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Zack Snyder

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Zack Snyder
Snyder at the Sydney premiere
of Man of Steel in June 2013
Born
Zachary Edward Snyder

(1966-03-01) March 1, 1966 (age 58)
Green Bay, Wisconsin, United States
OccupationFilmmaker
Years active1990–present
Spouse(s)Denise Snyder (divorced)
​
(m. 2004)​
PartnerKirsten Elin
ChildrenEight children (4 eldest from first marriage, 2 from Elin, 2 adopted with Deborah)

Zachary Edward "Zack" Snyder (born March 1, 1966) is an American filmmaker, best known for his action and science fiction films. Snyder made his feature film debut with the 2004 remake of the horror film Dawn of the Dead, which earned a good box office return and positive reviews from critics. He has gone on to be known for his comic book movies and superhero films, including 300 (2007) and Watchmen (2009), as well as the Superman film that started the DC Extended Universe, Man of Steel (2013), and its follow-ups, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Justice League Part One (2017) and Justice League Part Two (2019).

Snyder is the co-founder of Cruel and Unusual Films, a production company he established in 2004, alongside his wife Deborah Snyder and producing partner Wesley Coller.[1]

Early life

Snyder was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and raised in Riverside, Connecticut. His mother, Marsha Manley (née Reeves), was a painter and a photography teacher at Daycroft School, which Snyder later attended. His father, Charles Edward "Ed" Snyder, worked as an executive recruiter.[2][3][4] He was raised as a Christian Scientist.[1] Snyder attended Camp Owatonna in Harrison, Maine, during the summer months as a child. Snyder's mother inspired him to study painting a year after high school at Heatherley School of Fine Art in England, although he had already begun filmmaking.[citation needed] Afterward, Snyder attended the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California (where he was classmates with Michael Bay).[citation needed]

Career

Snyder at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con International to promote Man of Steel

Snyder went on to shoot[when?], as a director and as a cinematographer, television commercials for such clients as the automobile companies Audi, BMW, Subaru and Nissan, amongst others. Other commercial work has been for clients including Nike, Reebok, and Gatorade.[citation needed]

Snyder made his feature film debut with the remake of the horror film Dawn of the Dead (2004), and scored a box office hit with the fantasy war film 300 (2007), adapted from writer-artist Frank Miller's Dark Horse Comics miniseries of the same name. His Warner Bros. film Watchmen was released on March 6, 2009 and grossed $185 million worldwide. His follow-up project/animation debut titled Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole was released on September 24, 2010. Snyder produced, co-wrote, and directed Sucker Punch,[5] which was released on March 25, 2011. The film, based on a script written by Snyder and Steve Shibuya, was about a young woman in a mental hospital who fantasizes of escape with her fellow inmates.

He directed 2013's Man of Steel for Warner Bros., a reboot of the Superman franchise. He will direct a yet-to-be-produced remake of the 1969 film The Illustrated Man,[citation needed] and produced the prequel/sequel to 300, 300: Rise of an Empire (2014). He also wants to direct a segment for an upcoming Heavy Metal 3, and plans to write and direct a sequel to Legend of the Guardians.[6]

In October 2012, Warner Bros. announced a planned 2015 release for their Justice League film.[citation needed] During an interview with the New York Post in November 2012, director Zack Snyder stated, “I don’t know how ‘Justice League’ is going to be handled. Honestly, I don’t. But ‘The Man of Steel’ exists, and Superman is in it. I don’t know how you’d move forward without acknowledging that,” and claimed that Warner Bros. expects him to "keep them on course" as regards to a potential cinematic universe.[citation needed] It was rumored in early March 2013 that Snyder would direct the Justice League film and that Christopher Nolan would again be producing.[citation needed]

In November 2012, Snyder proclaimed that he would not be involved with the development of Star Wars: Episode VII (Star Wars: The Force Awakens). Speculation swirled again in January 2013, when Vulture reported that he would be developing a Star Wars spin-off film inspired by Seven Samurai.[7] However, this report was later denied as rumor by Snyder's representative.[8] As of March 2013, it was rumored that Zack Snyder might be attached to the long in progress Justice League film. As reported by Latino Review, Snyder might either step in as a producer or he might direct the project itself. These reports have not been confirmed yet.[9] Snyder is set to direct a Man of Steel sequel.[10] During Comic Con 2013, Snyder announced that Batman and Superman would share the screen in the Man of Steel sequel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, released in 2016. Cavill reprised his role as Superman, and Ben Affleck played Batman.[11] In April 2014, Snyder was announced by Warner Bros. to direct the Justice League films after finishing Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.[12] Snyder is also committed to making The Last Photograph, a drama featuring Christian Bale and Sean Penn.[13]

Style

Snyder often uses slow motion in and out of the fight scenes in his films, which Amy Nicholson of Boxoffice magazine remarked separates the director from other filmmakers who make multiple cuts and close-ups during a fight. A minute-long shot from 300 shows King Leonidas slaughtering his enemies, the camera zooming in and out to emphasize each kill and move Leonidas makes.[14]

Awards

Snyder's body of work has earned him a number of awards, including two Clio Awards and a Gold Lion Award for his Jeep "Frisbee" commercial. He also won an award for his humorous commercial "General's Party".[citation needed]

Personal life

Snyder lives in Pasadena with his second wife, producer Deborah Snyder. The couple first met in 1996, and married on September 25, 2004 at the St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in Manhattan, New York.[15][16]

Snyder has eight children. The four eldest are from a marriage to Denise Weber that ended in divorce. Two are from another relationship, with Kirsten Elin, who was his line producer on commercials for a while.[1] Snyder and his current wife adopted two children during the course of making Man of Steel.[17]

Filmography

Music videos

Films

Year Film Director Producer Writer
2004 Dawn of the Dead Yes No No
2007 300 Yes No Yes
2009 Watchmen Yes No No
2010 Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole Yes No No
2011 Sucker Punch Yes Yes Yes
2013 Man of Steel Yes No No
2014 300: Rise of an Empire No Yes Yes
2016 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Yes No No
Suicide Squad No Executive No
2017 Wonder Woman No Yes No
Justice League Part One Yes No No
2018 The Flash No Executive No
Aquaman No Yes No
2019 Justice League Part Two Yes No No

Collaborations

Actors

Actors Dawn of the Dead
(2004) 		300
(2007) 		Watchmen
(2009) 		Legend of the Guardians:
The Owls of Ga'Hoole
(2010) 		Sucker Punch
(2011) 		Man of Steel
(2013) 		Batman v Superman:
Dawn of Justice
(2016) 		Justice League
Part One
(2017)
Richard Cetrone Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Matt Frewer Yes Yes
Michael Kelly Yes Yes
Stephen McHattie Yes Yes
Patrick Sabongui Yes Yes Yes
Eli Snyder Yes Yes Yes
David Wenham Yes Yes
Michael Adamthwaite Yes Yes
Carla Gugino Yes Yes Yes Yes
Alessandro Juliani Yes Yes
Jeffrey Dean Morgan Yes Yes
Patrick Wilson Yes Yes
Abbie Cornish Yes Yes
Jena Malone Yes Yes
Henry Cavill Yes Yes Yes
Amy Adams Yes Yes Yes
Diane Lane Yes Yes
Laurence Fishburne Yes Yes
Harry Lennix Yes Yes
Christina Wren Yes Yes
Ben Affleck Yes Yes
Gal Gadot Yes Yes
Jason Momoa Yes Yes
Ray Fisher Yes Yes
Ezra Miller Yes Yes

Crew

  • Snyder's wife Deborah Snyder, has produced all of his films dating back to 300 (executive producer on 300 and Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole).
  • Larry Fong and William Hoy were Snyder's cinematographer and film editor, respectively, on the films 300, Watchmen and Sucker Punch. Fong is also the cinematographer for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
  • John "D.J." Desjardin was the visual effects supervisor on Watchmen, Sucker Punch, Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
  • David Brenner served as film editor on Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Reception

While his visual direction is often praised by critics, Snyder is often criticized for his subpar storytelling and excessive iconography.[18] Snyder has also been criticized for his lack of respect for comic book characters, as noted in his handling of Superman, Lex Luthor, Jimmy Olsen, and the bending of Batman's famous rule against killing in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.[19][20][21]

Shortly after the release of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, many fans expressed their displeasure about the direction of the DC Extended Universe under Snyder's vision. Two separate petitions were created to keep Snyder off the next installment of the franchise, Justice League Part 1, and his role as the chaperone of the DC Extended Universe.[22]

Critical, public and commercial reception to films Zack Snyder has directed as of April 26, 2015:

Year Film Rotten Tomatoes[23] Metacritic[24] CinemaScore[25] Budget Box office[26]
2004 Dawn of the Dead 75% (180 reviews) 58 (32 reviews) B $26 million $102.4 million
2007 300 60% (226 reviews) 51 (35 reviews) A- $65 million $456.1 million
2009 Watchmen 65% (294 reviews) 56 (39 reviews) B $130 million $185.3 million
2010 Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole 55% (122 reviews) 53 (21 reviews) A- $80 million $140.1 million
2011 Sucker Punch 23% (202 reviews) 33 (29 reviews) B- $82 million $89.8 million
2013 Man of Steel 56% (288 reviews) 55 (47 reviews) A- $225 million $668.0 million
2016 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice 29% (257 reviews) 44 (50 reviews) B $250 million —

References

  1. ^ a b c Off Screen, a Long-Running Romance New York Times, FEB. 18, 2011.
  2. ^ "Fan makes a film". Berkshire Eagle, The. March 8, 2007.
  3. ^ "Marsha Snyder Obituary - Pittsfield, MA | theberkshireeagle.com". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2015-08-08.
  4. ^ "The North Adams Transcript from North Adams, Massachusetts · Page 15". Newspapers.com. 1958-05-05. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved 2015-08-08. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "Zack Snyder: Watchmen". SuicideGirls.com. 5 March 2009. Retrieved March 5, 2009.
  6. ^ Fleming, Mike (October 4, 2010). "SCOOP: Zack Snyder Directing 'Superman'". Deadline.com. Retrieved October 4, 2010.
  7. ^ "Zack Snyder to direct a Star Wars movie". 3 News NZ. January 14, 2013.
  8. ^ Hudson, Laura (January 14, 2013). "Zack Snyder Denies Report of New Star Wars Film Based on Seven Samurai". Wired News.
  9. ^ Mayimbe, El. "EXCLUSIVE: The DCU Takeover & HUGE Developments on 'Justice League'". Latino-Review.com. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  10. ^ NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief. "'Man Of Steel' Sequel Underway With Zack Snyder And David S. Goyer". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2013-06-18. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  11. ^ "Zack Snyder Will Direct Superman/Batman Movie Inspired by Frank Miller's 'The Dark Knight Returns'".
  12. ^ "Warner Bros. Details Plans for 'Justice League' Movie (Exclusive)". Wall Street Journey. April 26, 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-27.
  13. ^ "Zack Snyder working on Rand's The Fountainhead adaptation". Hindustan Times. March 20, 2016.
  14. ^ Nicholson, Amy (February 26, 2009). "Slow and Steady". Box Office Magazine. Archived from the original on March 3, 2009. Retrieved March 28, 2016. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Louie, Elaine (October 3, 2004). "WEDDINGS/CELEBRATIONS: VOWS; Deborah Johnson and Zack Snyder - New York Times". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  16. ^ Frank Lovece (2009-02-19). "CGI: 'Watchmen'--Zack Snyder brings superhero saga to the finish line". Film Journal International. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
  17. ^ "Zack Snyder's Superhero Life". Bloomberg. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  18. ^ "Batman v Superman: WB needs a stronger vision". Variety. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  19. ^ "Batman v Superman review: Zack Snyder's Doomsday". BirthMoviesDeath. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  20. ^ "Superman and the Damage Done". BirthMoviesDeath. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  21. ^ "Why Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice director Zack Snyder keeps ruining comic book movies". Vox. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  22. ^ "How fans are trying to remove Zack Snyder from the Justice League". Cinema blend. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  23. ^ "Zack Snyder". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  24. ^ "Zack Snyder's Profile". Metacritic. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  25. ^ "CinemaScore". cinemascore.com. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  26. ^ "Zack Snyder Movie Box office". boxofficemojo.com. Amazon.com. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
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