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Roland Emmerich
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Roland Emmerich (born November 10, 1955) is a German film director, screenwriter and producer, known for his disaster and action films.
rich 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. In 1985, he founded Centropolis Film Productions (now Centropolis Entertainment) in partnership with his sister, producer Ute Emmerich.
Hoping to tap into the American market, Emmerich began directing English-language supernatural fantasy features in his native Germany.
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Encyclopedia
Roland Emmerich (born November 10, 1955) is a German film director, screenwriter and producer, known for his disaster and action films.
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. In 1985, he founded Centropolis Film Productions (now Centropolis Entertainment) in partnership with his sister, producer Ute Emmerich.
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 the United States. Devlin would subsequently become Emmerich's writing and producing partner, and served in this capacity until 2000.
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 media franchise.
Emmerich then directed Independence Day, an alien invasion feature that 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. Emmerich and Devlin then created the television series The Visitor, which aired on the Fox Network during 1997-1998 before being canceled after one season. His next film, the much-hyped Godzilla, did not meet its anticipated box office success and was largely panned by critics. Taking a short break from science-fiction, Emmerich next directed the American Revolutionary War film The Patriot.
After teaming up with new writing partner Harald Kloser, Emmerich returned once again to directing a visual effects-laden adventure with 2004's The Day After Tomorrow. Soon afterwards, he founded Reelmachine, another film production company based in Germany.
Emmerich's most recent effort is 10,000 BC, a film about the journeys of a prehistoric tribe. He was slated to direct a remake of the 1966 science-fiction film Fantastic Voyage, but the project slipped back into development hell. He is currently directing 2012, an apocalyptic film inspired by the theory that the Mayans prophesied the world's ending in 2012.
Advocacy
For several years, Emmerich has been in favor of the campaign for stunt performers to receive recognition at the Academy Awards, and has worked to raise awareness over the issue of global warming.
A chain-smoker who has been known to smoke as many as four packs of cigarettes a day, Emmerich has often included in his films characters who are trying to quit smoking, and/or warn against the dangers of tobacco use.
Emmerich, along with several other celebrities, is a producer of The 1 Second Film, a non-profit project intended to raise money for women's rights in the developing world.
In 2006, he pledged $150,000 to the Legacy Project, a campaign dedicated to gay and lesbian film preservation. Emmerich, who is openly gay, made the donation on behalf of Outfest, making it the largest gift in the festival's history. In 2007, on behalf of the LGBT community, he held a fundraiser at his Los Angeles home for Democratic Party presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
Filmography
Television
The Visitor (Co-creator, Executive Producer)
Commercial
In 2001, Emmerich directed the one-minute clip "Infinite Possibilities" for DaimlerChrysler.
External links
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