Roland Emmerich

All you want to know about Roland Emmerich

Roland Emmerich

Roland Emmerich in Berlin (2007)
Born November 10, 1955 (1955-11-10) (age 52)
Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Other name(s) Das Spielbergle aus Sindelfingen
(South German dialect for "Little Spielberg from Sindelfingen")
Occupation film director, producer and writer

Roland Emmerich (born November 10, 1955) is a German film director, screenwriter, and producer.

Contents

Early life and career

Emmerich was born in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. He attended the University of Television and Film Munich from 1977 to 1981 and his student film, The Noah's Ark Principle, went on to open the 1984 Berlin Film Festival. In 1985, he founded Centropolis Film Productions (now Centropolis Entertainment) in partnership with his sister, producer Ute Emmerich.

Hoping to tap into the American market, Emmerich began directing English-language supernatural fantasy features in his native Germany. Eventually, his science-fiction film Moon 44, went straight to video in the United States and featured Dean Devlin. Having caught the attention of producer Mario Kassar, Emmerich was invited to America. Devlin would subsequently become Emmerich's writing and producing partner once Emmerich settled in Hollywood.

Hollywood director

Emmerich was hired to replace director Andrew Davis for the action movie Universal Soldier. The film was followed by two made-for-television movies and a theatrical sequel. Emmerich next helmed the science-fiction film Stargate, an unexpected success that spawned a highly popular media franchise.

Emmerich then directed Independence Day, an alien invasion feature that became the first film to gross $100 million in less than a week[1][2] and went on to become one of the most successful films of all time.[3] His next film, the much-hyped Godzilla, did not meet its anticipated box office success[4] and was a critical failure. [5]

After a change of pace directing the American Revolutionary War film The Patriot, Emmerich returned once again to directing a visual effects-laden adventure with 2004's The Day After Tomorrow. Soon afterwards, he founded Reelmachine, another film production company based in Germany.

Emmerich's most recent effort is 10,000 BC, a film about the journeys of a prehistoric tribe. He was slated to direct a remake of the 1966 science-fiction film Fantastic Voyage,[6] but the project slipped back into development hell. He is currently directing 2012 [7], an apocalyptic film inspired by the theory that the Mayans prophesied the world's ending in 2012.

Advocacy

For several years, Emmerich has been in favor of the campaign for stunt performers to receive recognition at the Academy Awards, and has worked to raise awareness over the issue of global warming.[8]

A chain-smoker who has been known to smoke as many as four packs of cigarettes a day,[9] Emmerich has often included in his films characters who are trying to quit smoking, and/or warn against the dangers of tobacco use.

Emmerich, along with several other celebrities, is a producer of The 1 Second Film, a non-profit project intended to raise money for women's rights in the developing world. [10]

In 2006, he pledged $150,000 to the Legacy Project, a campaign dedicated to gay and lesbian film preservation. Emmerich, who is openly gay, made the donation on behalf of Outfest, making it the largest gift in the festival's history.[11] In 2007, on behalf of the LGBT community, he held a fundraiser at his Los Angeles home for Democratic Party presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. [12]

Filmography

Year Film Credit
1984 Das Arche Noah Prinzip Director, writer
1985 Joey Director, co-writer
1987 Hollywood-Monster Director, producer, co-writer
1990 Moon 44 Director, producer, co-writer
1991 Eye of the Storm Executive producer
1992 Universal Soldier Director
1994 The High Crusade Producer
Stargate Director, co-writer
1996 Independence Day Director, co-writer, executive producer
1997 The Visitor (TV) Co-creator, executive producer
1998 Godzilla Director, co-writer, executive producer
1999 The Thirteenth Floor Producer
2000 The Patriot Director, executive producer
2001 "Infinite Possibilities" (TV commercial) Director
2002 Eight Legged Freaks Executive producer
2004 The Day After Tomorrow Director, producer, co-writer
2007 Trade Producer
2008 10,000 BC Director, producer, co-writer
2009 2012 Director, writer
Isobar Co-writer

References

  1. ^ A.J. Jacobs (1996-07-19). "The Day After", Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2008-07-08. 
  2. ^ Film History of the 1990s filmsite.org. Retrieved on July 8, 2008.
  3. ^ "Independence Day." Box Office Mojo. Retrieved on July 8, 2008.
  4. ^ "Weekend Box Office (May 22 - 25, 1998)". boxofficeguru.com (May 25, 1998). Retrieved on 2007-11-29.
  5. ^ "Godzilla (1998)". rottentomatoes.com (June 24, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-03-28.
  6. ^ "Emmerich to captain 'Voyage'". variety.com (August 15, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-08-15.
  7. ^ "Sony buys Emmerich's '2012'". variety.com (February 21, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
  8. ^ "An interview with Roland Emmerich". blackfilm.com (May 1, 2004). Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
  9. ^ Rebecca Ascher-Walsh (1996-07-12). "SPACE UNDER FIRE", Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2008-07-08. 
  10. ^ "Roland Emmerich". the1secondfilm.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
  11. ^ "Hollywood director helps save gay and lesbian films". advocate.com (January 25, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-03-28.
  12. ^ "LGBT hold fundraiser for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton at Roland Emmerich's Hollywood Home". www.4seasons-photography.com (July 22, 2007). Retrieved on 2008-02-21.

External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_Emmerich"

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