Ryuhei Kitamura Biography
Summary
(born May 30, 1969) is a Japanese film director growing in popularity in Japan and in the international Japanese film community. Kitamura is represented by John Campisi at Creative Artists Agency, managed by Adam Krentzman at Anonymous Content. A DGA director.
Biography
Kitamura's films are known for their extensive storylines, sword fighting, martial arts and action sequences.
Born in Osaka, Japan, Kitamura quit high school and went to the School of Visual Arts in Australia at age 17. His first film was the short "Exit", which he made as his graduation piece at age 19. After graduating, he returned to Japan to establish napalm Films, his independent film production studio. While his films "Down to Hell" and "Heat After Dark" were successful in film festivals, Kitamura's rise to international fame came from "Versus".
Kitamura went on to direct several movies, including adaptations of the manga "Azumi" and the popular Japanese TV drama "Sky High". He had also collaborated with director Yukihiko Tsutsumi in the Duel Project, in which the two agreed to produce the best dueling movie with minimal production time and budget, with "Aragami" being Kitamura's part. He also ventured into the world of video games by directing the cutscenes and motion capturing of "Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes". Kitamura also served as producer on 2003's "Battlefield Baseball", the directorial debut of Yudai Yamaguchi ("Versus" co-writer).
Kitamura's latest film, "Godzilla: Final Wars" had its premiere in Hollywood. His future plans include a sequel to "Versus" as well as preparation for Hollywood.
Kitamura owns his Tokyo based-production company napalm Films and is represented by Anonymous Content in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Kitamura's "Versus" (2000) was mentioned in Jean-Luc Godard's "Notre musique" (2004).
Kitamura signed to direct "Midnight Meat Train", which is based on Clive Barker's short horror story of the same name for Lakeshore Entertainment and Lionsgate and will start shooting winter 2007. This film marks Kitamura's American filmmaking debut.
Filmography (as director)
"Down to Hell" (1996)
"Heat After Dark" (1996)
"Versus" (2000)
"Alive" (2002)
"Jam Films" (segment "The Messenger - Requiem for the Dead") (2002)
"Aragami" (2003)
"Azumi" (2003)
"The Messenger" (2003)
"Sky High" (2003)
"Longinus" (2004)
"Godzilla: Final Wars" (2004)
"LoveDeath" (2006)
"Midnight Meat Train" (2008)
"Yoroi" (2009)
External links
(Ryuhei Kitamura Official Site (available in Japanese and English))
(Ryuhei Kitamura) at JMDb
Credit
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article about Ryuhei Kitamura.
