Roland Emmerich Biography
Summary
"Roland Emmerich" (born November 10, 1955) is a German film director, screenwriter, and producer.
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. 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 set up shop 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 and successful media franchise.
Emmerich then hit his blockbuster stride with "Independence Day". The alien invasion feature became the first film to gross $100 million in less than a week and went on to become one of the most successful films of all time. His next film, the much-hyped "Godzilla", was a critical and commercial failure.
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".
Emmerich recently finished principal photography on "10,000 BC", a film about the journeys of a prehistoric tribe set to be released on March 7, 2008. His next project will be directing a remake of the 1966 science-fiction film "Fantastic Voyage".
Other work
Emmerich founded Centropolis Film Productions in 1985, and later renamed it Centropolis Entertainment. He has since founded another production company, Reelmachine.
Shortly after the success of "Independence Day", Emmerich and Devlin created the show "The Visitor" for the Fox Network. It was cancelled after one season.
In 2001 he directed his first and only television commercial, a 60-second spot entitled 'Infinite Possibilties' for the DaimlerChrysler corporation.
In 2006, he pledged $150,000 to the Legacy Project, a campaign dedicated to gay and lesbian film preservation. Emmerich, who is openly homosexual, made the donation of behalf of Outfest, making it the largest gift in the festival's history.
He and Devlin are currently writing a new script for "Isobar". The movie will be about a dangerous stowaway on a subterranean luxury liner train on its trip from the United States to Japan.
Filmography
"Das Arche Noah Prinzip" (1984, West Germany) – director, writer
"Joey" aka "Making Contact" (1985, West Germany) – director, co-writer
"Hollywood-Monster" aka "Ghost Chase" (1987, West Germany) – director, producer, co-writer
"Moon 44" (1990, West Germany) – director, producer, co-writer
"Eye Of The Storm" (1991) – executive producer
"Universal Soldier" (1992) – director
"The High Crusade" (1994) – producer
"Stargate" (1994) – director, co-writer
"Independence Day" (1996) – director, executive producer, co-writer
"The Visitor" (1997) – creator, executive producer
"Godzilla" (1998) – director, executive producer, co-writer
"The Thirteenth Floor" (1999) – producer
"The Patriot" (2000) – director, executive producer
"Eight Legged Freaks" (2002) – executive producer
"The Day After Tomorrow" (2004) – director, producer, co-writer
"Trade" (2007) – producer
"10,000 BC" (2008) – director, producer, co-writer
"Isobar" (2008) – producer, co-writer
"Fantastic Voyage" (2010) – director
Credit
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article about Roland Emmerich.
