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Damien Chazelle

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Damien Chazelle
Chazelle at the 2014 Deauville American Film Festival
Born
Damien Sayre Chazelle [1]

(1985-01-19) January 19, 1985 (age 39)
Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Citizenship
  • France
  • United States
Alma materHarvard University
Occupations
  • Film director
  • screenwriter
  • producer
Years active2008–present
Spouses
  • Jasmine McGlade
    ​
    ​
    (m. 2010; div. 2014)​
  • Olivia Hamilton
    ​
    (m. 2018)​
Children1
Parent(s)Bernard Chazelle
Celia Chazelle
AwardsFull list
Signature

Damien Sayre Chazelle (/ʃəˈzɛl/; born January 19, 1985)[2] is a French-American film director, screenwriter and producer.[3] He is known for his films Whiplash (2014), La La Land (2016), and First Man (2018). Chazelle's breakout Whiplash began as a proof-of-concept short film, which debuted at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and eventually attracted attention from financiers who helped to finance the full-length version. The film premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival as the opening film where it won the U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic and Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic and went on to receive five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, winning three with Chazelle himself nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Soon after, he was finally able to make his dream project, La La Land, which was nominated for fourteen Academy Awards, winning six including Best Director, making him the youngest person to win the award at age 32.[4][5] His films have received critical and commercial success. Aside from filmmaking, Chazelle has ventured into television with The Eddy, an eight-episode Netflix miniseries set in Paris. Chazelle's next film, Babylon, is set in 1920s Hollywood and will be given a wide release by Paramount Pictures on December 23, 2022.

Early life and education

Chazelle was born in Providence, Rhode Island[2] to a Catholic family.[6][7] His father who is French, Bernard Chazelle, is the Eugene Higgins Professor of computer science at Princeton University, and was born in Clamart, France.[8] His mother, Celia,[9] is from an English-Canadian family based in Calgary, Alberta, and teaches medieval history at The College of New Jersey.[10]

Chazelle was raised in Princeton, New Jersey, where, although a Catholic, he attended a Hebrew school for four years due to his parents' dissatisfaction with other local schools.[7] Chazelle has a sister, Anna, who is an actress.[9] Their English-born maternal grandfather, John Martin, is the son of stage actress Eileen Earle.[9]

Filmmaking was Chazelle's first love, but he subsequently wanted to be a musician and struggled to make it as a jazz drummer at Princeton High School. He has said that he had an intense music teacher in the Princeton High School Studio Band, who was the inspiration for the character of Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons) in Chazelle's breakout film Whiplash. Unlike the film's protagonist Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller), Chazelle stated that he knew instinctively that he never had the talent to be a great drummer and after high school, pursued filmmaking again.[11] He studied filmmaking in the Visual and Environmental Studies department at Harvard University and graduated in 2007.[12][13]

At Harvard, he lived in Currier House as roommates with composer and frequent collaborator Justin Hurwitz.[14] The two were among the original members of the indie-pop group Chester French, formed during their freshman year.[15]

Career

Early work and career beginnings

Chazelle wrote and directed his debut feature, Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench, as part of his senior thesis project with classmate Justin Hurwitz at Harvard.[16] The film premiered at Tribeca Film Festival in 2009 and received various awards on the festival circuit, before being picked up by Variance Films for limited release and opening to critical acclaim.[17]

After graduation, Chazelle moved to Los Angeles with the ultimate goal of attracting interest to produce his musical La La Land.[18] Chazelle worked as a "writer-for-hire" in Hollywood; among his writing credits are The Last Exorcism Part II (2013) and Grand Piano (2013). He was also brought in by J. J. Abrams' Bad Robot Productions to re-write a draft of 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) with the intention of also directing, but Chazelle ultimately chose to direct Whiplash instead.[19]

Breakthrough and success

Chazelle on the set of La La Land in 2015

Chazelle initially described Whiplash as a writing reaction to being stuck on another script: "I just thought, that's not working, let me put it away and write this thing about being a jazz drummer in high school." He stated he initially did not want to show the script around, as it felt too personal, and "I put it in a drawer".[11] Although nobody was initially interested in producing the film,[20] his script was featured on Black List in 2012 as one of the best unmade films of that year. The project was eventually picked up by Right of Way Films and Blumhouse Productions, who suggested that Chazelle turn a portion of his script into a short film as proof-of-concept. The 18-minute short was accepted at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, where it was well-received;[21] financing was then raised for the feature film, and, in 2014, it was released to an overwhelmingly positive critical reaction.[22] Whiplash received numerous awards on the festival circuit[23][24] and earned five Oscar nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay for Chazelle, winning three.[25]

Thanks to the success of Whiplash, Chazelle was able to attract financiers for his musical La La Land.[18] The film opened the Venice International Film Festival on August 31, 2016, and began a limited release in the United States on December 9, 2016, with a wider release on December 16, 2016.[26][27] It has received rave reviews from critics and numerous awards.[28] Chazelle was particularly praised for his work on the film and received several top honors, including a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Director, making Chazelle the youngest director to win each award, at age 32.[5]

Chazelle next reunited with Gosling on the film First Man (2018), for Universal Pictures. With a screenplay by Josh Singer, the biopic is based on author James R. Hansen's First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong, written about the astronaut.[29][30] The film received positive reviews,[31] with Owen Gleiberman of Variety writing that "Chazelle orchestrates a dashingly original mood of adventure drenched in anxiety".[32]

Chazelle directed the first two episodes of the May 2020-released Netflix musical drama television miniseries The Eddy.[33][34] The series is written by Jack Thorne, with Grammy-winning songwriter Glen Ballard and Alan Poul attached as executive producers. The series is set in Paris and consists of eight episodes.

Upcoming projects

On July 15, 2019, Variety reported that his next film, called Babylon, set in 1920s Hollywood, was scheduled to be released in 2021, co-produced by his wife, Olivia Hamilton. Chazelle was eyeing Emma Stone to star;[35] Brad Pitt has also been rumored to have a role.[36] On November 11, 2019, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Babylon would have a limited release on December 25, 2022, before expanding into wide release on January 6, 2023.[37] On December 3, 2020, it was reported that Li Jun Li was cast as Anna May Wong and that Margot Robbie was in talks to replace Stone.[38] In 2018 it was reported that Apple TV+ had given the director a direct-to-series order for an untitled drama series to be made for the streaming service, but no other information has been released yet.[39]

Personal life

Chazelle married producer Jasmine McGlade in 2010; they divorced in 2014.[40][41] In October 2017, Chazelle and actress Olivia Hamilton, a Princeton University graduate and former McKinsey & Company consultant, announced their engagement,[41][42] and the couple married September 22, 2018.[43] They have a son who was born in November 2019.[44]

Due to his French heritage, Chazelle is fluent in French.[45][46]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes
2009 Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench Yes Yes Yes Also cinematographer and co-editor
2013 The Last Exorcism Part II No Yes No
Grand Piano No Yes No
2014 Whiplash Yes Yes No
2016 10 Cloverfield Lane No Yes No
La La Land Yes Yes No
2018 First Man Yes No Yes
2022 Babylon Yes Yes No Post-production

Short film

Year Title Director Writer
2013 Whiplash Yes Yes
2020 The Stunt Double[47] Yes No

Television

Year Title Director Executive
Producer 		Notes
2020 The Eddy Yes Yes 2 episodes

Accolades

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Damien Chazelle
Year Title Academy Awards BAFTA Awards Golden Globe Awards
Nominations Wins Nominations Wins Nominations Wins
2014 Whiplash 5 3 5 3 1 1
2016 La La Land 14 6 11 5 7 7
2018 First Man 4 1 7 2 1
Total 23 10 23 8 10 9

Directed Academy Award performances

Chazelle has directed multiple Oscar-winning and nominated performances.

Year Performer Film Result
Academy Award for Best Actor
2016 Ryan Gosling La La Land Nominated
Academy Award for Best Actress
2016 Emma Stone La La Land Won
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
2014 J. K. Simmons Whiplash Won

See also

References

  1. ^ "Damien Chazelle | Biography, Movies, & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Damien Chazelle: Screenwriter, Director (1985–)". Biography.com (FYI / A&E Networks). Archived from the original on October 10, 2017. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  3. ^ Damien Chazelle, réalisateur de LALALAND - C à vous - 13/01/2017, retrieved May 9, 2022
  4. ^ F. Brinley Bruton (February 27, 2017). "Oscars 2017: Damien Chazelle Is Youngest to Win Best Director". NBC News.
  5. ^ a b Roberts, Amy (January 4, 2017). "Who's The Youngest Best Director Winner In Golden Globes History? 'La La Land' Director Damien Chazelle Could Break The Record". Bustle. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  6. ^ "La La Land's Jewish composer nominated for Oscar", Connecticut Jewish Ledger, January 25, 2017.
  7. ^ a b Friedman, Gabe (February 23, 2017). "Oscars 2017: 7 unexpected Jewish facts". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Archived from the original on September 8, 2017.
  8. ^ "Bernard Chazelle – Curriculum Vitae" (PDF).
  9. ^ a b c Eric Volmers (February 3, 2017). "La La's local connection: Calgary grandparents proud of Oscar-nominated Damien Chazelle". Calgary Herald. Archived from the original on October 9, 2017. Their daughter, Damien's mother Celia, is the oldest of three children and married French-American Bernard Chazelle, a professor of computer science at Princeton
  10. ^ Hirschberg, Lynn (December 1, 2016). "Can Damien Chazelle and 'La La Land' Make Americans Fall in Love with Musicals Again?". W. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  11. ^ a b Myers, Scott (October 12, 2014). "Damien Chazelle interview". The Black List.
  12. ^ Sweeney, Sarah (May 14, 2015). "A movie as a mirror". Harvard Gazette.
  13. ^ Rottenberg, Josh (February 13, 2015). "Damien Chazelle's wild, crazy ride to the Oscars with 'Whiplash'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  14. ^ "From Harvard to 'La La Land'". Harvard Gazette. January 20, 2017. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  15. ^ Phares, Heather. "Chester French – Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  16. ^ "Tribeca '09 Interview: "Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench" Director Damien Chazelle". IndieWire. April 17, 2009. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  17. ^ Knegt, Peter (March 11, 2010). "Fest Fave "Guy and Madeline" Lands at Variance". IndieWire. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  18. ^ a b Ford, Rebecca (November 3, 2016). "How 'La La Land' Went From First-Screening Stumbles to Hollywood Ending". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  19. ^ Rome, Emily (March 15, 2016). "'10 Cloverfield Lane' director explains why they changed the movie's ending". HitFix. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  20. ^ Stern, Marlow (January 24, 2014). "'Whiplash' Is Sundance's Hottest Film, A Music-Themed Drama Starring Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons". The Daily Beast.
  21. ^ Bahr, Lindsey (May 14, 2013). "'Whiplash': Sundance-winning short to become full-length feature – BREAKING". Entertainment Weekly. CNN. Archived from the original on February 26, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  22. ^ "'Metacritic Reviews of "Whiplash"".
  23. ^ Zeitchik, Steven; Mark Olsen (January 25, 2014). "Sundance 2014 winners: 'Whiplash' wins big". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  24. ^ Richford, Rhonda (September 13, 2014). "'Whiplash' Takes Top Prize in Deauville". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  25. ^ "2015 Oscar Nominations". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on January 19, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  26. ^ Ford, Rebecca Ford (July 9, 2015). "J.K. Simmons to Reunite With 'Whiplash' Director for 'La La Land' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  27. ^ Vivarelli, Nick (June 17, 2016). "Damien Chazelle's 'La La Land' to Open Venice Film Festival in Competition". Variety. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  28. ^ Ciras, Heather (August 31, 2016). "Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling's 'La La Land' gets rave reviews in Venice". Boston Globe. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  29. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 24, 2015). "Ryan Gosling Orbiting Damien Chazelle's Neil Armstrong Movie at Universal?". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  30. ^ Kroll, Justin (December 29, 2016). "Ryan Gosling, Damien Chazelle to Reteam on Neil Armstrong Biopic". Variety. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  31. ^ "First Man (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  32. ^ Gleiberman, Owen (August 29, 2018). "Venice Film Review: Ryan Gosling in First Man". Variety. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  33. ^ "Damien Chazelle Plans TV Project 'The Eddy' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  34. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (September 1, 2017). "Damien Chazelle & Netflix Have 'The Eddy' Musical Drama Series On Dance Card". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  35. ^ "Emma Stone Eyes Damien Chazelle's Next Film 'Babylon'". Variety. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  36. ^ "Brad Pitt Also Circling Damien Chazelle's Period Hollywood 'Babylon' With Emma Stone". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  37. ^ "Damien Chazelle's 'Babylon' Lands at Paramount With Brad Pitt, Emma Stone Circling". The Hollywood Reporter. November 11, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  38. ^ "Exclusive: Damien Chazelle Casts Li Jun Li as Anna May Wong in 'Babylon'". Collider. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  39. ^ "Damien Chazelle Drama Scores Straight-to-Series Order at Apple". Variety. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  40. ^ Lang, Brent (December 7, 2016). "'La La Land' Director's Ex-Wife Gets Last-Minute Executive Producer Credit (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  41. ^ a b Rossi, Madison (October 9, 2017). "La La Land Director Damien Chazelle Is Engaged to 'Love of His Life' Olivia Hamilton". People. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  42. ^ "Olivia Hamilton: Photos of Damien Chazelle's Girlfriend". Heavy.com. January 8, 2017. Archived from the original on October 20, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2017.Additional on October 9, 2017.
  43. ^ "Damien Chazelle Shoots the Moon: Oscar's Youngest Best Director Grows Up With 'First Man'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  44. ^ "Olivia Hamilton on Instagram: "grateful for my pack of boys"".
  45. ^ "Damien Chazelle sous le charme de Jacques Demy et Romain Duris". Europe 1 (in French). Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  46. ^ Damien Chazelle : "La La Land est exactement le film que je voulais faire", archived from the original on November 14, 2021, retrieved January 7, 2020
  47. ^ "The Vertical Cinematography of Damien Chazelle's 'The Stunt Double'". Film School Rejects. August 13, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
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