Anonymous
×
Create a new article
Write your page title here:
We currently have 2,416 articles on Monstropedia. Type your article name above or click on one of the titles below and start writing!



Monstropedia
2,416Articles

Difference between revisions of "George A. Romero"

 
m (2004, link off (and others))
Line 5: Line 5:
He was born and raised in [[New York City]], and attended [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh's]] [[Carnegie Mellon University]]. After quitting university, he began shooting mostly short films and commercials. He and friends formed Image Ten Productions in the late [[1960s]], and they chipped in roughly $10,000 apiece to produce what became one of the most celebrated horror films of all time: ''[[Night of the Living Dead]]'' ([[1968]]). The movie, directed by Romero and co-written with [[John A. Russo]], became a [[cult film|cult classic]] in the [[1970s]]. Romero updated his original screenplay and was executive producer of the remake of ''[[Night of the Living Dead (1990 film)|Night of the Living Dead]]'' directed by [[Tom Savini]] for Columbia/Tristar in [[1990]].
He was born and raised in [[New York City]], and attended [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh's]] [[Carnegie Mellon University]]. After quitting university, he began shooting mostly short films and commercials. He and friends formed Image Ten Productions in the late [[1960s]], and they chipped in roughly $10,000 apiece to produce what became one of the most celebrated horror films of all time: ''[[Night of the Living Dead]]'' ([[1968]]). The movie, directed by Romero and co-written with [[John A. Russo]], became a [[cult film|cult classic]] in the [[1970s]]. Romero updated his original screenplay and was executive producer of the remake of ''[[Night of the Living Dead (1990 film)|Night of the Living Dead]]'' directed by [[Tom Savini]] for Columbia/Tristar in [[1990]].


Romero's next films were less popular: ''[[There's Always Vanilla]]'' ([[1971]]), ''[[Season of the Witch|Jack's Wife/Season of the Witch]]'' ([[1972]]) and ''[[The Crazies]]'' ([[1973]]). Though not as acclaimed as ''Night of the Living Dead'' or some of his later work, these films had his signature social commentary while dealing with issues (usually horror-related) at the microscopic level. ''The Crazies'', about a biospill that creates madness, and the critically acclaimed and arthouse success ''[[Martin (film)|Martin]]'' ([[1976]]), a film that strikingly deconstructs the [[vampire]] myth, were the two standout efforts during this period. Like almost all of his films, they were shot in or around Romero's favorite city of [[Pittsburgh]].
Romero's next films were less popular: ''[[There's Always Vanilla]]'' ([[1971]]), ''[[Season of the Witch|Jack's Wife/Season of the Witch]]'' ([[1972]]) and ''[[The Crazies]]'' ([[1973]]). Though not as acclaimed as ''Night of the Living Dead'' or some of his later work, these films had his signature social commentary while dealing with issues (usually horror-related) at the microscopic level. ''The Crazies'', about a biospill that creates madness, and the critically acclaimed and arthouse success ''Martin]]'' (1976), a film that strikingly deconstructs the [[vampire]] myth, were the two standout efforts during this period. Like almost all of his films, they were shot in or around Romero's favorite city of Pittsburgh.


In [[1978]], Romero returned to the [[zombie]] genre with ''[[Dawn of the Dead (1978 film)|Dawn of the Dead]]'' ([[1978]]).  Shot on a budget of just $1.5 million, the film earned over $55 million worldwide and was named one of the top [[cult film]]s by ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' in 2003. Romero made a third entry in his "Dead Series" with ''[[Day of the Dead (film)|Day of the Dead]]'' ([[1985]]), although this was less popular at the box office.
In 1978, Romero returned to the [[zombie]] genre with ''Dawn of the Dead'' (1978).  Shot on a budget of just $1.5 million, the film earned over $55 million worldwide and was named one of the top cult films by ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' in 2003. Romero made a third entry in his "Dead Series" with ''Day of the Dead'' (1985), although this was less popular at the box office.


During this time, Romero also made ''[[Knightriders]]'' ([[1981]]), another festival favorite about a group of modern-day jousters who re-enact tournaments on motorcycles, and the successful ''[[Creepshow]]'' ([[1982]]), written by [[Stephen King]], an anthology of tongue-in-cheek tales that were modeled after 1950s horror comics.
During this time, Romero also made ''Knightriders'' (1981), another festival favorite about a group of modern-day jousters who re-enact tournaments on motorcycles, and the successful ''Creepshow'' (1982), written by [[Stephen King]], an anthology of tongue-in-cheek tales that were modeled after 1950s horror comics.


Throughout the latter half of the 1980s and 90s, Romero made various films, including ''[[Monkey Shines (film)|Monkey Shines]]'' ([[1988]]) about a killer monkey; ''[[Due occhi diabolici|Two Evil Eyes]]'' ([[1990]]), an [[Edgar Allan Poe]] adaptation in collaboration with [[Dario Argento]]; the [[Stephen King]] adaptation ''[[The Dark Half]]'' ([[1992]]); and ''[[Bruiser (film)|Bruiser]]'' ([[2000]]), about a man whose face becomes a blank mask.
Throughout the latter half of the 1980s and 90s, Romero made various films, including ''Monkey Shines '' (1988) about a killer monkey; ''Due occhi diabolici - Two Evil Eyes'' (1990), an [[Edgar Allan Poe]] adaptation in collaboration with [[Dario Argento]]; the [[Stephen King]] adaptation ''The Dark Half'' (1992); and ''Bruiser'' (2000), about a man whose face becomes a blank mask.


Romero had a cameo appearance in Jonathan Demme's Academy Award-winning ''[[The Silence of the Lambs]]'' in [[1991]] as one of Hannibal Lecter's jailers.
Romero had a cameo appearance in Jonathan Demme's Academy Award-winning ''The Silence of the Lambs'' in 1991 as one of Hannibal Lecter's jailers.


Universal Studios produced and released a remake of ''[[Dawn of the Dead (2004 film)|Dawn of the Dead]]'' in [[2004]], in which Romero was not involved (though he expressed admiration for the [[Zack Snyder]] film in a graphic novel adaptation of the remake). Later that year, Romero kicked off the [[DC Comics]] title ''Toe Tags'' with a six-issue miniseries titled ''The Death of Death''. Based on an unused script that Romero had previously written as a sequel to his "Dead Trilogy", the comic miniseries concerns Damien, an intelligent zombie who remembers his former life, struggling to find his identity as he battles armies of both the living and the dead. Typical of a Romero zombie tale, the miniseries includes ample supply of both gore and social commentary (dealing particularly here with corporate greed and terrorism - ideas he would also explore in his next film in the series, ''[[Land of the Dead]]''). Romero has stated that the miniseries takes place in the same world as his "Dead" films, only emphasising other places in the world besides Pittsburgh, where the majority of his films take place ([http://newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19461| link]).  
Universal Studios produced and released a remake of ''Dawn of the Dead'' in 2004, in which Romero was not involved (though he expressed admiration for the Zack Snyder film in a graphic novel adaptation of the remake). Later that year, Romero kicked off the DC Comics title ''Toe Tags'' with a six-issue miniseries titled ''The Death of Death''. Based on an unused script that Romero had previously written as a sequel to his "Dead Trilogy", the comic miniseries concerns Damien, an intelligent zombie who remembers his former life, struggling to find his identity as he battles armies of both the living and the dead. Typical of a Romero zombie tale, the miniseries includes ample supply of both gore and social commentary (dealing particularly here with corporate greed and terrorism - ideas he would also explore in his next film in the series, ''Land of the Dead''). Romero has stated that the miniseries takes place in the same world as his "Dead" films, only emphasising other places in the world besides Pittsburgh, where the majority of his films take place ([http://newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19461| link]).  


Romero, who still lives in Pittsburgh, recently completed a fourth "Dead" movie, ''[[Land of the Dead]]'' (formerly known as ''Dead Reckoning''), in [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], with a $16 million production budget (the highest in Romero's career). Actors [[Dennis Hopper]], [[Asia Argento]] and [[John Leguizamo]] star in the film. It was released on June 24, 2005.
Romero, who still lives in Pittsburgh, recently completed a fourth "Dead" movie, ''Land of the Dead'' (formerly known as ''Dead Reckoning''), in Toronto, Ontario, with a $16 million production budget (the highest in Romero's career). Actors Dennis Hopper, Asia Argento and John Leguizamo star in the film. It was released on June 24, 2005.


Some critics have seen social commentary in much of Romero's work. They view ''Night of the Living Dead'' as a film made as a reaction to the turbulent [[1960s]], ''Dawn of the Dead'' as a satire on [[consumerism]], ''Day of the Dead'' as a study of the conflict between science and the military, and ''Land of the Dead'' as an examination of [[class conflict]].  
Some critics have seen social commentary in much of Romero's work. They view ''Night of the Living Dead'' as a film made as a reaction to the turbulent 1960s, ''Dawn of the Dead'' as a satire on consumerism, ''Day of the Dead'' as a study of the conflict between science and the military, and ''Land of the Dead'' as an examination of class conflict.  


Romero is married to Christine Forrest, whom he met on the set of ''[[Season of the Witch]]''.  They have two children together.
Romero is married to Christine Forrest, whom he met on the set of ''Season of the Witch''.  They have two children together.


==Filmography==
==Filmography==


# ''[[Night of the Living Dead]]'', [[1968]]
# ''Night of the Living Dead'', 1968
# ''[[There's Always Vanilla]]'', [[1971]]
# ''There's Always Vanilla'', 1971
# ''[[The Crazies]]'', [[1973]]
# ''The Crazies'', 1973
# ''[[Season of the Witch|Jack's Wife/Season of the Witch]]'', [[1973]]
# ''Season of the Witch'', 1973
# ''[[The Winners]]'', [[1973]] TV Series
# ''The Winners'', 1973 TV Series
# ''[[O.J. Simpson: Juice on the Loose]]'', [[1974]]
# ''O.J. Simpson: Juice on the Loose'', 1974
# ''[[Martin (film)|Martin]]'', [[1976]]
# ''Martin'', 1976
# ''[[Dawn of the Dead (1978 film)|Dawn of the Dead]]'', [[1978]]
# ''Dawn of the Dead'', 1978
# ''[[Knightriders]]'', [[1981]]
# ''Knightriders'', 1981
# ''[[Creepshow]]'', [[1982]]
# ''Creepshow'', 1982
# ''[[Tales from the Darkside]]'', [[1984]] TV Series
# ''Tales from the Darkside'', 1984 TV Series
# ''[[Day of the Dead (film)|Day of the Dead]]'' [[1985]]
# ''Day of the Dead'' 1985
# ''[[Monkey Shines (film)|Monkey Shines]]'' [[1988]]
# ''Monkey Shines'' 1988
# ''[[Due occhi diabolici|Two Evil Eyes]]'', [[1990]]
# ''Due occhi diabolici - Two Evil Eyes'', 1990
# ''[[The Dark Half]]'', [[1993]]
# ''The Dark Half'', 1993
# ''[[Bruiser (film)|Bruiser]]'', [[2000]]
# ''Bruiser]]'', 2000
# ''[[Land of the Dead]]'', [[2005]]
# ''Land of the Dead'', 2005


==Books/Comics==
==Books/Comics==
# ''Dawn of the Dead'' (with Susan Sparrow; movie tie-in), [[1979]]
# ''Dawn of the Dead'' (with Susan Sparrow; movie tie-in), 1979
# ''Martin'' (with Susan Sparrow; movie tie-in), [[1984]]
# ''Martin'' (with Susan Sparrow; movie tie-in), 1984
# ''Toe Tags'' #1-6 (''The Death of Death''; [[DC Comics]]), [[2004]] - [[2005]]
# ''Toe Tags'' #1-6 (''The Death of Death''; DC Comics), 2004 - 2005


==External links focusing on Romero==
==External links focusing on Romero==

Revision as of 20:36, 13 August 2006

[[1]]George A. Romero at the Weekend of Horrors 2005 in Münster, Germany]]

George Andrew Romero (born 4 February, 1940) is an American director, writer, editor and actor. He is best known for his Dead Series, a tetralogy of horror movies with a zombie apocalypse theme and which are known for providing a commentary on contemporary society.

He was born and raised in New York City, and attended Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University. After quitting university, he began shooting mostly short films and commercials. He and friends formed Image Ten Productions in the late 1960s, and they chipped in roughly $10,000 apiece to produce what became one of the most celebrated horror films of all time: Night of the Living Dead (1968). The movie, directed by Romero and co-written with John A. Russo, became a cult classic in the 1970s. Romero updated his original screenplay and was executive producer of the remake of Night of the Living Dead directed by Tom Savini for Columbia/Tristar in 1990.

Romero's next films were less popular: There's Always Vanilla (1971), Jack's Wife/Season of the Witch (1972) and The Crazies (1973). Though not as acclaimed as Night of the Living Dead or some of his later work, these films had his signature social commentary while dealing with issues (usually horror-related) at the microscopic level. The Crazies, about a biospill that creates madness, and the critically acclaimed and arthouse success Martin]] (1976), a film that strikingly deconstructs the vampire myth, were the two standout efforts during this period. Like almost all of his films, they were shot in or around Romero's favorite city of Pittsburgh.

In 1978, Romero returned to the zombie genre with Dawn of the Dead (1978). Shot on a budget of just $1.5 million, the film earned over $55 million worldwide and was named one of the top cult films by Entertainment Weekly in 2003. Romero made a third entry in his "Dead Series" with Day of the Dead (1985), although this was less popular at the box office.

During this time, Romero also made Knightriders (1981), another festival favorite about a group of modern-day jousters who re-enact tournaments on motorcycles, and the successful Creepshow (1982), written by Stephen King, an anthology of tongue-in-cheek tales that were modeled after 1950s horror comics.

Throughout the latter half of the 1980s and 90s, Romero made various films, including Monkey Shines (1988) about a killer monkey; Due occhi diabolici - Two Evil Eyes (1990), an Edgar Allan Poe adaptation in collaboration with Dario Argento; the Stephen King adaptation The Dark Half (1992); and Bruiser (2000), about a man whose face becomes a blank mask.

Romero had a cameo appearance in Jonathan Demme's Academy Award-winning The Silence of the Lambs in 1991 as one of Hannibal Lecter's jailers.

Universal Studios produced and released a remake of Dawn of the Dead in 2004, in which Romero was not involved (though he expressed admiration for the Zack Snyder film in a graphic novel adaptation of the remake). Later that year, Romero kicked off the DC Comics title Toe Tags with a six-issue miniseries titled The Death of Death. Based on an unused script that Romero had previously written as a sequel to his "Dead Trilogy", the comic miniseries concerns Damien, an intelligent zombie who remembers his former life, struggling to find his identity as he battles armies of both the living and the dead. Typical of a Romero zombie tale, the miniseries includes ample supply of both gore and social commentary (dealing particularly here with corporate greed and terrorism - ideas he would also explore in his next film in the series, Land of the Dead). Romero has stated that the miniseries takes place in the same world as his "Dead" films, only emphasising other places in the world besides Pittsburgh, where the majority of his films take place (link).

Romero, who still lives in Pittsburgh, recently completed a fourth "Dead" movie, Land of the Dead (formerly known as Dead Reckoning), in Toronto, Ontario, with a $16 million production budget (the highest in Romero's career). Actors Dennis Hopper, Asia Argento and John Leguizamo star in the film. It was released on June 24, 2005.

Some critics have seen social commentary in much of Romero's work. They view Night of the Living Dead as a film made as a reaction to the turbulent 1960s, Dawn of the Dead as a satire on consumerism, Day of the Dead as a study of the conflict between science and the military, and Land of the Dead as an examination of class conflict.

Romero is married to Christine Forrest, whom he met on the set of Season of the Witch. They have two children together.

Filmography

  1. Night of the Living Dead, 1968
  2. There's Always Vanilla, 1971
  3. The Crazies, 1973
  4. Season of the Witch, 1973
  5. The Winners, 1973 TV Series
  6. O.J. Simpson: Juice on the Loose, 1974
  7. Martin, 1976
  8. Dawn of the Dead, 1978
  9. Knightriders, 1981
  10. Creepshow, 1982
  11. Tales from the Darkside, 1984 TV Series
  12. Day of the Dead 1985
  13. Monkey Shines 1988
  14. Due occhi diabolici - Two Evil Eyes, 1990
  15. The Dark Half, 1993
  16. Bruiser]], 2000
  17. Land of the Dead, 2005

Books/Comics

  1. Dawn of the Dead (with Susan Sparrow; movie tie-in), 1979
  2. Martin (with Susan Sparrow; movie tie-in), 1984
  3. Toe Tags #1-6 (The Death of Death; DC Comics), 2004 - 2005

External links focusing on Romero

External links specific to the "Dead" films