestigious American Film Institute in Los Angeles. Along with his writing/producing partner, Jim Cruickshank, Orr is responsible for a cumulative box office of over a half-billion dollars, worldwide, with movies such as Three Men and a Baby (1987), Mr. Destiny (1990) and Father of the Bride (1991).- Writer
- Actor
- Producer
Joshua Sinclair is an eclectic personality. A medical doctor specializing in tropical diseases, he has worked in India with Mother Teresa (Calcutta) and Sister Rosa (Bombay), as well as in various parts of Africa. He is also a professor in comparative theology. Since his acquired professions are obviously "non-profit", he has made a living as a best-selling novelist and a film and television writer, actor, producer and director.- Producer
- Director
- Additional Crew
- Director
- Producer
- Actor
English-born "Army brat" John Badham is the son of English actress Mary Hewitt and the stepson of an American Army general. Raised in Alabama and schooled at Yale, he cut his teeth producing and directing for TV before making his feature debut with The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976). Badham's breakthrough credit was the box office smash Saturday Night Fever (1977), made the following year; other hits on his resume include Blue Thunder (1983), WarGames (1983), and Short Circuit (1986).- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Sanford Bookstaver was born on 1 September 1973 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a director and producer, known for Dexter: New Blood (2021), Jessica Jones (2015) and Power (2014). He was previously married to Rena Sofer.- Director
- Producer
- Actor
Jeremiah S. Chechik was born in 1955 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He is a director and producer, known for Benny & Joon (1993), National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) and Gossip Girl (2007).- Director
- Producer
- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Charles Haid was born on 2 June 1943 in San Francisco, California, USA. He is an actor and director, known for Altered States (1980), Nightbreed (1990) and Home on the Range (2004). He has been married to Lori Lethin since 1 April 2015. He was previously married to Elisabeth Harmon-Haid, Deborah Richter and Penelope Windust.- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Christopher Leitch is known for Universal Soldier (1992), She Fought Alone (1995) and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000).- Director
- Producer
- Actress
- Director
- Additional Crew
Lisa Niemi was born on 26 May 1956 in Houston, Texas, USA. She is an actress and director, known for One Last Dance (2003), She's Having a Baby (1988) and Super Force (1990). She has been married to Albert DePrisco since 25 May 2014. She was previously married to Patrick Swayze.- Director
- Producer
- Actor
Born near Windsor, England, Steve became an oil painter, photographer and printer, graduating in Fine Art at Leeds University. He then joined ground-breaking British experimental theatre company Impact Theatre Cooperative as an actor. For the next six years Steve appeared in thirteen original shows which toured throughout the UK and Europe. When Impact disbanded Steve went on to write, produce, direct and design a dozen new shows for his own theatre company which performed in Britain and around the world. Retrospectives of his work were staged at Glasgow's Centre for Contemporary Arts and the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London.
In recognition of his work in theatre, Steve was selected for the BBC Drama Director's Course and was trained at the Television Centre in Shepherds Bush, London to direct for the screen in multi camera, single camera, video and film. He went on to direct for UK ratings leaders "EastEnders", "Emmerdale", "Casualty" and "The Bill" before relocating to New York. His first job in the US was for Sidney Lumet on his TV courtroom series "100 Centre Street" starring Alan Arkin. Sidney wanted to make television drama the way he'd done it live in the 1950s and Steve was hired because of his BBC training and experience in that style. Following many episodes of the "Law & Order" franchise in New York for Dick Wolf, Steve began to work for HBO on "The Wire" in Baltimore and then "The Sopranos", "Rome", "Carnivale" and "Big Love". He directed the pilot of "The Tudors" in Dublin starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and was nominated for a 2006 WGA Award for his writing on "Deadwood" which he also directed. He has produced and directed many pilots around the world including "Dracula" for NBC shot entirely in Budapest.
He directed the Screen Gems motion picture "Obsessed" starring Beyonce Knowles and Idris Elba which opened at number one in the US box office.
In 2010, Steve won the Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series for his work on the Season 4 finale of Showtime's "Dexter".- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Tom Verica is a true multi-hyphenate with an illustrious career as a gifted actor, director and executive producer. Currently, he is the Head of Creative Production for Shondaland/Netflix.
Among his roles in creative leadership, Tom serves as Executive Producer and director on three worldwide smash successes for Shondaland/Netflix including QUEEN CHARLOTTE, of which Verica directed all episodes of the critically acclaimed series, BRIDGERTON, and INVENTING ANNA, for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series as an Executive Producer and a Directors Guild Award for Best Director of a Limited Series. Other work with longtime collaborator, Shonda Rhimes, include Executive Producer/Director of SCANDAL and FOR THE PEOPLE.
Verica has helmed over one hundred hours of television, with both pilots and episodes to his credit, including THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY, GREY'S ANATOMY, BOSTON LEGAL, UGLY BETTY, and AMERICAN DREAMS among others.
As an actor, Tom has an extensive career in film, stage and television. Notable tv performances include the role of Sam Keating, opposite Viola Davis as her husband, in HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER on ABC; Jack Pryor, family patriarch, in the renowned, historical drama, AMERICAN DREAMS on NBC; and, as NASA astronaut, Dick Gordon, in the HBO, Emmy Award winning mini-series, FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON with Tom Hanks. Additional tv highlights include WILL & GRACE, THE NAKED TRUTH, LA LAW, CENTRAL PARK WEST, THE NINE, PROVIDENCE and the iconic 'conversion' episode of SEINFELD. Feature film acting credits include ZODIAC helmed by David Fincher, FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS directed by Clint Eastwood, MURDER BY NUMBERS, RED DRAGON, and DIE HARD 2, In theatre, Tom has performed on and Off-Broadway in numerous stage plays including the Tony-nominated Broadway production of Craig Lucas' PRELUDE TO A KISS.
Tom is an advocate for the development, mentorship and inclusion of new directors. Aligned with this mission, he works with numerous programs including the Directors Guild of America, SeriesFest Women Directing Mentorship and The Latinx House at Sundance Institute. Currently, he serves on the DGA Television Creative Rights Committee and has a long history as a champion of directors' educational and equity programming across the entertainment industry. He is a proud member of the DGA, PGA and SAG/AFTRA.- Director
- Producer
- Cinematographer
Michael W. Watkins is known for Quantum Leap (1989), Point of No Return (1993) and NYPD Blue (1993).- Art Department
- Animation Department
- Writer
Jim Kammerud is an American film director, screenwriter, and animator. He was educated at Ohio State University, where he served as a cartoonist for the student newspaper "The Lantern".
Following his graduation, Kammerud partnered with his college friend Jeff Smith (1960-) in creating their own animation studio, "Character Builders". Kammerud served as an animator and storyboard artist in projects such as "Rover Dangerfield" (1991) and "Space Jam" (1996). He was eventually hired by Disney, and served as a sequence director for "Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World" (1998).
Kammerud was promoted to director for a number of sequels to classic Disney films. He served as one of two co-directors for the films "The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea" (2000) and "101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure" (2003). His first solo work as a director was the film "The Fox and the Hound 2". He started work on another sequel "The Aristocats II", but the project ended in development hell. Disney terminated plans for further sequels to its classic films.
After leaving Disney, Kammerud joined the animation studio "House of Cool", which provides storyboards and additional animation to various film projects by bigger studios. Kammerud has served as a storyboard artist for films such as "Gnomeo & Juliet" (2011) and "Ice Age: Continental Drift" (2012).- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Niall Johnson was born in 1965 in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, England, UK. He is a director and writer, known for Keeping Mum (2005), Acres and Acres (2016) and White Noise (2005).- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Charles Martin Smith is an American film actor, writer, and director. Born in Van Nuys, California, Smith was discovered by a talent agent while acting in a school play. After a few years of working in film, he landed the role of Terry "Toad" Fields in George Lucas' 1973 film, American Graffiti (1973). The sequel, More American Graffiti (1979), did not have the success of the original, but he gained additional notice in "The Buddy Holly Story" (1978), Carroll Ballard's "Never Cry Wolf" (1983) and John Carpenter's "Starman" with Jeff Bridges (1984).
Smith's acting career continued mainly in supporting roles. He received excellent reviews for his work in "The Untouchables" (1987). At the same time Smith launched his career as a writer and director, and in 1987 directed the cult classic horror comedy "Trick or Treat" for Dino DeLaurentiis. In the 1990s, Smith appeared as an actor in films, such as "Speechless" (1994) and "I Love Trouble" (1994). He had a leading role in the HBO Miniseries, "And The Band Played On", about the beginnings of the AIDS epidemic, a role of which he was very proud. Smith also turned in a well-regarded performance in the TV miniseries Larry McMurtry's "Streets of Laredo" with James Garner and Sam Shepard, (1995) and a minor role in the big budget "Deep Impact"(1998). He was also one of the directors of the TV series "Space: Above and Beyond" (1995), as well as the director of the initial episode ("Welcome to the Hellmouth") that launched the hit TV series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997). From the mid-1990s, Smith increasingly focused on his work behind the camera. He directed the feature film "Air Bud" (1997) (Disney), which was an international success, and two TV miniseries for Hallmark Entertainment, "Roughing It" (2002) and "Icon" (2005). He also wrote and directed the feature film, "The Snow Walker" (2003), for Lion's Gate Films, based on a story by Farley Mowat (who had also written Never Cry Wolf (1983)), which marked a return to the Arctic for Smith. The film was nominated for 9 Genie awards, including Best Director, Writer, and Best Picture He then wrote and directed the feature film "Stone of Destiny" (2008), for Infinity Features and Odeon Sky, the true story of four young Scottish students who broke into Westminster Abbey in London to take back a sacred Scottish relic. The film stars Charlie Cox, Kate Mara and Robert Carlyle, and was nominated for Best Picture by the Scottish BAFTAS.
His next film, "Dolphin Tale" (2011), for Alcon Entertainment (The Blind Side (2009)) and Warner Brothers, stars Harry Connick Jr., Ashley Judd, Morgan Freeman, and Winter, the dolphin with a prosthetic tail, who plays herself in the film. The film was a great success, rising to number 1 at the domestic North American box office in its second week of release. Smith next wrote and directed the sequel, "Dolphin Tale 2", also for Alcon and Warner Brothers, which brought back the original cast, and was also very successful. Following this, Smith directed "A Dog's Way Home" for Sony Pictures/Coumbia, based on the book by Bruce Cameron, with Ashley Judd and with Jonah Hauer-King. Then in 2019 he relocated to London to direct "A Gift From Bob", the sequel to "A Streetcat Named Bob". As COVID slowed production in the industry, Smith relocated to Palm Desert and he divides his time between there and Vancouver. In 2023, he acted in the Canadian production "This Time", produced and directed by Robert G. Vaughn. It marked Smith's first time back in front of the camera for many years.- Director
- Producer
- Stunts
Steve Boyum: A Versatile Creative Visionary in Television and Film In the world of film and television, Steve Boyum has produced and directed hundreds of episodes in acclaimed series such as "Gen V" (Amazon), "The Old Man" (FX), "Goosebumps" (Disney+), "Supernatural," "Lethal Weapon," "Black Sails," and "Hawaii Five-0," along with numerous feature films, mini-series and MOW's . His work has resonated with audiences and critics, showcasing his versatility in various genres and storytelling styles. Before transitioning into directing and producing, Boyum gained recognition as a world renown second unit director and stunt coordinator. He also performed daring stunts in countless films and television series, leaving his mark on iconic movies such as "Apocalypse Now," "Lethal Weapon," "Predator," and series such as "The A-Team," and "The Dukes of Hazzard." This early exposure to the world of stunts and filmmaking set the stage for his future career. Subsequently, he ventured into cinematography, honing his skills in visual storytelling, enhancing his contribution to filmmaking. Born in California, Steve Boyum excelled in various sports, including motocross, skiing, surfing, and the martial arts. His early years were marked by athletic prowess that laid the foundation for his future endeavors. Mr. Boyum is also an accomplished fine artist and illustrator, creating canvases reflecting his profound understanding of aesthetics and the human experience. His musical talents enrich his artistic journey, creating a harmonious blend of creativity. Steve Boyum's career in the world of entertainment stands as a testament to his leadership, dedication, versatility, and passion for the arts. His ability to craft stories that resonate with audiences and his pursuit of artistic excellence ensure that his legacy will inspire future generations in the industry.- Producer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Director
Tom Reeve grew up in Aylesbury, England. Born to director and producer Geoffrey Reeve and Gina Gurney, he was surrounded by filmmaking from a very young age. He honed his early skills managing his father's productions and shortly after moved to Luxembourg to found the country's largest film studios.
As one of Europe's renowned filmmakers in the industry, Tom brought the new Hollywood era to central Europe and combined it with his financial and production expertise to create European cult classics such as 'Dog Soldiers (2002)'. For over 35 years Tom has worked on an extraordinary number of commercially successful and critically acclaimed credits, either as a director, producer or writer, and has been the recipient of various accolades including multiple Golden Globes and Primetime Emmy Awards.
As a director Tom has been awarded Best Film at the Friars Club New York Comedy Awards and the Audience Award from the Lighthouse International Film Festival for his Irish comedy 'Hard Times (2009)', he broke box office records for his medieval action feature 'George and the Dragon (2004)' and received critical acclaim for his heart-warming family feature 'Diggity's Treasure (2001)'.
Thus far Tom has had the pleasure of directing the late Michael Clarke Duncan and Patrick Swayze, along with Val Kilmer, Andrew McCarthy, Linda Hamilton, James Purefoy, Piper Perabo, Joan Plowright, Paul Freeman, Simon Callow and Louise Lombard. Furthermore, as a second unit director he has worked with the talents of Gerard Butler, Rutger Hauer, Jack Davenport, Christopher Lee, Christopher Lambert and Emilie de Ravin to name but a few.
Tom also specialised in action and stunt directing - most notably on the WWI drama 'The Lost Battalion (2001)' where he won a Christopher Award for his stunt/aerial unit work with bi-planes and helicopters, as well as three Emmy nominations while producing the film.
As a producer, the list of awards continues with Golden Globes and Emmy awards for his WWII drama 'One Against the Wind (1991)' starring Kate Beckinsale, Sam Neill, and Judy Davis.
Tom started the production company, Centurion, in 1987 which continues to house both film and television productions having produced nearly 50 films to date including features such as Wing Commander (1999), The Musketeer (2001) and Tale of the Mummy (1998). Centurion now operates from Luxembourg, Los Angeles and London.- Director
- Additional Crew
- Producer
Guy Ferland was born on 18 February 1966 in Beverly, Massachusetts, USA. He is a director and producer, known for Bang Bang You're Dead (2002), The Walking Dead (2010) and Falling Down (1993).- Director
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Terry Hughes was born on 25 February 1940 in Aldershot, Hampshire, England. He is a director and producer, known for The Golden Girls (1985), The Two Ronnies (1971) and American Playhouse (1980). He has been married to Margaret Elizabeth Polley since 1966. They have two children.- Producer
- Director
- Actor
A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and the Florida State Film Conservatory, Greg Marcks has earned dozens of awards for his work as a filmmaker, most notably a student Academy Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Marcks first wrote 11:14 (2003), a darkly comic thriller about a night-gone-wrong in small-town America. The tightly-crafted script was quickly passed around Hollywood, and Oscar-winner Hilary Swank signed on to produce and star in the picture. Marcks then assembled an impressive ensemble cast for his debut, including Patrick Swayze, Ben Foster, and Rachael Leigh Cook. The well-reviewed film has become a cult favorite.
Marcks wrote several screenplays for major Hollywood studios before taking on his next directorial effort, Echelon Conspiracy (2009). An action-thriller with filming locations in Sofia, Bangkok, Prague, and Moscow, the film tracks an international conspiracy and stars such notables as Ving Rhames, Jonathan Pryce, and Martin Sheen.
Marcks' next project, "You Don't Love Me Yet," will film in the Silverlake neighborhood of Los Angeles.- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Jordan Brady is a an American filmmaker best known for his trilogy of comprehensive and hilarious documentaries on stand-up comedy, "I Am Comic", "I Am Road Comic" and "I Am Battle Comic". He also directed the redneck road comedy "Waking Up In Reno", and wrote and directed the Spinal Tap of Country Music called "Dill Scallion".- Writer
- Producer
- Director
James Richard Kelly better known as Richard Kelly, is an American film director and writer, known for writing and directing the cult classic Donnie Darko in 2001. Kelly was born James Richard Kelly in Newport News, Virginia, the son of Lane and Ennis Kelly. He grew up in Midlothian, Virginia, where he attended Midlothian High School and graduated in 1993. When he was a child, his father worked for NASA on the Mars Viking Lander program. He won a scholarship to the University of Southern California to study at the USC School of Cinema-Television where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He made two short films at USC, The Goodbye Place and Visceral Matter, before graduating in 1997.- Writer
- Director
- Producer
- Director
- Producer
- Writer
David Carson was born in England. He is known for Star Trek: Generations (1994), From the Earth to the Moon (1998) and Blood Wedding. He is married to Kim Braden. They have two children.- Director
- Producer
- Actor
Kevin Hooks was born on 19 September 1958 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He is a director and producer, known for Innerspace (1987), Last Resort (2012) and Passenger 57 (1992). He is married to Cheryl. They have two children. He was previously married to Regina Hooks.- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Martha Patterson Coolidge was born on August 17, 1946 in New Haven Connecticut. She studied illustration at Rhode Island School of Design, but changed majors, becoming the first film major at the school. She attended and graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where she received her Master's degree in Fine Arts. Coolidge's diverse project range has given her a reputation for eclectic taste. Among a long list of working with Hollywood's finest, Coolidge also discovered great talents like Nicolas Cage (Valley Girl (1983)), Val Kilmer (Real Genius (1985)) and James Gandolfini (Angie (1994)).
In addition to working with talented artists, Coolidge has received many awards for her work. Recognition has included a Best Director "Spirit" Award from the Independent Feature Project West, the "Crystal Award" from Women in Film, the Maverick Award from the LeFemme Film Festival, the distinguished "Robert Aldrich Award" from the Directors Guild of America, the "Breakthrough Award" from Women, Men & Media, and "Lifetime Achievement Awards" from Methodfest, the Dallas Film Festival, a "Big Bear" from the Big Bear Film Festival and the "Award for Artist Excellence in Film" from Rhode Island School of Design. She has been inducted into the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame and the Museum of Television and Radio, and also helped found the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers, Inc. and the IFP.
An avid horsewoman. Ms. Coolidge breeds and shows Paso Fino horses and holds several National Championship titles. She is married to the award-winning production designer James H. Spencer and has one son, Preston, named in honor of one of her idols, playwright and film director Preston Sturges.- Director
- Producer
- Writer
She came to prominence with the much lauded adaptation of Jeanette Winterson's autobiographical novel 'Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit'. Since then she's directed feature films, television dramas and documentaries. In 2008, she founded the charity called Filmclub with Lindsay Mackie. It has since grown to be one of the largest and most influential after-school clubs in the UK, attracting over 150,000 children and young people each week.
Filmclub screens 100 years of film from all over the world to its members. Inspirational, entertaining and with positive outcomes on literacy, social behaviour and cultural awareness, Filmclub members have the opportunity to review, discuss and meet professional film-makers.
In 2006, she was asked to build a web-site for the Guardian newspaper to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Greenham camp.- Director
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Darrell Roodt was born on 28 April 1962 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a director and writer, known for Yesterday (2004), Treurgrond (2015) and Dangerous Ground (1997). He is married to Ashley Hayden.- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Roland Joffé was born on 17 November 1945 in London, England, UK. He is a producer and director, known for The Mission (1986), The Killing Fields (1984) and The Great Hunger.- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Robert Altman was born on February 20th, 1925 in Kansas City, Missouri, to B.C. (an insurance salesman) and Helen Altman. He entered St. Peters Catholic school at the age six, and spent a short time at a Catholic high school. From there, he went to Rockhurst High School. It was then that he started exploring the art of exploring sound with the cheap tape recorders available at the time. He was then sent to Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri where he attended through Junior College. In 1945, he enlisted in the US Army Air Forces and became a copilot of a B-24. After his discharge from the military, he became fascinated by movies and he and his first wife, LaVonne Elmer, moved to Hollywood, where Altman tried acting (appearing in the film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947)), songwriting (he wrote a musical intended for Broadway, "The Rumors are Flying"), and screen-writing (he co-wrote the screenplay for the film Bodyguard (1948) and wrote the story (uncredited) for Christmas Eve (1947)), but he could not get a foot hold in Tinseltown. After a brief fling as publicity director with a company in the business of tattooing dogs, Altman finally gave up and returned to his hometown of Kansas City, where he decided he wanted to do some serious work in filmmaking. An old friend of his recommended him to a film production company in Kansas City, the Calvin Co., who hired him in 1950. After a few months of work in writing scripts and editing films, Altman began directing films at Calvin. It was here (while working on documentaries, employee training films, industrial and educational films and advertisements) that he learned much about film making. All in all, Altman pieced together sixty to sixty-five short films for Calvin on every subject imaginable, from football to car crashes, but he kept grasping for more challenging projects. He wrote the screenplay for the Kansas City-produced feature film Corn's-A-Poppin' (1955), he produced and directed several television commercials including one with the Eileen Ford Agency, he co-created and directed the TV series The Pulse of the City (1953) which ran for one season on the independent Dumont network, and he even had a formative crack at directing local community theater. His big-screen directorial debut came while still at Calvin with The Delinquents (1957) and, by 1956, he left the Calvin Co., and went to Hollywood to direct Alfred Hitchcock's TV show. From here, he went on to direct a large number of television shows, until he was offered the script for M*A*S*H (1970) in 1969. He was hardly the producer's first choice - more than fifteen other directors had already turned it down. This wasn't his first movie, but it was his first success. After that, he had his share of hits and misses, but The Player (1992) and, more recently, Gosford Park (2001) were particularly well-received.- Director
- Writer
- Producer
John Irvin is a British director who has made more than thirty motion pictures in his career so far.
Born in England, Irvin began his career working for British Movietone News. He directed his first film "Gala Day" a documentary financed by the British Film Institute which was bought by the BBC. Within the same year his documentary "Inheritance" was released, winning a British Film Academy Award.
Throughout the Sixties, Irvin made numerous award-winning documentaries for his own company Mithras Films, the BBC and ITV; culminating in the Omnibus film "Beautiful, Beautiful" (1969) about war photographers, featuring Don McCullen, Larry Burrows, and Eugene Smith shot in Vietnam and New York.
At the start of the Seventies Irvin began a career in Television Drama with "Captain Cook" for Time-Life BBC, the pilot for the BAFTA award-winning series "Explorers". Irvin then directed the multi-award winning TV Dramas "The Nearly Man" and "Hard Times" for Granada TV and the hugely successful "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" for the BBC starring Alec Guinness. At this time Hollywood beckoned.
For the next thirty years Irvin made, and is still making, feature films for cinema and television release, he has worked for most of the major studios. His first theatrical motion picture "Dogs Of War" (1980) starring Christopher Walken and Tom Berenger, concerns a military coup in an African country. Irvin followed this with the successful horror film "Ghost Story (1981) starring Fred Astaire, Melvyn Douglas, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and John Houseman. The film was the third highest grossing horror film of its year.
Next, Irvin made the biographical film "Champions" (1984) starring John Hurt. "Turtle Diary" (1985) was adapted for the screen by Harold Pinter and starred Ben Kingsley, Glenda Jackson and Michael Gambon. Then "Raw Deal" (1986) starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Hamburger Hill (1987) starring Don Cheadle, Dylan McDermott, Michael Boatman, Steven Weber and Courtney B. Vance was a very realistic interpretation of one of the bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War and is considered one of the most visually effective Vietnam War films. Irvin then made the crime thriller "Next Of Kin" (1989) starring Patrick Swayze and Liam Neeson. "Eminent Domain" (1991) starred Donald Sutherland and Anne Archer. Next "Robin Hood" (1991) starred Patrick Bergin and Uma Thurman. "Widows Peak" (1993) starring Mia Farrow, Joan Plowright, Natasha Richardson Jim Broadbent and Adrian Dunbar. Then "A Month By The Lake" (1994) starring Vanessa Redgrave, Edward Fox and Uma Thurman. etc... In a newly published anthology of war films, Irvin's "Hamburger Hill" and "When Trumpets Fade"(HBO) were cited as two of the greatest war films ever made.
More recently Irvin has been making indie pictures in Europe. These include "Shiner" (2000) starring Michael Caine, "The Boys and Girl from County Clare" (2003) starred Andrea Corr and Colm Meaney. "The Moon And The Stars" (2006) starring Alfred Molina, Catherine McCormack and Jonathan Pryce.
Irvin now lives in London and is co-founder with producer Claire Evans of DearHeart Productions. "Mandela's' Gun" was their first feature. Developed and researched by John and Claire, it took five years to produce and was shot in 6 countries. It is now a major feature film due for release in the autumn of 2018. DearHeart Productions have a three picture slate of films in development and have just completed pre-production on their next feature "Goose Green" an epic British war film about the battle for Goose green during the Falklands War of 1982.- Cinematographer
- Producer
- Director
He was born in British India at Gujrat, Punjab, now present day Pakistan. The eldest son of C.D. Chaudhri who was an officer working in the British Government Department of Information and Broadcasting. Amin's love for the cinema started at the young age of 8 when his uncle got a job at a local cinema as a projectionist. He would bring dinner to his uncle in the projection room and watch films night after night. He felt it was magic the way the projector could create the images on the screen. He loved to see how the audiences would laugh and cry during the movies. It was then he decided he would be the person to create the magic on the screen. At age 11 he shared his dream of becoming a Hollywood Director with his friends and although they laughed at him, he believed in his heart one day his dream would come true. At age 18 he left his country for England to study Political Science and Economics at the direction of his father. After 2 years he set sail for America to persue his childhood dream to be a film director. He enrolled in New York University and graduated in 1965. He directed, photographed and edited his first feature film "Scandal That Rocked Britain" (1963). The film was shown worldwide. He worked as a film editor, music and effects editor on many film projects. He then worked as a cinematographer on independent features, television, and documentaries. In 1985 he formed Continental Film Group to produce quality independent feature films. He started his own movie studio in rural Pennsylvania where he has made 7 feature films. Tiger Warsaw (1988) starring Patrick Swayze and _Diary of a Hit Man (1991)_ starring Forest Whitaker were 2 of his biggest hits. His films have been shown in many international film festivals including Cannes, Duville, Montreal, Toronto, Chicago, Cairo, Calcutta to name a few.- Producer
- Actor
- Director
Lance Hool is a film producer with a uniquely multifaceted background in the industry, having also worked as an actor, writer, director, executive producer, distribution company chairman, and now studio chief. Over the last four decades he has produced twenty-five major motion pictures, two of which have reached number one at the US box-office: Missing in Action (1984) and Man on Fire (2004). He currently heads Silver Lion Films, an independent film finance and production company, which he established in 1987 with his brother Conrad, and Santa Fe Studios, the world's first "green" film and television production facility, which he developed with his son Jason in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Born and raised in Mexico City in 1948, Lance grew up within a family environment of international politics and art. His mother Constanza was an internationally renowned ballerina and choreographer, his father Alan an American diplomat and health innovator; his grandmother Marión de Lagos was a playwright, journalist, and actress, and his uncle the great muralist Siqueiros. His grandfather Domingo Kamffer, a tough Italian-immigrated rancher, hosted and acted in Howard Hawks' Viva Villa! (1934) on his ranch outside of Mexico City. Twenty-six years later, Lance would begin his own film career acting alongside John Wayne in Hawks' final film, Rio Lobo (1970).
After earning a BA and MBA from La Universidad de las Americas, and serving as press coordinator for the 1968 Olympic Summer Games in Mexico City, Lance spent his formative years within the film industry working as an actor on films such as Soldier Blue (1970) and Lawman (1971). In 1975 he relocated to Los Angeles, guest-starring on shows like Hawaii Five-O and McCloud, and soon stepped behind the camera. From 1977 to 1980, Lance headed the US operations of Pelmex, the Mexican national film distribution company. Under his management, the company co-produced more than 20 films and released upwards of 100 theatrical releases per year. Soon he was developing and producing films of his own: Wolf Lake (1980) and Caboblanco (1980), starring the likes of Rod Steiger, Jason Robards, and Charles Bronson. His relationship with Bronson lasted several more years with films such as 10 to Midnight (1983) and The Evil That Men Do (1984). After writing and producing Missing in Action (1984) he had his first bona fide hit on his hands, and went on to direct the sequel, as well as cult favorite Steel Dawn (1987) with a budding Patrick Swayze. In the 1990s Lance produced several family-oriented pictures, including Pure Luck (1991) with Martin Short and Danny Glover, The Air Up There (1994) with Kevin Bacon, and Flipper (1996) with Elijah Wood and Paul Hogan.
At the end of the decade Lance produced and directed his most personally important film, One Man's Hero (1998). It took 25 years to gather the resources to tell the true story of a band of Irish immigrants, enlisted into the American army after fleeing the Great Famine of 1845, who encountered extreme religious persecution and deserted to Mexico, only to be swept up in the Mexican-American War. Heroes to the Mexicans, traitors to the Americans, the film was deemed too controversial to be commercial and its distribution was severely cut, but it received high critical praise, drawing comparisons to Lance's heroes John Ford and David Lean. When the film was released in Ireland, Lance and star Tom Berenger traveled to Belfast for the premiere. The film had found its way to Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams and the mayor of Belfast. On a hot summer night in a sold-out theater, the two long-time enemies in Ireland's Troubles came together publicly for the first time. The film's portrayal of suffering by both Catholics and Protestants so moved both men that afterward they hugged like brothers.
In the early 2000s, Lance went on to produce several high profile films including the third installment of the Crocodile Dundee (2001) franchise with Paul Hogan, and Man on Fire (2004) with Denzel Washington and director Tony Scott. Because of his wide-ranging aptitude for the intricacies of every stage of the filmmaking process-from acting to physical production to directing-Lance is known for his exceptional knack for managing a film's schedule and budget, while simultaneously facilitating the magic of the creative process. He enjoys an unrivaled reputation for successfully shepherding a story from the page to the screen, and for delivering films on time and on budget. Investors have always received their investment back, with a return.
Utilizing these skills, in 2007 Lance realized another dream and began developing a world-class filmmaking facility in New Mexico. Santa Fe Studios opened its doors in late 2011 as the world's first "green" film studio. Recent productions include Fox's hit TV series Cosmos (2014) and Seth McFarlane's A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014).
Lance holds a BA and MBA from La Universidad de las Americas, and is a member of the Directors Guild of America, the Screen Actors Guild of America, the Screenwriters Guild, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.- Writer
- Producer
- Director
Born in Santa Monica, California, on December 4, 1951, Mick Garris grew up with his mother in the San Fernando Valley neighborhood of Van Nuys from age 12, following his parents' divorce. Garris was making his own 8mm home movies around that time, and when he got older be became a freelance critic for a number of film and music celebrities. He wrote publications for various bands and movies for newspapers and magazines like "The San Diego Door", "The Los Angewles Herald-Examiner", "Cinefantastique" and "Starlog" through the 1970s.
For eight years he was the lead singer in a band called The Horsefeathers Quintet, which disbanded in 1976. In 1977 Garris was hired as a receptionist in George Lucas' newly formed company Star Wars Corporation where, through industry contacts, he created and served as the on-screen host for a Los Angeles cable access interview program show called "Fastasy Film Festival," which aired on L.A.'s legendary Z-Channel. Guests included filmmakers like John Landis, Joe Dante, John Carpenter and Steven Spielberg and actors like William Shatner and Christopher Lee.
In 1980 Garris worked as a press agent for the newly merged Pickwick-Maslansky-Koeninsberg agency. He also began making a name for himself with photographing and directing "making-of..." features for such films as Scanners (1981), The Howling (1981), Halloween II (1981), The Thing (1982) and Videodrome (1983). In 1982 Garris was hired by MCA/Universal to write the script for Coming Soon (1982), which was a collection of horror movie trailers featuring Jamie Lee Curtis as the hostess and directed by John Landis. While struggling to find more work, Garris was hired by Steven Spielberg to be one of the writers and story editors for Spielberg's sci-fi anthology series Amazing Stories (1985). Garris worked as as an editor again for Spielberg in the sci-fi fantasy *batteries not included (1987). He also wrote screenplays for more horror anthology TV shows, from Freddy's Nightmares (1988) to a stint on the HBO cable series Tales from the Crypt (1989), as well as co-writer on the screenplays for The Fly II (1989) and the 'Stephen Sommers' remake The Mummy (1999). Garris wrote and directed Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990) as a prequel to the Anthony Perkins "Psycho" films, featuring Perkins in his fourth (and last) appearance as Norman Bates. Co-starring with Perkins was Henry Thomas (from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) fame), whom Garris hired to play young Norman. That same year Garris was approached by MCA/Universal to create a syndicated TV series about werewolves which was to be based on the hit John Landis film An American Werewolf in London (1981). The resulting series, She-Wolf of London (1990), ran for two seasons.
In 1992 Garris directed an original screenplay by Stephen King, Sleepwalkers (1992). The following year Garris received story and screenplay credit for the comic horror film Hocus Pocus (1993), and the year after that he took the reins at the request of Stephen King for the six-hour mini-series The Stand (1994) based on King's best-selling horror novel. The mini-series, which had a grueling 20-month shooting schedule, was one of the most-watched shows of 1994. Garris and King again teamed up for a three-part made-for-TV rewriting of King's novel, The Shining (1997). Later that year Garris oversaw the directing for Quicksilver Highway (1997), based on a pair of horror stories by King and Clive Barker. Garris directed Höst (1998) (later changed to "Virtual Obsession"), based on a novel by Peter James, with a screenplay written by P.G. Sturges, about a computer genius stalked by a female colleague bent on digitizing her consciousness. Taking a break from horror films, Garris directed The Judge (2001), an adaption of the mystery novel by Steve Martini. Garris and Stephen King reunited for Riding the Bullet (2004), directed by Garris and written by King, based on an internet short short about a hitchhiker being picked up by a soul-searching angel of death driving a 1959 Plymouth. They also collaborated on Desperation (2006), based on King's 1997 horror novel.
In 2005 Garris was able to assemble a group of his fellow horror film directors in the anthology horror series Masters of Horror (2005), which he created and executive-produced. Garris' own contribution, "Chocolate", was based on his own short story, written 20 years earlier.- Director
- Sound Department
- Editor
Born Kings Cross, London. At school - age of twelve developed a passion for films, which he has retained ever since. Entered employment with a documentary film company, British Films Ltd., in London's Soho, as an Assistant Film Editor. Over several years, he worked in the editing rooms of Pinewood, Shepperton, Elstree and Twickenham Studios with directors... Tony Richardson, Karel Reiz, Sandy MacKendrick, Lindsay Anderson, Dick Lester, Bryan Forbes, Joe McGrath, Michael Cacoyannis, and Richard Attenborough. Sir Richard Attenborough gave him his break to edit his first directorial film "Oh! What A Lovely War." Connor's directing break came from Amicus Films producer, Milton Subotsky, a horror film - "Tales from Beyond the Grave", that lead to a series of Edgar Rice Burroughs adventure films. Connor moved to Los Angeles 1980, directed "Motel Hell" and 'Sunset Grill'. He found himself drawn to high-profile international mini-series, "Master of The Game", "North & South Book 2", "Great Expectations", "The Old CuriosityShop", "Iran, 444 DAYS", "Frankenstein", "Blackbeard" and most recently "Marco Polo". Connor has directed some 100 + Film and Television projects. He is engaged in producing and directing feature films.- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Peter Markle has worked extensively in features and television. His television credits include Flight 93 which gave A & E network the largest audience in its history (over 35 million have watched it since its debut). It was nominated for 6 Emmys including Best Director. It was also nominated by the Director, Producer and Writer Guilds and winning the writing award for best movie or miniseries. According to the New York Times "it is gripping from the very first scene." He was the writer/director for Faith of My Fathers (A and E) starring Shawn Hatosy and Scott Glenn based on the book by John McCain about his capture and incarceration during the Vietnam war. It was nominated for 4 Emmys. Nightbreaker (TNT) starring Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez about nuclear testing in the 1950s and it's consequences to the 'guinea pig' soldiers was nominated for 5 ACE awards including best director. Variety wrote that it was "a searing look at atomic gambling and military cynicism that's stunningly effective as a drama." Markle also directed Silent Witness for TNT, based on the Richard North Patterson novel. It starred Dermot Mulroney, Michael Cudlitz, Juff Hirsch and Anne Heche. Saving Jessica Lynch for NBC was watched by over 18 million viewers. It broke the real story of a US Army convoy of essentially non-combat personnel taking the wrong turn through hostile territory, the loss of life and subsequent rescue of Lynch. Frank Rich in the New York Times stated "tonight's surprising 'Saving Jessica Lynch' is startling in its accuracy - more than earlier reportage by The Washington Post and its Rambo version and the New York Times which fictionalize some of the paper's coverage. It reflects another change in the country's mood, toward a harder-nosed realism and away from unrestrained triumphalism." Markle has also directed numerous episodes for hit shows including the X-Files, CSI, Without a Trace, Life, NYPD Blue, Burn Notice, Rescue Me, ER AND Homicide.
His feature credits include The Personals (writer/director) for New World Pictures, a romantic comedy which was selected Best First Feature at the Houston Film Festival. It debuted at the Deauville Film Festival in France. It was made for $250,000 and grossed $1.5 million. Kevin Thomas wrote in the L.A. Times "The Personals observes contemporary relationships between young adults with wit and perception, but most important, with taste and a lightness of touch often absent from Hollywood counterparts.
His second feature, Hot Dog, The Movie, was made for $1.8 million and grossed over $21 million domestically for MGM. It was a broad comedy that has become a cult classic. His third film, Youngblood, inspired by playing ice hockey professionally and three years on the US National team, starred Rob Lowe and Patrick Swayze. It was made for $4.1 million and grossed $15.5 million domestically. He directed Gene Hackman and Danny Glover in BAT 21 for Tri-Star. It was based on a true story and made several top ten films of the year lists. Bruce Williamson in Playboy wrote "BAT 21 has real impact. Gene Hackman and Danny Glover establish an amazingly urgent relationship without having a single scene together until the film's fiery finale. He was the writer/director for Virginia's Run which won the Crystal Heart at the Heartland International Children's Film Festival. It debuted at the Berlin International Film Festival and also won the Children's Jury prize as best film at India's International Film Festival, the largest children's festival in the world. He directed The Last Days of Frankie the Fly which premiered on HBO and starred Dennis Hopper, Kiefer Sutherland, Daryl Hannah and Michael Madsen. It was a dark comedy that Hollywood Reporter called "one of Dennis Hopper's best performances in years."- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Richard T. Heffron was born on 6 October 1930 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was a director and writer, known for Futureworld (1976), The French Revolution (1989) and The St. Louis Bank Robbery (1959). He was married to Lynn Gardner, Terry Catrambone Heffron and Jane Vacho. He died on 27 August 2007 in Seattle, Washington, USA.- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Randal Kleiser has been an internationally known film director since the release of his first feature, Grease (1978). Other features include The Blue Lagoon (1980) with Brooke Shields, Summer Lovers (1982) starring Peter Gallagher and Daryl Hannah, Grandview, U.S.A. (1984) with Jamie Lee Curtis, Flight of the Navigator (1986), featuring the first use of digital morphing in a motion picture; Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992) and White Fang (1991). In London he directed the critically acclaimed comedy Getting It Right (1989) starring Lynn Redgrave, Helena Bonham Carter, Jane Horrocks and Sir John Gielgud. In 1996 he wrote and directed It's My Party (1996) starring Eric Roberts, Gregory Harrison, Lee Grant, Bruce Davison and Marlee Matlin.
As a writer-producer, he was responsible for the surfing classic North Shore (1987) for Universal Pictures. He also directed the thriller Shadow of Doubt (1998) with Melanie Griffith and Tom Berenger. Working in 70mm 3-D, he directed Honey, I Shrunk the Audience (1994), which drew record crowds at the Disney Theme Parks in Anaheim, Orlando, Tokyo and Paris. His television movies include The Boy in the Plastic Bubble (1976) with John Travolta; the Emmy Award-winning The Gathering (1977) and Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway (1976).
As a freshman at USC, he appeared in George Lucas' first student film, Freiheit (1966). Kleiser's award-winning Master's thesis film, Peege (1973), launched his professional career. He has taught a graduate production workshop at USC and Master Directing Classes for European students at film festivals in Deauville and Sarlat, and Malaga. Kleiser serves as a judge on the Student Awards for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and as chairman of the Academic Subcommittee for the Directors Guild of America, he inaugurated a videoconferencing program to connect film classes with working directors. Working with the Graphics Lab at USC's Institute for Creative Technologies, Kleiser has co-invented a digital Cinerama-like process called Vistarama HD and developed "Silver Metal Lover" for Dimension Pictures. In 2005 he directed Amanda Bynes for Lovewrecked (2005), shot in the Caribbean. Two years later Kleiser came up with an original musical movie shot on virtual sets, Red Riding Hood (2006), starring Joey Fatone and Lainie Kazan.
Kleiser has spent several years working with George Lucas to create The Nina Foch Course for Filmmakers and Actors (2010), an instructional video for aspiring actors, writers and filmmakers. Kleiser was heavily influenced by Nina Foch's teachings during his time at USC and maintained a relationship with Foch as his mentor throughout his career.
Randal Kleiser wrote and directed the 360 degree Virtual Reality series Defrost: The Virtual Series (2019), featuring Carl Weathers, Bruce Davison and Harry Hamlin which was shown at the Sundance Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival in 2016.
Kleiser serves on the Sci Tech Council of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. At the Directors Guild of America, Kleiser chairs the annual Digital Day presentation and serves on the National Board.
Official Site: http://www.randalkleiser.com/- Writer
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Nicholas Corea was born on 7 April 1943 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. He was a writer and producer, known for The Incredible Hulk (1978), Outlaws (1986) and The Renegades (1983). He was married to Phenelupe Rosette Corea. He died on 17 January 1999 in Burbank, California, USA.- Director
- Art Director
- Art Department
British director Don Chaffey began his career in the film industry in the art department at Gainsborough Pictures. He began directing in 1951, often working on films aimed at children. He branched out into television in the mid-'50s, turning out many of the best episodes of such classic series as Danger Man (1960), The Prisoner (1967) and The Avengers (1961). Although he worked in many film genres, his best work is generally acknowledged to be the crackerjack fantasy Jason and the Argonauts (1963). On the other hand, he was also responsible for the lugubrious, box-office disaster The Viking Queen (1967), one of the few productions from Hammer Films that lost money. In the late 1970s Chaffey traveled to the US and worked primarily there, often in made-for-TV movies.- Director
- Additional Crew
- Writer
Writer/director Barbara Peters was one of the few female filmmakers who specialized in entertainingly trashy low budget drive-in exploitation fare in the 70s and early 80s. Peters often worked for Roger Corman's B-flick studio New World Pictures. She made her feature debut as co-writer and co-director of the soft-core lesbian outing "The Dark Side of Tomorrow." Barbara followed this movie with the gritty distaff biker item "Bury Me an Angel," the amusingly silly comedy "Summer School Teachers," and the enjoyably inane "Starhops." Peters achieved her greatest notoriety with the wonderfully nasty horror creature feature winner "Humanoids from the Deep." Moreover, Barbara handled second unit director chores on the car chase pictures "Moving Violation" and "Eat My Dust," designed the costumes for "The Fabulous Bastard from Chicago," and was the art director on "The Young Nurses." She acted in "Gun Runner" and "Caged Desires" (Peters also wrote the script for this one). Barbara Peters ended her career directing episodes of such TV shows as "Misfits of Science," "Shadow Chasers," "Falcon Crest," "Remington Steele," "Cagney & Lacey," and "Matt Houston."- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Producer
Bruce Bilson was born on 19 May 1928 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a director and assistant director, known for Get Smart (1965), The Odd Couple (1970) and The Sentinel (1996). He has been married to Renne Jarrett since 4 May 1981. He was previously married to Mona Weichman.- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Robert C. Thompson is known for The Paper Chase (1978), The Greatest American Hero (1981) and The Cowboy Way (1994).- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Francis Ford Coppola was born in 1939 in Detroit, Michigan, but grew up in a New York suburb in a creative, supportive Italian-American family. His father, Carmine Coppola, was a composer and musician. His mother, Italia Coppola (née Pennino), had been an actress. Francis Ford Coppola graduated with a degree in drama from Hofstra University, and did graduate work at UCLA in filmmaking. He was training as assistant with filmmaker Roger Corman, working in such capacities as sound-man, dialogue director, associate producer and, eventually, director of Dementia 13 (1963), Coppola's first feature film. During the next four years, Coppola was involved in a variety of script collaborations, including writing an adaptation of "This Property is Condemned" by Tennessee Williams (with Fred Coe and Edith Sommer), and screenplays for Is Paris Burning? (1966) and Patton (1970), the film for which Coppola won a Best Original Screenplay Academy Award. In 1966, Coppola's 2nd film brought him critical acclaim and a Master of Fine Arts degree. In 1969, Coppola and George Lucas established American Zoetrope, an independent film production company based in San Francisco. The company's first project was THX 1138 (1971), produced by Coppola and directed by Lucas. Coppola also produced the second film that Lucas directed, American Graffiti (1973), in 1973. This movie got five Academy Award nominations, including one for Best Picture. In 1971, Coppola's film The Godfather (1972) became one of the highest-grossing movies in history and brought him an Oscar for writing the screenplay with Mario Puzo The film was a Best Picture Academy Award-winner, and also brought Coppola a Best Director Oscar nomination. Following his work on the screenplay for The Great Gatsby (1974), Coppola's next film was The Conversation (1974), which was honored with the Golden Palm Award at the Cannes Film Festival, and brought Coppola Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay Oscar nominations. Also released that year, The Godfather Part II (1974), rivaled the success of The Godfather (1972), and won six Academy Awards, bringing Coppola Oscars as a producer, director and writer. Coppola then began work on his most ambitious film, Apocalypse Now (1979), a Vietnam War epic that was inspired by Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness (1993). Released in 1979, the acclaimed film won a Golden Palm Award at the Cannes Film Festival, and two Academy Awards. Also that year, Coppola executive produced the hit The Black Stallion (1979). With George Lucas, Coppola executive produced Kagemusha: The Shadow Warrior (1980), directed by Akira Kurosawa, and Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985), directed by Paul Schrader and based on the life and writings of Yukio Mishima. Coppola also executive produced such films as The Escape Artist (1982), Hammett (1982) The Black Stallion Returns (1983), Barfly (1987), Wind (1992), The Secret Garden (1993), etc.
He helped to make a star of his nephew, Nicolas Cage. Personal tragedy hit in 1986 when his son Gio died in a boating accident. Francis Ford Coppola is one of America's most erratic, energetic and controversial filmmakers.- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Steve Barron started in films as a camera assistant on epic productions such as Richard Donner's 'Superman', Richard Attenborough's 'A Bridge Too Far' and Ridley Scott's The Duellists (1977). He began directing music videos in the early eighties for The Jam, Human League, and Adam & the Ants, his work helping to inspire the formation of MTV. In 1982 he conceived and directed the award winning 'Billie-Jean' - the first single of Michael Jackson's incredible 'Thriller' album. More seminal videos followed. Dire Straits' 'Money for Nothing' won Best Video at the 1986 MTV Awards and A-Ha's 'Take On Me' was awarded Best Director.
Steve's debut feature film was the music-led romantic comedy 'Electric Dreams' starring Virginia Madsen, released worldwide in 1984.
In 1987 his foray into network television won an Emmy for 'Hans My Hedgehog' - the 'Jim Henson - Storyteller' pilot for NBC. His second show 'Fearnot' gained immense critical acclaim after broadcast in 1987, while a third, 'Sapsorrow', broadcast in 1988, was similarly revered. The Washington Post said of 'Fearnot' - "This fantasy turns the television screen into Alice's looking glass, Snow White's magic mirror and The Thief of Baghdad's all-seeing eye. It is so seductively imaginative that you can almost feel it pulling you into a bottomless tube".
In 1990 Steve's second movie stunned the movie industry by becoming the first independent feature to break the 100 million-dollar theatrical barrier in the U.S. 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' grossed over 350 million dollars worldwide. A Grammy nomination followed for Dire Straits' 'Calling Elvis' and the Billboard Best Director award for Natalie Cole's 'Unforgettable' duet with her father, which reached No.1 across the world, selling over 12 million albums on the way.
In the mid-nineties Steve directed the Dan Ackroyd feature 'Coneheads' for Paramount and he was Executive Producer on the Sylvester Stallone, Sharon Stone picture 'The Specialist', and the highly successful 'While You Were Sleeping' starring Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman. He was also Executive Producer on 'ReBoot', the first fully computer animated network series.
In 1996 he directed 'The Adventures of Pinocchio', starring Oscar winner Martin Landau and Jonathan Taylor Thomas. Alexander Walker said in the London Evening Standard "Director Steve Barron's blend of human stars with the eponymous animatronic wooden hero has produced an amazing movie rooted in timeless fairyland but incorporating state-of-the-art wizardry.... The inventiveness lasts through the fable: it really is something to goggle at, whatever your age." Responses across the Atlantic in the U.S. were equally warm. The Washington Post wrote of the film, "The Adventures of Pinocchio evokes the look and language of traditional European picture book tales, and does so with so much charm that it offers a fresh new delight, not just a pale live-action imitation, of the Disney animated classic."
In autumn 1998, Steve directed 'Merlin', a $30 million television mega-series produced by Hallmark for NBC in America. Merlin attracted a stellar cast including Sam Neill, Helena Bonham-Carter, Miranda Richardson, Isabella Rossellini, Martin Short, Alan Bates, Sir John Geilguid and Rutger Hauer. In the US alone 58 million people tuned in to watch 'Merlin' and the critical reaction was overwhelmingly positive. Entertainment Weekly wrote... "Merlin cast a new spell on history posting the highest ratings in adults 18-49 since 1984... the result is nothing less than an instant classic - a four -hour TV movie that deserves to be shown annually, the way it used to be a tradition to broadcast 'The Wizard of Oz' every year. It's that good - that scary, that rich, that much fun."- 'Merlin' was nominated for 15 Emmy's, 4 Golden Globes and a DGA nod for outstanding Directing.
In 1999 Steve completed 'Arabian Nights', this time for the ABC network in America. Photographed in Turkey and Morocco its stars include Alan Bates, Jason Scott Lee, John Leguizamo, Dougray Scott and Rufus Sewell. The show aired to rave notices on ABC TV in the USA and BBC1 in the UK simultaneously, earning 5 more Emmy and a US National Television Critics nomination.
In October 2000 the Universal movie 'Rat' had it's theatrical premiere in Dublin. This dark comedy, co-produced and directed by Steve Barron, is the bizarre story of a Dublin man who comes home from the pub one day 'not feeling very well' and turns into a rat. Starring Imelda Staunton and Pete Postlethwaite the Irish press greeted the film with an ecstatic response. Brian Reddin of the Dublin Evening Herald said - "To miss this superb surreal comedy would be to miss one of the greatest Irish films ever made and perhaps the funniest."
Steve's next comedy was 'Mike Bassett-England Manager' a spoof documentary feature film starring Ricky Tomlinson as the national soccer coach. The film had a wide UK theatrical release in November 2001, through the government funded Film Council and Entertainment distributors, taking $6m and charting at number three in it's first four weeks.
Next was a $24m American Indian mini-series epic for ABC and Hallmark. 'Dreamkeeper' is the first big scale attempt to bring to life the myth's and legends of the Native American people. Tribes all across the United States were consulted and ninety-five speaking roles all cast with Native people. The production won Steve a Gold for Directorial Achievement at the Chicago International TV Festival and an Emmy for best visual effects.
In 2005 Steve wrote and directed the New York based independent feature film 'Choking Man' starring Mandy Patinkin and Aaron Paul. The contemporary feature follows the fortunes of an acutely shy Ecuadorian dishwasher. Set in an old traditional diner in Jamaica, Queens the movie's backdrop is the largest, most diverse immigrant population in North America.
Steve was presented with an 'Outstanding Achievement in Music Videos' award at the Hammersmith Palais in London. 2007 also brought a prestigious Gotham Award for his first original screenplay Choking Man. Through these years Steve Exec-Produced two feature documentaries for 'Peace One Day' and 'The Day After Peace' with Jude Law and Angelina Jolie, which premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival and Cannes respectively. The film charts Jeremy Gilley's incredible journey to create a day of peace in the world calendar.
2009 Steve directed the Sci-Fi internet sensation Slingers, starring Sean Pertwee, with visual effects by the acclaimed company he was a founder of, Framestore. 2011 he Directed the miniseries Treasure Island, for Sky and SyFy, starring Eddie Izzard, Elijah Wood and Donald Sutherland. Filmed in Dublin and Puerto Rico Steve kept up his unbroken Emmy Nomination sequence for television with two more Emmy nods.
Steve completed the Artificial Intelligence thriller mini-series for Sonar Entertainment - 'Delete' premiering in 2013. Through Riley Productions he has signed a development deal with the British Film Institute to make a sequel to his now cult 'Mike Bassett' soccer movie.- Director
- Producer
- Editorial Department
Roger Spottiswoode was born on 5 January 1945 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He is a director and producer, known for 48 Hrs. (1982), The 6th Day (2000) and Shoot to Kill (1988). He was previously married to Holly Palance.- Director
- Producer
- Actor
Dick Lowry was born on 15 September 1944 in Oklahoma, USA. He is a director and producer, known for Last Stand at Saber River (1997), Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983) and The Drought (1975).- Director
- Editorial Department
- Producer
After directing four Feature Films for major studios (20th Century Fox, Universal) as well as independents, Noel Nosseck began a twenty-year career Directing and Producing Television. He directed twenty-seven Television Movies for all four networks (NBC, CBS, ABC and Fox) as well as several cable outlets (USA, TBS and Lifetime). In addition, he directed five Television Pilots as well as approximately twenty-five hours of Episodic Series Television. He taught Directing and Production at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts until 2017- Actor
- Director
- Soundtrack
Harry Morgan was a prolific character actor who starred in over 100 films and was a stage performer. Known to a younger generation of fans as "Col. Sherman T. Potter" on M*A*S*H (1972). Also known for his commanding personality throughout his career, he tackled movies and television in a way no other actor would do it.
Born Harry Bratsberg in Detroit, Michigan to Anna Olsen, a homemaker who immigrated from Sweden, and Henry Bratsberg, a mechanic who immigrated from Norway. After graduating from Muskegon High School in Muskegon, Michigan, he took on a salesman job before becoming a successful actor.
Several of his most memorable film roles were: The Omaha Trail (1942), in the next quarter-century, he would also appear in The Ox-Bow Incident (1942), Wing and a Prayer (1944), State Fair (1945), Dragonwyck (1946), All My Sons (1948), Red Light (1949), Outside the Wall (1950), Dark City (1950) where he met future Dragnet 1967 (1967) co-star Jack Webb, who would be best friends until Webb's death, late in 1982, along with Appointment with Danger (1950). His films credits also include: High Noon (1952), The Glenn Miller Story (1954), Strategic Air Command (1955), among many others. He also co-starred with James Garner in Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969) and Support Your Local Gunfighter (1971).
On television, he is fondly remembered as Spring Byington's jokingly henpecked neighbor, "Pete Porter" on December Bride (1954), where he became the show's scene-stealer. It was also based on a popular radio show that transferred into television. The show was an immediate success to viewers, which led him into starring his own short-lived spin-off series, Pete and Gladys (1960), which co-starred Cara Williams, who met Morgan in the movie, The Saxon Charm (1948).
Morgan began his eight-year association with old friend, Jack Webb, and Universal, starting with Dragnet 1967 (1967), which he played Off. Bill Gannon. For the second time, like December Bride (1954) before this, it was an immediate hit, where it tackled a lot of topics. Dragnet was canceled in 1970, after a 4-season run, due to Morgan's best friend and co-star (Jack Webb) leaving the show to continue producing other shows, such as Adam-12 (1968) and Emergency! (1972). Morgan would later work with Webb in both short-lived series, The D.A. (1971), opposite Robert Conrad and Hec Ramsey (1972), opposite Richard Boone. After those roles, Morgan ended his contract with both Universal and Mark VII, to sign with 20th Century Fox.
Morgan's biggest role was that of a tough-talking, commanding, fun-loving, serious Army Officer, "Col. Sherman T. Potter" on M*A*S*H (1972), when he replaced McLean Stevenson, who left the show to unsuccessfully star in his own sitcom. For the third time, the show was still a hit with fans, and at 60, he was nominated for Emmies nine times and won his first and only Emmy in 1980, for Outstanding Supporting Actor. By 1983, M*A*S*H's series was getting very expensive, as well as with the cast, hence, CBS reduced it to 16 episodes. Despite M*A*S*H's finale in 1983, Morgan went on to star in a short-lived spin-off series AfterMASH (1983), co-starring Jamie Farr and William Christopher, from the original M*A*S*H (1972) series, without series' star Alan Alda.
He also co-starred in 2 more short-lived series, as he was over 70, beginning with Blacke's Magic (1986) with Hal Linden and his final role with You Can't Take It with You (1987). That same year, he reprised his role, for a second time as "Off. Bill Gannon" in the film, Dragnet (1987), which starred Dan Aykroyd and Tom Hanks. Then, he guest-starred in several shows such as: The Twilight Zone (1985), Renegade (1992), The Jeff Foxworthy Show (1995), for the third time, he also reprised his "Off. Bill Gannon" role, supplying his voice on The Simpsons (1989). Towards the end of his acting career, as he reached 80, he had a recurring role as the older college professor on 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996), opposite John Lithgow. Afterwards, he retired from show business and lived with his family. Harry Morgan died on December 7, 2011 at 96. On confirming his death, his son Charles said that he had been recently treated for pneumonia. Morgan was also one of the oldest living Hollywood male actors.- Director
- Producer
- Writer
William A. Levey was born on 31 March 1943 in Stamford, Connecticut, USA. He is a director and producer, known for Monaco Forever (1984), To Be a Rose (1974) and Skatetown U.S.A. (1979). He was previously married to Elaine Young.- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Producer
Peter Levin was born on 3 December 1932 in Trenton, New Jersey, USA. He was a director and assistant director, known for Love Is a Many Splendored Thing (1967), The ABC Afternoon Playbreak (1972) and Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story (2003). He was married to Audrey Davis Levin. He died on 29 December 2023 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.