Gore Verbinski
Encyclopedia
Gregor "Gore" Verbinski is an American film director
, writer and musician. He is best known for directing the films The Ring
, Pirates of the Caribbean
, and Rango
.
. His siblings are Janine, Claire Caregiver,
Diane and Steven. His father was Polish
and worked as a nuclear physicist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
. In 1967 the Verbinski family moved to Southern California
, where a young Gregor grew up in the town of La Jolla. Gregor was an active Boy Scout
and surfed
regularly. He went to Torrey Pines Elementary, Muirlands Junior High, and La Jolla High School
before attending UCLA Film School. Verbinski graduated with his BFA
in Film from UCLA in 1987.
. He also played in the Daredevils
, Bulldozer, The Drivers, and the all-star band The Cylon Boys Choir.
He was also in a band called The Little Kings, which backed Stiv Bators
on his version of "Have Love Will Travel". Along with a cover of the Moody Blues song "The Story in Your Eyes
" (by other musicians), the song was released by Bators in the Fall of 1986 as a 12-inch single on Bomp!
(catalogue #12136) and was later included in Bators' compilation album L.A. L.A.
On the compilation album's liner notes, label owner Greg Shaw
described the band as "an adequate but rootless Hollywood glam
-damaged band with tattoos".
s, he started his career directing music videos for bands like Bad Religion
, NOFX
, 24-7 Spyz
and Monster Magnet
working at Palomar Pictures. This was not surprising to his friends in Los Angeles, since he had been in various punk and rock bands; the Daredevils, for instance, included then-departed member of Bad Religion Brett Gurewitz
.
Verbinski moved from music videos to commercials, where he worked for many brand names including Nike
, Coca-Cola
, Canon
, Skittles
and United Airlines
.
One of his most famous commercials was for Budweiser
, featuring frogs who croak the brand name. For his efforts in commercials, Verbinski won four Clio Awards
and one Cannes Advertising
Silver Lion.
After completing a short film, The Ritual (which he both wrote and directed), Verbinski made his feature film directing debut with his comedy flick, Mouse Hunt. The film was a hit globally and he soon followed up the success with the action/comedy The Mexican
, starring Julia Roberts
and Brad Pitt
. The film received mixed reviews, and performed modestly at the box-office, earning $68 million domestically which was quite meager considering its star power (it was technically successful due to its moderately low $38 million budget). Verbinski followed it up with the horror film remake The Ring
(2002), which struck gold globally, grossing well over $200 million worldwide. Verbinski also had a directorial hand in The Time Machine
that year, temporarily taking over for an exhausted Simon Wells
. Verbinski directed some of the underground Morlock sequences and is given a Thanks to credit in the film.
He then directed the very successful Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
which earned over $600 million at the international box office.
His next film was The Weather Man
which starred Nicolas Cage
. The film received mixed to positive reviews but was a box office failure.
In March 2005 he started filming the sequels Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. The former then became his biggest success so far, becoming the third film ever to gross over $1 billion at the international box office.
His future project will be an adaption of William Monahan
's novel Light House: A Trifle
, which is a story about an artist running away from the Mafia who hides in a lighthouse, in which kooky characters live. He will also direct Butterfly, a psychological thriller
about a man trying to drive his wife insane.
Verbinski was also set to direct a film for Universal based on the video game, BioShock
. However he has since been replaced by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
as director, but he will still produce. Verbinski announced in July the film had an R-rating, formerly was planned with an PG-13 rating.
It has also been announced that he will direct a remake of the film Clue
, based on the board game
.
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, writer and musician. He is best known for directing the films The Ring
The Ring (2002 film)
The Ring is a 2002 American psychological horror film directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Naomi Watts and Martin Henderson. It is a remake of the 1998 Japanese horror film Ring....
, Pirates of the Caribbean
Pirates of the Caribbean (film series)
Pirates of the Caribbean is a series of fantasy-adventure films directed by Gore Verbinski and Rob Marshall , written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
, and Rango
Rango
Rango was a Western situation comedy starring comedian Tim Conway which was broadcast in the United States on the ABC television network in 1967....
.
Early life
Verbinski was born the third of five children to Victor and Laurette Verbinski in Oak Ridge, TennesseeOak Ridge, Tennessee
Oak Ridge is a city in Anderson and Roane counties in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Tennessee, about west of Knoxville. Oak Ridge's population was 27,387 at the 2000 census...
. His siblings are Janine, Claire Caregiver,
Diane and Steven. His father was Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and worked as a nuclear physicist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge National Laboratory is a multiprogram science and technology national laboratory managed for the United States Department of Energy by UT-Battelle. ORNL is the DOE's largest science and energy laboratory. ORNL is located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, near Knoxville...
. In 1967 the Verbinski family moved to Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, where a young Gregor grew up in the town of La Jolla. Gregor was an active Boy Scout
Boy Scout
A Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
and surfed
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
regularly. He went to Torrey Pines Elementary, Muirlands Junior High, and La Jolla High School
La Jolla High School
La Jolla, CA 92037 Enrollment 1,650 Colors Black & Red██ Mascot Viking Rival Schools The Bishop's School, Cathedral Catholic High School, Mission Bay High School, University City High School Homepage...
before attending UCLA Film School. Verbinski graduated with his BFA
Bachelor of Fine Arts
In the United States and Canada, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. In some countries such a degree is called a Bachelor of Creative Arts or BCA...
in Film from UCLA in 1987.
Music career
Verbinski was active in several L.A. rock bands early in his career. His first band was Thelonius Monster, which included drummer Danny HeifetzDanny Heifetz
Danny Heifetz is an American musician of Jewish descent usually living in Sydney, Australia. He is primarily a drummer and percussionist, but also plays trumpet...
. He also played in the Daredevils
Daredevils (band)
Daredevils was a punk rock band from Los Angeles, California. The band was formed by guitarist Brett Gurewitz after his 1994 departure from Bad Religion. Gurewitz eventually left Daredevils to pursue his career with Epitaph Records...
, Bulldozer, The Drivers, and the all-star band The Cylon Boys Choir.
He was also in a band called The Little Kings, which backed Stiv Bators
Stiv Bators
Stiv Bators , was an American punk rockvocalist and guitarist from Youngstown, Ohio. He is best remembered for his bands, The Dead Boys and The Lords of the New Church.- Music and film career :...
on his version of "Have Love Will Travel". Along with a cover of the Moody Blues song "The Story in Your Eyes
The Story in Your Eyes
"The Story in Your Eyes" is a 1971 hit single by the English rock band The Moody Blues. Written by the band's guitarist Justin Hayward, it was first released as a single with "My Song" on the B-side, and then on the 1971 album Every Good Boy Deserves Favour shortly after.On the album, "The Story...
" (by other musicians), the song was released by Bators in the Fall of 1986 as a 12-inch single on Bomp!
Bomp! Records
Bomp! Records is an Los Angeles-based indie label formed in 1974 by fanzine publisher and music historian Greg Shaw.-History:The label has featured punk, pop, powerpop, garage rock, new wave, old school rock, neo-psychedelia among other genres, and its roster has included artists such as The Modern...
(catalogue #12136) and was later included in Bators' compilation album L.A. L.A.
L.A. L.A.
L.A. L.A. is a compilation album of the best of the music recorded by Stiv Bators at the Bomp! Records studios before and after his involvement with the Lords of the New Church when he was attempting to reinvent himself as a pop singer.-Release history:This album was released in the CD format by...
On the compilation album's liner notes, label owner Greg Shaw
Greg Shaw
Greg Shaw was a Los Angeles-based fanzine publisher, music historian and record label owner. He grew up near San Francisco, California.It was as a young teenager that he started writing about rock and roll music...
described the band as "an adequate but rootless Hollywood glam
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
-damaged band with tattoos".
Film career
His first films were a series of 8 mm films called "The Driver Files" circa 1979, when he was a young teen. Although most associate Verbinski with feature filmFeature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
s, he started his career directing music videos for bands like Bad Religion
Bad Religion
Bad Religion is a punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles in 1979. Their current line-up consists of Greg Graffin , Brett Gurewitz , Jay Bentley , Greg Hetson , Brian Baker and Brooks Wackerman . Gurewitz is also the founder of the label Epitaph Records, which has released almost all of the...
, NOFX
NOFX
NOFX is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California .The band was formed in 1983 by vocalist/bassist Fat Mike and guitarist Eric Melvin. Drummer Erik Sandin joined NOFX shortly after. In 1991 El Hefe joined to play lead guitar and trumpet, rounding out the current line-up...
, 24-7 Spyz
24-7 Spyz
24-7 Spyz are a band from the South Bronx, New York, formed in 1986, originally consisting of Jimi Hazel , Rick Skatore , Kindu Phibes , and P. Fluid . The band is best known for mixing soul, funk, reggae, and R&B with heavy metal and hardcore punk...
and Monster Magnet
Monster Magnet
Monster Magnet is an American stoner rock band. Hailing from Red Bank, New Jersey, the group was founded by Dave Wyndorf , John McBain and Tim Cronin...
working at Palomar Pictures. This was not surprising to his friends in Los Angeles, since he had been in various punk and rock bands; the Daredevils, for instance, included then-departed member of Bad Religion Brett Gurewitz
Brett Gurewitz
Brett W. Gurewitz , nicknamed Mr. Brett, is the guitarist and a songwriter of Bad Religion. He is also the owner of the music label Epitaph Records and sister-labels ANTI-, Burning Heart Records, Fat Possum Records, and Hellcat Records...
.
Verbinski moved from music videos to commercials, where he worked for many brand names including Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
, Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
, Canon
Canon Inc.
is a Japanese multinational corporation that specialises in the manufacture of imaging and optical products, including cameras, camcorders, photocopiers, steppers and computer printers. Its headquarters are located in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan.-Origins:...
, Skittles
Skittles (confectionery)
Skittles is a brand of fruit-flavoured sweets, currently produced and marketed by the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, a division of Mars, Inc. They have hard sugar shells which carry the letter S. The inside is mainly sugar, corn syrup, and hydrogenated palm kernel oil along with fruit juice, citric acid,...
and United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
.
One of his most famous commercials was for Budweiser
Budweiser
Budweiser is a German adjective describing something or someone from the city of České Budějovice in Southern Bohemia, Czech Republic.Beer brewing in České Budějovice dates back to the 13th century...
, featuring frogs who croak the brand name. For his efforts in commercials, Verbinski won four Clio Awards
Clio Awards
The Clio Awards are annual awards bestowed to reward innovation and creative excellence in advertising, design and communication. The categories include work in nearly all types of media, and the judges are advertising professionals from around the world....
and one Cannes Advertising
Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is a global event for those working in advertising and related fields. The seven-day festival, incorporating the awarding of the Lions awards, is held yearly at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes, France...
Silver Lion.
After completing a short film, The Ritual (which he both wrote and directed), Verbinski made his feature film directing debut with his comedy flick, Mouse Hunt. The film was a hit globally and he soon followed up the success with the action/comedy The Mexican
The Mexican
The Mexican is a 2001 American romantic comedy film directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts, with a plot that is an unusual mixture of romantic comedy and road movie....
, starring Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts
Julia Fiona Roberts is an American actress. She became a Hollywood star after headlining the romantic comedy Pretty Woman , which grossed $464 million worldwide...
and Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt
William Bradley "Brad" Pitt is an American actor and film producer. Pitt has received two Academy Award nominations and four Golden Globe Award nominations, winning one...
. The film received mixed reviews, and performed modestly at the box-office, earning $68 million domestically which was quite meager considering its star power (it was technically successful due to its moderately low $38 million budget). Verbinski followed it up with the horror film remake The Ring
The Ring (2002 film)
The Ring is a 2002 American psychological horror film directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Naomi Watts and Martin Henderson. It is a remake of the 1998 Japanese horror film Ring....
(2002), which struck gold globally, grossing well over $200 million worldwide. Verbinski also had a directorial hand in The Time Machine
The Time Machine (2002 film)
The Time Machine is a 2002 American science fiction film loosely adapted from the 1895 novel of the same name by H. G. Wells, and the 1960 film screenplay by David Duncan...
that year, temporarily taking over for an exhausted Simon Wells
Simon Wells
Simon Wells is an English-American film director of animation and live-action films. He is the great grandson of famous author, H. G. Wells.Born in Cambridge, he attended De Montfort University where he studied audio-visual design...
. Verbinski directed some of the underground Morlock sequences and is given a Thanks to credit in the film.
He then directed the very successful Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is a 2003 adventure fantasy film based on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney theme parks. It was directed by Gore Verbinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
which earned over $600 million at the international box office.
His next film was The Weather Man
The Weather Man
The Weather Man is a 2005 American comedy-drama film, directed by Gore Verbinski. Written by Steve Conrad, it stars Nicolas Cage, Michael Caine and Hope Davis and tells the story of a weatherman in the midst of a mid-life crisis....
which starred Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage is an American actor, producer and director, having appeared in over 60 films including Raising Arizona , The Rock , Face/Off , Gone in 60 Seconds , Adaptation , National Treasure , Ghost Rider , Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans , and...
. The film received mixed to positive reviews but was a box office failure.
In March 2005 he started filming the sequels Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest is a 2006 adventure fantasy film and the second film of the Pirates of the Caribbean series, following Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl . It was directed by Gore Verbinski, written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, and produced by...
and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. The former then became his biggest success so far, becoming the third film ever to gross over $1 billion at the international box office.
His future project will be an adaption of William Monahan
William Monahan
William J. Monahan is an American screenwriter and novelist. His second produced screenplay was The Departed, a film which earned him a WGA award and an Academy award for Best Adapted Screenplay.-Writer and editor:...
's novel Light House: A Trifle
Light House: A Trifle
Light House: A Trifle, a 2000 satirical novel by American screenwriter William Monahan. Originally serialized in the Amherst literary magazine Old Crow Review from 1993 to 1995, Monahan sold Light House to Riverhead Books, a Penguin Group imprint, in 1998. Warner Bros...
, which is a story about an artist running away from the Mafia who hides in a lighthouse, in which kooky characters live. He will also direct Butterfly, a psychological thriller
Psychological thriller
Psychological thriller is a specific sub-genre of the broad ranged thriller with heavy focus on characters. However, it often incorporates elements from the mystery and drama genre, along with the typical traits of the thriller genre...
about a man trying to drive his wife insane.
Verbinski was also set to direct a film for Universal based on the video game, BioShock
Bioshock
BioShock is a first-person shooter video game developed by 2K Boston and designed by Ken Levine. It was released for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 on August 21, 2007 in North America, and three days later in Europe and Australia. It became available on Steam on August 21, 2007...
. However he has since been replaced by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
Juan Carlos Fresnadillo is a Spanish film director, script writer, and producer. He directed Intacto and 28 Weeks Later, the sequel to Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later. His film Esposados was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in 1996.-Early life:Fresnadillo was born in...
as director, but he will still produce. Verbinski announced in July the film had an R-rating, formerly was planned with an PG-13 rating.
It has also been announced that he will direct a remake of the film Clue
Clue (film)
Clue is a 1985 comedy mystery film based on the board game of the same name . The film is a murder mystery set in a Gothic Revival mansion, and is styled after Murder by Death and other various murder/dinner parties of mystery...
, based on the board game
Cluedo
Cluedo is a popular murder/mystery-themed deduction board game originally published by Waddingtons in Leeds, England in 1949. It was devised by Anthony E. Pratt, a solicitor's clerk from Birmingham, England. It is now published by the United States game and toy company Hasbro, which acquired its U.S...
.
Music videos
- 24-7 Spyz24-7 Spyz24-7 Spyz are a band from the South Bronx, New York, formed in 1986, originally consisting of Jimi Hazel , Rick Skatore , Kindu Phibes , and P. Fluid . The band is best known for mixing soul, funk, reggae, and R&B with heavy metal and hardcore punk...
– Stuntman "This Is...24-7 Spyz!This is...24-7 Spyz!This is...24-7 Spyz! is a five-song EP released in 1991 by a brand new lineup of 24-7 Spyz, featuring newcomers Jeff Brodnax and Joel Maitoza . The EP was released by the Spyz's new label - EastWest Records to test the marketability of the new lineup...
" "Strength In NumbersStrength In NumbersStrength In Numbers was a bluegrass supergroup formed in the late 1980s. The group featured Béla Fleck , Mark O'Connor , Sam Bush , Jerry Douglas and Edgar Meyer . They released their only album, Telluride Sessions, in 1989...
" - NOFXNOFXNOFX is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California .The band was formed in 1983 by vocalist/bassist Fat Mike and guitarist Eric Melvin. Drummer Erik Sandin joined NOFX shortly after. In 1991 El Hefe joined to play lead guitar and trumpet, rounding out the current line-up...
– "S&M AirlinesS&M AirlinesS&M Airlines is the second studio album by the American punk rock band NOFX. It was released on September 5, 1989 through Epitaph Records. It's also their first release on that label. A music video was made for the title track. According to notes on the official NOFX web site, S&M Airlines was...
" - Bad ReligionBad ReligionBad Religion is a punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles in 1979. Their current line-up consists of Greg Graffin , Brett Gurewitz , Jay Bentley , Greg Hetson , Brian Baker and Brooks Wackerman . Gurewitz is also the founder of the label Epitaph Records, which has released almost all of the...
– "American Jesus" - Bad Religion – "Atomic Garden"
- Bad Religion – "21st Century (Digital Boy)21st Century (Digital Boy)"21st Century " is a song by the punk rock group Bad Religion. It was originally recorded in 1990 on their fifth full-length studio album Against the Grain and rerecorded on the 1994 album Stranger Than Fiction...
" - Bad Religion – "Stranger Than FictionStranger Than Fiction (song)"Stranger Than Fiction" is a song by American punk rock band Bad Religion, featured on their 1994 album with the same title. It was also the album's third single and is widely considered to be one of their best known songs....
" - Monster MagnetMonster MagnetMonster Magnet is an American stoner rock band. Hailing from Red Bank, New Jersey, the group was founded by Dave Wyndorf , John McBain and Tim Cronin...
– "Negasonic Teenage WarheadNegasonic Teenage Warhead (song)"Negasonic Teenage Warhead" is the second track on Monster Magnet's 1995 album, Dopes to Infinity. It became the band's first successful single.-History:...
" - The Crystal MethodThe Crystal MethodThe Crystal Method is an American electronic music duo that was created in Los Angeles, California by Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland in the early 1990s. The Crystal Method's music has appeared in numerous TV shows, films, video games, and advertisements. The most prominent is the US television...
– "Born Too Slow"
Filmography
| Year | Title | Oscar nominations | Oscar wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | The Ritual | ||
| 1997 | Mouse Hunt | ||
| 2001 | The Mexican The Mexican The Mexican is a 2001 American romantic comedy film directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts, with a plot that is an unusual mixture of romantic comedy and road movie.... |
||
| 2002 | The Time Machine The Time Machine (2002 film) The Time Machine is a 2002 American science fiction film loosely adapted from the 1895 novel of the same name by H. G. Wells, and the 1960 film screenplay by David Duncan... (uncredited) |
||
| 2002 | The Ring The Ring (2002 film) The Ring is a 2002 American psychological horror film directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Naomi Watts and Martin Henderson. It is a remake of the 1998 Japanese horror film Ring.... |
||
| 2003 | Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is a 2003 adventure fantasy film based on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney theme parks. It was directed by Gore Verbinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer... |
5 | |
| 2005 | The Weather Man The Weather Man The Weather Man is a 2005 American comedy-drama film, directed by Gore Verbinski. Written by Steve Conrad, it stars Nicolas Cage, Michael Caine and Hope Davis and tells the story of a weatherman in the midst of a mid-life crisis.... |
||
| 2006 | Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest is a 2006 adventure fantasy film and the second film of the Pirates of the Caribbean series, following Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl . It was directed by Gore Verbinski, written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, and produced by... |
4 | 1 |
| 2007 | Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End | 2 | |
| 2011 | Rango Rango (2011 film) Rango is a 2011 American computer-animated Western Comedy film directed by Gore Verbinski and produced by Graham King. In the film, a chameleon named Rango accidentally ends up in the town of Dirt, an outpost that is in desperate need of a new sheriff... |