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| name = Michael Almereyda | name = Michael Almereyda
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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1960|4|7}} | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1959|4|7}}
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'''Michael Almereyda''' (born April 7, 1960) is an American film director, screenwriter, and film producer. His best known work is '']'' (2000), starring ]. '''Michael Almereyda''' (born April 7, 1959) is an American film director, screenwriter, and film producer.


==Early work== ==Early work==

{{BLP sources section|date=December 2022}}

Almereyda studied art history at ] but dropped out after three years to pursue filmmaking. He acquired a Hollywood agent on the strength of a spec script about ].<ref>{{cite web|quote=In 1980, Almereyda dropped out of Harvard in order to craft his first screenplay for Tesla.|url=https://www.culturedmag.com/michael-almereyda/|title=Binge Watch This: Director Michael Almereyda is the Avant-Garde Historian and Storyteller We Need|website=Cultured Magazine|last=Leland|first=Erin|date=March 25, 2020|access-date=July 22, 2020}}</ref> His first film as writer/director was a self-financed, black-and-white short featuring ], '']'', based on ] novel of the same title. Shot in 1985, it was finished in 1987 and screened in the 1992 ]. Almereyda studied art history at ] but dropped out after three years to pursue filmmaking. He acquired a Hollywood agent on the strength of a spec script about ].<ref>{{cite web|quote=In 1980, Almereyda dropped out of Harvard in order to craft his first screenplay for Tesla.|url=https://www.culturedmag.com/michael-almereyda/|title=Binge Watch This: Director Michael Almereyda is the Avant-Garde Historian and Storyteller We Need|website=Cultured Magazine|last=Leland|first=Erin|date=March 25, 2020|access-date=July 22, 2020}}</ref> His first film as writer/director was a self-financed, black-and-white short featuring ], '']'', based on ] novel of the same title. Shot in 1985, it was finished in 1987 and screened in the 1992 ].
Early screenplays include '']'' (1987), the first draft for ]’ '']'' (1991), and uncredited work on '']'' (1990). Early screenplays include '']'' (1987), the first draft for ]’ '']'' (1991), and uncredited work on '']'' (1990).
Almereyda's films range across many genres, styles, and formats. His first feature, '']'' (1989), based on ]’s novel ], was a comedy about a dysfunctional mid-Western family. '']'' (1992) was a romantic chamber piece, a black-and-white, one-hour featurette shot with a ] ] camera.<ref></ref> Almereyda's films range across many genres, styles, and formats. His first feature, '']'' (1989), based on ]’s novel '']'', was a comedy about a dysfunctional mid-Western family.


'']'' (1992) was a romantic chamber piece, a black-and-white, one-hour featurette shot with a ] ] camera.<ref>, Squarespace.com. Accessed June 5, 2023.</ref>
] (1994) was a comic vampire film shot on ] with ] inserts. ] (1994) was a comic vampire film shot on ] with ] inserts.


'']'' (2000) was shot on ] and featured ], ], ], ], ] and ]. The adaptation layered a contemporary New York setting on Shakespeare's text. '']'' (2000) was shot on ] and featured ], ], ], ], ], and ]. The adaptation layered a contemporary New York setting on Shakespeare's text.


==2000s== ==2000s==
Almereyda directed features set in pre- and post-Katrina New Orleans: '']'' (2002) and '']'' (2008). In 2004, he directed an episode of the ] series '']'', His most recent work has mainly involved documentaries and shorts. Almereyda directed features set in pre- and post-Katrina New Orleans: '']'' (2002) and '']'' (2008). In 2004, he directed an episode of the ] series '']'', His most recent work has mainly involved documentaries and shorts.


'']'' (2005) was nominated for a ] for Best Documentary from the ],<ref name="filmmaker">" {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314002444/http://filmmakermagazine.com/2046-gotham-awards-nominations-announced/ |date=2014-03-14 }}", ]. Accessed 8 August 2014.</ref><ref name="fox-news">"", ]. Accessed 8 August 2014.</ref> as was the sketchbook film '']'' (2009). '']'' (2005) was nominated for a ] for Best Documentary from the ],<ref name="filmmaker">" {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314002444/http://filmmakermagazine.com/2046-gotham-awards-nominations-announced/ |date=2014-03-14 }}", ]. Accessed 8 August 2014.</ref><ref name="fox-news">"", ]. Accessed 8 August 2014.</ref> as was the sketchbook film '']'' (2009).


He has recently returned to fiction film with a 2013 adaptation of Shakespeare’s '']'', a spiritual successor to his earlier ''Hamlet''. '']'' (2015), was based on the life of ], premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and received critical acclaim. '']'' (2017), a philosophical science-fiction film based on ]'s play of the same name, again screened at Sundance and won the Sloan Feature Film Prize.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://scienceandfilm.org/articles/2846/marjorie-prime-sloan-sundance-jury-on-2017-prize-winner|title=Sloan Science & Film|website=scienceandfilm.org|language=en|access-date=2017-02-03}}</ref> Most recently, he has directed a documentary on ] and adapted his Tesla spec script into ]. He has recently returned to fiction film with a 2013 adaptation of Shakespeare’s '']'', a spiritual successor to his earlier ''Hamlet''. '']'' (2015), was based on the life of ], premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and received critical acclaim. '']'' (2017), a philosophical science-fiction film based on ]'s play of the same name, again screened at Sundance and won the Sloan Feature Film Prize.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://scienceandfilm.org/articles/2846/marjorie-prime-sloan-sundance-jury-on-2017-prize-winner|title=Sloan Science & Film|website=scienceandfilm.org|language=en|access-date=2017-02-03}}</ref> Most recently, he has directed a documentary on ] and adapted his Tesla spec script into ].
==Additional works & Style==
Almereyda edited and contributed texts for ''Night Wraps the Sky: Writings by and About Mayakovsky'', published by ] in 2008, and ''William Eggleston: For Now'', published by Twin Palms in 2010. Almereyda edited and contributed texts for ''Night Wraps the Sky: Writings by and About Mayakovsky'', published by ] in 2008, and ''William Eggleston: For Now'', published by Twin Palms in 2010.
He has written criticism and commentary for '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''. He has written criticism and commentary for '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''.


In 2015 Almereyda received the Moving Image ] Award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://creative-capital.org/projects/view/797|title=Creative Capital – Investing in Artists who Shape the Future|website=creative-capital.org|access-date=25 May 2017}}</ref> In 2015 Almereyda received the Moving Image ] Award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://creative-capital.org/projects/view/797|title=Creative Capital – Investing in Artists who Shape the Future|website=creative-capital.org|access-date=May 25, 2017}}</ref>


Almereyda frequently uses the same actors. He has worked more than once with ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. Almereyda frequently uses the same actors. He has worked more than once with ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].
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* '']'' (1995) * '']'' (1995)
* '']'' (1997) * '']'' (1997)
* '']'' (1998) * '']'' (1998)
* '']'' (2000) * '']'' (2000)
* '']'' (2002) * '']'' (2002)
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* '']'' (2008) * '']'' (2008)
{{col-break}} {{col-break}}
* '']'' (2009) * ''Tonight at Noon'' (2009)
* '']'' (2009) * '']'' (2009)
* '']'' (2011) * '']'' (2011)
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{{Michael Almereyda}} {{Michael Almereyda}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Almereyda, Michael}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Almereyda, Michael}}
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Latest revision as of 10:20, 23 November 2024

American film director and screenwriter
Michael Almereyda
Born (1959-04-07) April 7, 1959 (age 65)
Overland Park, Kansas, U.S.
Occupations
  • Film director
  • screenwriter
  • producer
Years active1985–present

Michael Almereyda (born April 7, 1959) is an American film director, screenwriter, and film producer.

Early work

This section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous.
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Almereyda studied art history at Harvard but dropped out after three years to pursue filmmaking. He acquired a Hollywood agent on the strength of a spec script about Nikola Tesla. His first film as writer/director was a self-financed, black-and-white short featuring Dennis Hopper, A Hero of Our Time, based on Mikhail Lermontov's novel of the same title. Shot in 1985, it was finished in 1987 and screened in the 1992 Sundance Film Festival.

Early screenplays include Cherry 2000 (1987), the first draft for Wim Wenders’ Until the End of the World (1991), and uncredited work on Total Recall (1990).

Almereyda's films range across many genres, styles, and formats. His first feature, Twister (1989), based on Mary Robison’s novel Oh, was a comedy about a dysfunctional mid-Western family.

Another Girl Another Planet (1992) was a romantic chamber piece, a black-and-white, one-hour featurette shot with a Fisher-Price Pixelvision camera. Nadja (1994) was a comic vampire film shot on 35mm with Pixelvision inserts.

Hamlet (2000) was shot on Super 16mm and featured Ethan Hawke, Bill Murray, Kyle MacLachlan, Julia Stiles, Liev Schreiber, and Sam Shepard. The adaptation layered a contemporary New York setting on Shakespeare's text.

2000s

Almereyda directed features set in pre- and post-Katrina New Orleans: Happy Here and Now (2002) and New Orleans, Mon Amour (2008). In 2004, he directed an episode of the HBO series Deadwood, His most recent work has mainly involved documentaries and shorts.

William Eggleston in the Real World (2005) was nominated for a Gotham Award for Best Documentary from the Independent Filmmaker Project, as was the sketchbook film Paradise (2009).

He has recently returned to fiction film with a 2013 adaptation of Shakespeare’s Cymbeline, a spiritual successor to his earlier Hamlet. Experimenter (2015), was based on the life of Stanley Milgram, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and received critical acclaim. Marjorie Prime (2017), a philosophical science-fiction film based on Jordan Harrison's play of the same name, again screened at Sundance and won the Sloan Feature Film Prize. Most recently, he has directed a documentary on Hampton Fancher and adapted his Tesla spec script into a 2020 film of the same name.

Additional works & Style

Almereyda edited and contributed texts for Night Wraps the Sky: Writings by and About Mayakovsky, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 2008, and William Eggleston: For Now, published by Twin Palms in 2010.

He has written criticism and commentary for The New York Times, Film Comment, Artforum, Bookforum, The Believer, and Triple Canopy.

In 2015 Almereyda received the Moving Image Creative Capital Award.

Almereyda frequently uses the same actors. He has worked more than once with Suzy Amis, Karl Geary, Jared Harris, Ethan Hawke, Kyle MacLachlan, Isabelle Gillies, John Leguizamo, Lois Smith, Hannah Gross, and Jim Gaffigan.

Partial filmography

References

  1. Leland, Erin (March 25, 2020). "Binge Watch This: Director Michael Almereyda is the Avant-Garde Historian and Storyteller We Need". Cultured Magazine. Retrieved July 22, 2020. In 1980, Almereyda dropped out of Harvard in order to craft his first screenplay for Tesla.
  2. Profile, Squarespace.com. Accessed June 5, 2023.
  3. ^ "Gotham Awards Nominations Announced Archived 2014-03-14 at the Wayback Machine", Filmmaker (magazine). Accessed 8 August 2014.
  4. ^ "'Brokeback,' 'Capote' Get Gotham Award Nods", Fox News Channel. Accessed 8 August 2014.
  5. "Sloan Science & Film". scienceandfilm.org. Retrieved 2017-02-03.
  6. "Creative Capital – Investing in Artists who Shape the Future". creative-capital.org. Retrieved May 25, 2017.

External links

Films directed by Michael Almereyda
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