Darren Aronofsky

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Darren Aronofsky
Born February 12, 1969 (1969-02-12) (age 38)
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Children Henry Chance Aronofsky (b. 2006)

Darren Aronofsky (born February 12, 1969 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American film director, screenwriter and film producer.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Aronofsky was born in the Brooklyn borough of New York City to Abraham "Abe" Aronofsky and Charlotte, both school teachers. His father taught science and was a dean at Bushwick High School.

He graduated Edward R. Murrow High School, during which he was selected to attend Camp Rising Sun, the Louis August Jonas Foundation's international summer scholarship program. Upon graduating early, he backpacked around the Middle East, Europe and Guatemala for six months and, in 1987, entered Harvard University where he studied anthropology, live action film and animation. His senior thesis film, Supermarket Sweep, starred his fellow student and friend Sean Gullette. It was a finalist in the 1991 Student Academy Awards. He graduated in 1991 with honors, later attending the AFI Conservatory and graduated with an M.F.A. degree in 1992.

[edit] Features

[edit] π

Main article: π (film)

In 1996 Aronofsky began developing the concept for his first feature film "π", a psychological sci-fi thriller. After the π script received positive reactions from friends, he began production. The film re-teamed Aronofsky with Sean Gullette, who played the lead. During production, Aronofsky and crew realized they didn't have enough money to complete the film. Associate Producer Scott Franklin came up with the idea to raise completion funds by asking every person they knew for $100. Later in production certain individuals put in more cash, which let Aronofsky complete the film. After π was completed (with a budget somewhere around $60,000), it premiered at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival and Aronofsky won the Directing Award. The film was picked up by distributor Artisan Entertainment and released in selected cities. The film later won an Independent Spirit Award and the Open Palm. Original $100 investors were said to be subsequently re-paid with $150.

π featured use of the SnorriCam, one of Aronofsky's trademarks.

[edit] Batman

After Joel Schumacher's box-office bomb Batman & Robin in 1997, many directors tried to bring a darker take on Batman to the big screen. Aronofsky came close to getting one started by coming up with the idea of doing a low-budget take on Frank Miller's Batman: Year One. Christian Bale even said that he was about to sign on to the project just before it stalled in 2002. After Aronofsky's project failed, Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer developed and completed Batman Begins in which Bale did eventually play the title role.

[edit] Requiem for a Dream

Main article: Requiem for a Dream

One of Aronofsky's favorite books is Hubert Selby Jr.'s Last Exit to Brooklyn.[citation needed] While editing π, producer Eric Watson convinced Aronofsky to read another Selby book, Requiem for a Dream, which Aronofsky had actually started reading years before but never finished. He was moved by the novel and wanted to film an adaptation, quickly beginning work on the script with Selby. Aronofsky pulled no punches[citation needed] in delivering a relentless and disturbing movie of hopes and dreams shattered and lives laid waste by drug addiction. The film was a clinical depiction of the depths to which some people will sink to in the hope of attaining their dreams. The film premiered at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival and was greeted by a 13 minute standing ovation. It was released in the United States in October, 2000. Ellen Burstyn was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance as Sara Goldfarb.

[edit] The Fountain

Main article: The Fountain (film)

Aronofsky next commenced writing an original screenplay entitled "The Last Man", later changed to "The Fountain" to star Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. In 2002, days away from the start of filming, Pitt pulled out due to "creative differences", and the film collapsed. Sets were auctioned off once Warner Bros. Productions shut down filming. Warner Bros. however, decided to simply shelve the project and keep it as an option, so long as Aronofsky could find the proper cast. In 2005, The Fountain was resurrected with Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz. However, the film was not a commercial success, with world-wide box office sales of only $15 million from a $35 million budget.

The Fountain was released in the United States on November 22, 2006. It was released on DVD in the United States and Canada on May 15, 2007.

[edit] Future projects

Aronofsky has signed on to direct The Fighter, the tale of the rise of Boston boxer "Irish" Micky Ward, who nabbed the world lightweight title with the help of his once down-and-out half-brother Dicky, who became a trainer. The film is expected to star Brad Pitt and Mark Wahlberg.[1]

While The Fighter is still in development, it now appears Aronofsky will first direct the similarly-titled The Wrestler, about professional wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson. Set in the 1980s, the film will tell the story of Robinson's decline, and eventual reentry into the pro wrestling scene. Filming is slated to begin in January 2008.[1]

Other future projects that Aronofsky has been linked to include the Biblical story of Noah's Ark, in which the title character would be portrayed as an alcoholic[2], an adaptation of Theodore Roszak's novel Flicker, Dan Simmons' novel Song of Kali and Black Flies which is based on the novel Safelight by Shannon Burke, however, Aronofsky denies any involvement with Lone Wolf and Cub and Flicker in an interview by the AV Club.[3]

On October 1 2007, Aronofsky stated on his official blog that principle casting for his next film has begun and he is very pleased that no media outlets have been correct about what the movie is (i.e. Wikipedia). He also states filming begins January 2008, and in coming weeks he will announce the project on his blog. [1]

[edit] List of works directed

[edit] Personal life

Aronofsky is engaged to English actress Rachel Weisz. They began dating in 2004 and have a son, Henry Chance, who was born on May 31, 2006 in New York City.[4][5] The couple reside in Brooklyn.

His upbringing was marked by his Jewish heritage, although in an interview he once disparagingly referred to himself as a "classically hypocritical high holiday Jew"[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "Darren Aronofsky to Direct The Wrestler", ComingSoon.net, 2007-10-18. Retrieved on 2007-10-18. 
  2. ^ "Aronofsky Might Tackle Noah’s Ark", Cinema Fusion, 2007-4-30. Retrieved on 2007-4-30. 
  3. ^ http://www.avclub.com/content/node/55490/2
  4. ^ wire reports. "Oscar winner Rachel Weisz has baby boy", USA Today, 2006-06-01. Retrieved on 2007-05-23. 
  5. ^ http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1185721,00.html

[edit] External links

[edit] Websites

[edit] Interviews

v • d • e
The films of Darren Aronofsky
π (1998) • Requiem for a Dream (2000) • The Fountain (2006)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darren_Aronofsky"
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