Barry Sonnenfeld
| Barry Sonnenfeld | |
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 Barry Sonnenfeld, April 2007 |
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| Born | April 1, 1953 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Film director, producer and cinematographer |
| Spouse | Susan Ringo (1989-present) |
Barry Sonnenfeld (born April 1, 1953) is an American filmmaker and television director. He worked as cinematographer for the Coen brothers, then later he directed and produced big budget films such as Men in Black.
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[edit] Life and career
Sonnenfeld was born and raised in New York City, the son of Kelly, an art teacher, and Sonny Sonnenfeld.[1] He was raised in a Jewish family.[2] After he received his bachelor's degree from Hampshire College, he graduated from New York University of Film School in 1978. He started work as director of photography on the Oscar-nominated In Our Water (1982). Then Joel Coen and Ethan Coen hired him for Blood Simple (1985). This film began his collaboration with the Coen brothers, who used him for their next two pictures, Raising Arizona (1987) and Miller's Crossing (1990). He also worked with Danny DeVito on Throw Momma from the Train (1987) and Rob Reiner on When Harry Met Sally (1989) and Misery (1990).
Sonnenfeld gained his first work as a director from Orion Pictures on The Addams Family, a box-office success released in November 1991. Its sequel, Addams Family Values (1993), was not as successful at the box office, but he received critical acclaim for his fourth directorial outing, Get Shorty (1995). Produced by Jersey Films and based on a novel by Elmore Leonard, the film won a Golden Globe for John Travolta (Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical). The film was also entered into the 46th Berlin International Film Festival.[3]
In 1996 Steven Spielberg asked him to direct Men in Black (1997). Starring Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith, the film was a critical and financial smash. Producer Jon Peters then asked Sonnenfeld to direct Wild Wild West (1999), an adaptation of an old TV series. Wild Wild West was an expensive disappointment. He also directed the comedy Big Trouble (2002), after which he made his most successful film sequel, Men in Black II (2002). He is also a contributing editor for Esquire. He also co-produced the 2007 film Enchanted for Disney that starred Amy Adams. In 2008, Sonnenfeld earned an Emmy for directing Pushing Daisies. On April 21, 2010, it was announced that Sonnenfeld plans to return for Men in Black III.[4]
[edit] Filmography
His works include:
- Blood Simple (1984) ... Cinematography
- Compromising Positions (1985) ... Cinematography
- Three O'Clock High (1987) ... Cinematography
- Throw Momma From the Train (1987) ... Cinematography
- Raising Arizona (1987) ... Cinematography
- Big (1988) ... Cinematography
- When Harry Met Sally... ... (1989) ... Cinematography
- Misery (1990) ... Cinematography
- Miller's Crossing (1990) ... Cinematography
- The Addams Family (1991) ...Passenger in Gomez' train; Director
- Addams Family Values (1993) ... Mr. Glicker ; Director
- For Love or Money (1993) ... Director
- Get Shorty (1995) ... Doorman ; Director ; Executive Producer
- Men in Black (1997) ... Director
- Out of Sight (1998) ... Executive Producer
- Wild Wild West (1999) ... Director ; Producer
- The Crew (2000) ... Producer
- The Tick (2001–2003) ... Man on Couch ; Executive Producer
- Men in Black II (2002) ... Neuralyzed Father ; Director
- Big Trouble (2002) ... Confused Sports Radio Call in Voice ; Director ; Producer
- RV (2006) ... Director ; Irv (photo only)
- Enchanted (2007) ... Producer
- Pushing Daisies (2007) ... Executive Producer ; Director (TV series)
- Space Chimps (2008) ... Producer
- Suburban Shootout (2008) ... Executive Producer ; Director (TV series)
- Men in Black III (2012) ... Director
He has also done advertising:
[edit] Future projects
Things A Man Should Never Do Past 30: single-camera comedy from executive producer/director Sonnenfeld, the Tannenbaum Co. and Sony Pictures TV. The project mostly is based on the personal experiences of Esquire writer David Katz and Esquire editor at large A.J. Jacobs. The show is about a man working at a men's magazine who is reluctant to embrace adulthood and his friend who is an immersion journalist. Al Higgins (Malcolm in the Middle), is set to serve as showrunner/head writer if the project is picked up.[5]
He has become attached to a movie adaption of The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz, about a family of private investigators.[6] Sonnenfeld will direct the movie adaption of the fantasy novel Gil's All Fright Diner with an DreamWorks distribution.[7] He is also developing a sitcom for ABC, Funny in Farsi, based on the book of the same name.[8]
In April 2010, he confirmed that he would be directing his first 3D film Men in Black III, the third installment of the Men in Black franchise, for a 2012 release.[9]
[edit] References
- ^ Barry Sonnenfeld Biography (1953-)
- ^ TCM Barry Sonnenfeld Biography
- ^ "Berlinale: 1996 Programme". berlinale.de. http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1996/02_programm_1996/02_Programm_1996.html. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
- ^ "'Men in Black 3' Ready to Roll in 3-D With Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones". http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/19912.
- ^ . http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3ic50f77eca50ca545cb4645c8000c901b.[dead link]
- ^ Fleming, Michael (April 1, 2009). "Sonnenfeld takes 'Spellman Files'". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118002034.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2562.
- ^ "Barry Sonnenfeld to Direct Gil's All Fright Diner for DreamWorks". http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/35019/barry-sonnenfeld-direct-gils-all-fright-diner-dreamworks.
- ^ "Sonnenfeld takes helm of "Farsi" comedy pilot". Reuters. November 30, 2009. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5AT0J120091130.
- ^ Brendon Connelly (April 21, 2010). "Barry Sonnenfeld Confirms Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones For Men in Black 3D". /Film. http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/04/21/barry-sonnenfeld-confirms-will-smith-and-tommy-lee-jones-for-men-in-black-3d/. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
[edit] External links
- Barry Sonnenfeld at the Internet Movie Database
- Barry Sonnenfeld at the Hollywood.com
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