Woody Allen has proven himself as one of the forefathers of the American film industry and media as a whole. He has helped mold the standard for modern day film through is many movies that cover a wide range of styles, from comedy and drama to romance to tragedy. He has acted in 28 of the 36 movies he has produced while also famous for his writing. Allen is known best as the creator of films containing self-deprecating and intellectual mockery. His films typically parody the neuroses of the social class of New York sophisticates. Almost of his movies dealt with sex.
Woody Allen was born in Brooklyn N.Y. on December 1, 1935 as Allen Steart Koinsberg to Martin and Nettie Konigsberg. Allen briefly attended New York City College, although he never graduated. During college, he wrote one-liners for the columnist Earl Wilson. It was at this time that he changed his name from Allan Konigsberg to Woody Allen. Soon after, he began writing for television, and in the early ‘60s, he worked as a stand-up comedian. In 1964, Woody Allen, a comedy album featuring his stand-up material, was nominated for a Grammy Award. In 1965, he wrote his first screenplay, What’s New, Pussycat, a film in which he also starred. Following the success of this film, he directed What’s Up, Tiger Lily? in 1966, a James Bond spoof that was not as commercially successful as What’s New, Pussycat, but which nonetheless established Allen as a cutting edge humorist.
His featured stars that he selects for his movies are often the most established or up-and-coming actors of the day, and he frequently works with the same actors as well as technical crew. Dianne Wiest, for instance, was featured in Radio Days in 1987 and Bullets Over Broadway in 1994. Judy Davis, another Allen favorite, has appeared in Husbands and Wives released in 1992, Deconstructing Harry in 1997, and Celebrity released 1998.
Additionally, Allen has a history of casting his significant others for his films. Louise Lasser, to whom Allen was married in the late ‘60s, starred in numerous film and theater projects penned by Allen. Works featuring Diane Keaton, whom Allen dated in the ‘70s, included Sleeper, 1973; Annie Hall, 1977, which earned Allen an Oscar for Best Director; Manhattan, 1979; and Radio Days, 1987. Mia Farrow, for whom Allen wrote numerous roles throughout their long-standing relationship, appeared in The Purple Rose of Cairo, released 1985, Hannah and Her Sisters, in 1986, also featuring Wiest; Alice, 1990, Shadows and Fog, 1992 and Husbands and Wives released 1992.
Despite an illustrious career in which he directed nearly two dozen films, among them such classics as A Streetcar Named Desire, On the Waterfront and East of Eden, and collaborated with Pulitzer-prize winning playwrights Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams for both the stage and screen, Kazan is remembered by many only for his testimony in front of this committee.
He started his acting career with the film “Going Overboard” in 1989 where he acted as the main character and was also the writer.
Shelton Jackson Lee was born in Atlanta, Georgia March 20, 1957. Born to teacher Jacqueline Carroll and jazz musician William James Edward Lee, Shelton grew up in Brooklyn, New York where he was provided with a rich cultural upbringing that included plays, movies, and music (Gale 1). At a young age, Lee was nicknamed “Spike” by his mother who noticed his rough nature and the nickname stuck well into his adult life. He attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia where he gained an interest in film and then graduated with a Bachelors degree in Mass Communication. Lee went on to attend New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts where he created his first student film and graduated in 1982 with a Master of Fine Arts in Film and Television. Being one of the few black students to attend Tisch School of the Arts, the aspiring filmmaker’s first year at New York University was a particularly difficult one. Lee’s experiences, race, and upbringing have all led him to create controversial films to provide audiences with an insight into racial issues.
Spike Lee is a filmmaker who has generated numerous controversial films that unapologetically bring delicate social issuest o the media forefront. He honestly portrays life's societal obstacles. He challenges the public to cogitate on the world's glitches and disunion. Spike Lee created a name for himself with films such as Do the Right Thing (1989) and Malcolm X (1992), and with documentaries such as 4 Little Girls (1997) and When the Levees Broke (2006). Lee’s goal was to portray African Americans in a more accurate light. Even today Lee still produces films that directly address modern society's most significant historical movements and episodes. His productions analyze themes of race and discrimination. His work can be analyzed in academic studies such as Philosophy, African Studies, and literary concepts. I am interested in Spike Lee because his craft and career choice is somewhat similar to my future career endeavors. He not only exalted his skills to produce films but he broke barriers of stereotypical Hollywood movies. His works address issues in society such as political, racial, and environmental influences on African American culture. Given that society has evolved into a technology dependent culture; using this talent to visibly shed light to these concerns is an ability I hope to obtain one day.
Following careful thought on which director to study, I chose Francis Ford Coppola. Although he has directed more films than I have had the opportunity to experience, I have viewed enough to understand his progression and style of his work. Over almost forty years of work, Coppola has directed about twenty-five films, produced near forty-five, composed two, and acted in eight. He is known predominantly for Apocalypse Now (1979) and The Godfather I (1972), II (1974), and III (1990). However, he has worked in other genres, such as Horror/Romance, Musical, and even Comedy.
Penny Marshall has directed six films in her career: "The Preachers Wife"(1996), "Renaissance Man"(1994), "A League of Their Own"(1992), "Awakenings"(1990), "Big"(1998), and "Jumpin' Jack Flash"(1986). We know Penny best from her stint in Laverne and Shirley (1976-1983) as the hilarious Laverne De Fazio. After the series was cancelled Laverne appeared in some pictures until her directorial debut in "Jumpin' Jack Flash". This film was pretty much a bomb and Penny gained credibility as a director in "Big". Tom Hanks received a nomination for Best Actor in this picture.
Robin Williams: Living the American Dream Americans are blessed with the freedoms of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Each person is entitled to pursue the true dreams and desires of his or her heart. These individualized opportunities are often referred to as the American Dream. Difficulties frequently arise on the journey to one's dream. One must find a way to conquer these struggles to make his or her dream a reality.
Zelig stars Woody Allen and his then-wife Mia Farrow. It involves Leonard Zelig, who is capable of adopting traits of a person he is around. The film is presented in a mockumentary style, filled with archival news footage from the 1920s. As Leonard Zelig shifts from one person trait to another, psychologist Dr. Eudora Fletcher aims to “cure” Zelig of his affliction by interacting with him. She records her sessions with Leonard Zelig, in preserving early discovery of Zelig’s disorder. Leonard Zelig adopts many traits of various notable celebrities of yesteryear. These people include Calvin Coolidge, Babe Ruth, Charlie Chaplin, William Randolph Hearst, golfer Bobby Jones, a member of Pope Pius XI’s clergy, and a member of Adolf Hitler’s National Socialist party.
Clint Eastwood stands tall among the most popular and enduring stars Hollywood has ever produced. He has been making movies for more than fifty years, ranging from small, meaningless, and forgettable parts as a Universal Studios contract player to acting in, as well as producing and directing, many Oscar-caliber blockbusters that will one day, sooner rather than later, take their place among the best loved American movies.
In the 1990's romantic comedies were all the rage, the two hottest box office smashes were 1990's Pretty Woman and 1996's Jerry Maguire. These are appreciated by both men and women, with the appeal of comedy and love. After viewing these titles, it's not difficult to understand why both were such sensational hits. These movies share a profound deal of life lessons while on their journey to find love.
Julie Christie is one of my all-time favorite actresses. Her “hooker with a heart of gold” was the only character worth a damn in Robert Altman’s brilliant McCabe & Mrs. Miller; and in Dr. Zhivago, despite being surrounded by such legendary actors as Omar Sharif and Rod Steiger, she managed to shine brightly. With her excellent performances in these movies, as well as Shampoo, Don’t Look Now, Fahrenheit 451, and Away From Her, you would think that Julie Christie has amassed a slew of Oscar statuettes, but the sad reality is that she only took home that coveted award once, for her portrayal of Diana Scott in 1965’s Darling.
Robert Wise is a film director, born in 1914, he began his lifelong career in filmmaking in 1933 when he moved to Hollywood. He started out working odd jobs until he got a job as an editor
The film I chose to represent workplace romance is Two Weeks’ Notice. It depicts a man by the name of George Wade who promises Lucy Kelsing a community center in return for working as his chief executive. Ultimately, it was a great idea for the characters to conduct an office romance in their workplace setting. Wade and Kesling showed many communicative displays of workplace amongst each other and she even voluntarily stopped many moments and events in her life to cater to Wade.
Woody Alan, whose real name is Alan Stewart Kongsberg, American film director, screenwriter, actor, comedian, writer, musician and playwright. Alan's unique style of the film, drama, comedy category across the line. Alan also with his fast speed of the filming process and there are a large number of films and articles. Alan's movies are often arranged screenwriter, director, and sometimes even their battle performance. Inspiration, Allen brook taken from literature, philosophy, psychology, ancient Greek, Jewish identity, European films, and his birth and life home: New York City. In January 14, 2015, Woody Alan (Allen Woody) and Amazon signed, was hired as a screenwriter and directed the first television drama. (Personal
Charlie Chaplin Charles Spencer Chaplin was born in Walworth, London on April 16, 1889. His parents, Charles and Hannah Chaplin were music hall performers in England, his father was quite well know in the profession. Charlie had one sibling, a brother named Sydney. At a very early age Charlie was told that someday he would be the most famous person in the world. Charlie first appeared onstage at the age of six as an unscheduled substitute for his mother. When his performance was over the audience was throwing money up onto the stage, they loved him, and he was on his way to being the most famous person in he world. Charlie had a very difficult childhood, by the time he had performed onstage for the first time his father had already left home permently. In June of 1896 C...