Mark Romanek (born September 18, 1959) is an award-winning American music video director who has also moved into directing theatrical films. ImageMetadata File history File links Mark_Romanek. ... September 18 is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years). ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A music video (also promo) is a short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music, most commonly a song. ... The film director, on the right, gives last minute direction to the cast and crew, whilst filming a costume drama on location in London. ... Film refers to the celluloid media on which movies are printed. ...

Background

Romanek was born in Chicago, Illinois. He credits seeing Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey in 1968 at the age of nine and again during its rerelease in 1973, with inspiring him to become a film director. ^{[1] [2]} Romanek experimented with Super 8 and 16mm film as a teenager while he attended New Trier East, a progressive public high school north of Chicago that offered a four-year film production and theory program. He then attended Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York, and graduated from its Roy H. Park School of Communications with a degree in cinema and photography. Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Official website: http://egov. ... Stanley Kubrick (July 26, 1928 – March 7, 1999) was an American film director and producer who is widely considered to have been one of the most innovative, talented, and influential filmmakers of the late 20th century. ... Super 8 mm film, also called Super 8 is a motion picture film format that was developed in the 1960s and released on the market in 1965 by Eastman Kodak as an improvement of the older 8mm home movie format. ... (Redirected from 16mm film) 16mm film was initially created in the 1920s as an inexpensive amateur alternative to the conventional 35 mm film format. ... New Trier High School New Trier High School (NTHS) is a nationally recognized comprehensive high school located north of Chicago, Illinois. ... Ithaca College Campus Ithaca College is a private liberal arts college in Ithaca, New York, founded in 1892 as a music school, the Ithaca Conservatory of Music in downtown Ithaca. ... It has been suggested that Ithaca Commons be merged into this article or section. ... Roy Hampton Park (15 September 1910 - 25 October 1993) was an American media executive. ...

Romanek served as 2nd assistant director for Brian De Palma on Home Movies, an autobiographical film De Palma conceived as an exercise for his students at Sarah Lawrence College (having returned to his alma mater after the shooting of The Fury as an instructor of film production). On set, Romanek met Keith Gordon, playing De Palma's alter ego. Assistant director is a movie term for an assistant to the director whose duties include tracking the progress of filming versus the production schedule, and preparing call sheets. ... Brian De Palma Brian De Palma (born September 11, 1940 in Newark, New Jersey) is an American film director. ... Founded in 1926, Sarah Lawrence College is a co-educational, four-year liberal arts college. ... Keith Gordon is an American actor turned film director. ...

Gordon remembers Romanek's entrance into film production:

"Yeah, I actually met a lot of people who became important in my life, but Mark being one of the people who was really huge. Mark wasn't even officially one of the students in the class. Mark was kind of like me – he was a film geek. He was from Chicago. And he had followed Brian around on the set of The Fury (1978) and gotten a job as like a production assistant on that movie. And when he heard that Brian was doing this project, he basically contacted him and said, 'Listen, can I come to New York and basically be like one of the students, even though I'm not technically in the class?' And Brian said, “Fine.” So Mark became the second-assistant director on the film.

"And he and I just hit it off pretty quickly. We had a similar passion for Stanley Kubrick. He showed me his short films, which I thought were really good and showed a lot of visual flair. We just laughed a lot and kind of became good friends really quickly."

He released his first film, Static, in 1985. It was co-written with and starred Keith Gordon as a man who claimed he had invented a television set capable of showing a live picture of Heaven; Amanda Plummer also starred. The film achieved something of a cult following in London and led to his first job at the helm of a music video for the British New Wave group, The The (who featured on the soundtrack for Static), in 1986. Keith Gordon is an American actor turned film director. ... Michelangelos interpretation of Heaven Heaven is an afterlife concept found in many religions or spiritual philosophies. ... Amanda Plummer as Honey Bunny in Pulp Fiction. ... For other uses, see London (disambiguation) and Defining London (below). ... New Wave is a term that has been used to describe many developments in music, but is most commonly associated with a movement in American, Australian, British, Canadian and European popular music, in the late 1970s and early 1980s. ... Matt Johnson The The is a British musical and multimedia group that has been around since 1979 in various forms, with Matt Johnson being the only constant band member. ...

Music video career

After a few years writing screenplays, Romanek decided to focus on music videos and signed on with Satellite Films, a boutique division of David Fincher's Propaganda Films. His subsequent work has come to be regarded as among the best of the medium. He has worked with many top-selling recording artists from different genres of popular music, and his videos have been given credit for making stars out of some. David Fincher (right) directs actor Michael Douglas in The Game (1997) David Fincher (born May 10, 1962) is an American music video and film director known for his dark and stylish portraits of the human experience. ...

One of his earliest notable videos was for the Nine Inch Nails song 'Closer'. Its critical acclaim was only matched by its critical controversy, many accusing the video as being disturbing, demonic and demented (a big reason why the video was so popular among fans). Romanek would again work with Nine Inch Nails for the song 'The Perfect Drug'. NIN redirects here. ... NIN redirects here. ...

Romanek was given his first Grammy Award for Best Short Form Video in 1996 for "Scream," a much-hyped collaboration between the pop superstar siblings Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson. The video, which cost $7 million to make, has been cited as the most expensive ever made. Romanek won his second Grammy two years later, again with Janet Jackson, for her video "Got 'Til It's Gone." Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards), presented by the Recording Academy (an association of Americans professionally involved in the recorded music industry) for outstanding achievements in the recording industry, is one of four major music awards shows held annually in the United States (the Billboard Music... The Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video has been awarded since 1984. ... For other people with the same name, see Michael Jackson (disambiguation) Michael Joseph Jackson (born August 29, 1958), also known by the nicknames King of Pop and Wacko Jacko, is an American musician whose successful music career and controversial personal life have been at the forefront of pop culture for... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

In 2002, Romanek shot a video for Audioslave's "Cochise" in which the band performed in the midst of a prolonged pyrotechnic display of the intensity usually seen only during fireworks finales. The explosions were so loud during the night shoot in the San Fernando Valley that local police and fire departments received hundreds of calls from residents who feared that a terrorist attack was underway. Audioslave is an alternative rock supergroup consisting of Chris Cornell (formerly of Soundgarden) and the instrumentalists of Rage Against the Machine. ... The Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House illuminated under New Years Eve Fireworks 2005 A fireworks event (also called a fireworks display or fireworks show) is a spectacular display of the effects produced by firework devices on various occasions. ... San Fernando Valley The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley in southern California, lying mostly within the city limits of Los Angeles. ...

Romanek's 2002 music video for country music icon Johnny Cash's cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt" has been hailed by many critics and fans alike as the most personal and moving music video ever made. The song expresses self-loathing and the futility of worldly accomplishments; this content took on a new poignancy when sung by Cash near the end of his life, quietly performing in his memorabilia-filled home, with shots of the flood-ravaged "House of Cash" museum and archival shots of a younger, cockier Cash edited in. The video was nominated for seven VMAs, winning one for cinematography, and also won Romanek his third Grammy. Johnny Cash (February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was a vastly influential American country music and rock music singer, guitarist and songwriter. ... In pop music a cover version is a new rendition of a previously recorded song. ... NIN redirects here. ... Hurt is a promotional single from Nine Inch Nails remix album Further Down the Spiral (Halo Ten). ...

Other Romanek videos that have received accolades and awards include the VMA winners "Are You Gonna Go My Way" (Lenny Kravitz), "Rain" (Madonna), "99 Problems" (Jay-Z), and "Criminal" (Fiona Apple). Many others have also received nominations. In 1997, Romanek became the first filmmaker to receive the VMA Video Vanguard Award for his contribution to the medium. Two of Romanek's music videos, "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails, and "Bedtime Stories" by Madonna, have been made part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Jay-Z (aka the Jigga, HOV and Hova, born Shawn Carter on December 4, 1970 in Brooklyn, New York) is an African American rapper/hip hop artist and record label executive; one of the most popular and successful rappers of the late 1990s and early 2000s. ... Fiona Apple (born September 13, 1977) is an American singer-songwriter. ... Closer to God (also known as Halo 9) is a single by Nine Inch Nails for the song Closer released in 1994. ... Bedtime Story is a song by American singer Madonna from her 1994 album Bedtime Stories. ... View across garden, in new MoMA building by Yoshio Taniguchi (MoMA) is an art museum located in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. ... Nickname: The Big Apple Official website: City of New York Government Counties (Boroughs) Bronx (The Bronx) New York (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Kings (Brooklyn) Richmond (Staten Island) Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Geographical characteristics Area Total 468. ...

Feature films

In 2002, Romanek wrote and directed his first full-length feature film, One Hour Photo, with Robin Williams in the lead role about a department store photo processor who becomes obsessed with a family through their snapshots. One Hour Photo proved to be only a moderate hit, but still established Romanek as a respected movie director. Rumors spread that the studio, Fox Searchlight, had forced changes on Romanek that seriously altered the film from how he had intended it. He has disclaimed this story, however, stating that there never was a "director's cut" of One Hour Photo and that studio did not exercise any editorial control. As of 2005, Romanek was scheduled to direct Tom Hanks in a film adaptation of the book, A Cold Case but the project seems to be languishing in development hell. In December 2005, it was announced that he would direct A Million Little Pieces, the film adaptation of the book of the same name but due to recent events regarding the authenticity of the book's content, it has also become a subject of speculation as to whether the film will indeed be made or not. One Hour Photo (2002) is an American psychological thriller film written and directed by Mark Romanek and starring Robin Williams. ... Robin Williams performing in Iraq. ... Fox Searchlight Pictures is the specialty films division of Twentieth Century Fox. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Tom Hanks in February 2004 Thomas Jeffrey Hanks (born July 9, 1956) is a two-time Academy Award-winning American actor who starred in family friendly comedies, before achieving notable success as a dramatic actor. ... Development hell is media-industry jargon for a movie, television screenplay or computer game (or sometimes just a concept or idea) getting stuck in development and never going into production. ... A Million Little Pieces is the film adaptation of James Freys recovery memoir of the same name. ...

Romanek has also directed television commercials for Apple Computers, Acura, Nike, Calvin Klein, American Express, ESPN, Saturn, Honda, and Cirque du Soleil. He is currently represented for music videos and commercials by a company called Anonymous Content. Apple Computer, Inc. ... Acura is a Japanese brand name used by Honda in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Hong Kong since March 1986 to market luxury automobiles and near-luxury vehicles. ... Nike, Inc. ... A Calvin Klein advertisement featuring Natalia Vodianova Calvin Klein (born November 19, 1942) is a well-known fashion designer. ... American Express NYSE: AXP is a diversified global financial services company, headquartered in New York City. ... ESPN (once an initialism for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American cable television network dedicated to broadcasting sports-related programming 24 hours a day. ... General Motors launched its Saturn automobile manufacturing company in 1990, largely in response to the success of Japanese small-car imports in the United States. ... Honda Motor Co. ... Cirque du Soleil (French for Circus of the Sun) is an entertainment company founded by Guy Laliberté and Daniel Gauthier, both former street performers, in 1984 and is based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ...

Feature film filmography

• A Million Little Pieces (2007)
• One Hour Photo (2002)
• Static (1985)

A Million Little Pieces is the film adaptation of James Freys recovery memoir of the same name. ... One Hour Photo (2002) is an American psychological thriller film written and directed by Mark Romanek and starring Robin Williams. ...

Music video filmography

• "Sweet Bird of Truth," The The (1986)
• "You Don't Have To Worry," En Vogue (1990)
• "Wicked As It Seems," Keith Richards (1992)
• "Constant Craving," k.d. lang (1992)
• "Free Your Mind," En Vogue (1992)
• "Are You Gonna Go My Way," Lenny Kravitz (1993)
• "Jump They Say," David Bowie (1993)
• "Black Tie, White Noise," David Bowie (1993)
• "Rain," Madonna (1993)
• "Is There Any Love In Your Heart," Lenny Kravitz (1993)
• "Closer," Nine Inch Nails (1994)
• "Cold Beverage," G. Love & Special Sauce (1994)
• "Bedtime Story," Madonna (1995)
• "Strange Currencies", R.E.M. (1995)
• "Scream," Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson (1995)
• "Little Trouble Girl," Sonic Youth (1996)
• "Novocaine For The Soul," Eels (1996)
• "El Scorcho," Weezer (1996)
• "Devil's Haircut," Beck (1996)
• "The Perfect Drug," Nine Inch Nails (1997)
• "Criminal," Fiona Apple (1997)
• "Got 'Til It's Gone," Janet Jackson (1997)
• "If You Can't Say No," Lenny Kravitz (1998)
• "Do Something," Macy Gray (1999)
• "I Try" (second version), Macy Gray (1999)
• "Sleepwalker," The Wallflowers (2000)
• "God Gave Me Everything," Mick Jagger
• "Hella Good," No Doubt (2002)
• "Cochise," Audioslave (2002)
• "Hurt," Johnny Cash (2002)
• "Can't Stop," Red Hot Chili Peppers (2003)
• "Faint," Linkin Park (2003)
• "99 Problems," Jay-Z (2004)
• "Speed of Sound", Coldplay (2005)

Matt Johnson The The is a British musical and multimedia group that has been around since 1979 in various forms, with Matt Johnson being the only constant band member. ... En Vogue is a Grammy-nominated African American all-female R&B, club/dance, and soul vocal quartet assembled by the hit music producers Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy, formerly of the disco group Club Nouveau. ... Album photograph by Sante D’orazio Keith Richards (born 18 December 1943 in Dartford, Kent, England), is an English guitarist and songwriter, best known for his work with The Rolling Stones. ... k. ... En Vogue is a Grammy-nominated African American all-female R&B, club/dance, and soul vocal quartet assembled by the hit music producers Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy, formerly of the disco group Club Nouveau. ... Lenny Kravitz, 2005 (José Cruz/ABr) Leonard Albert Kravitz (born May 26, 1964) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and guitarist whose retro-style amalgam of rock, pop, funk, and even techno is inspired by such music icons as Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon. ... David Bowie (born David Robert Hayward-Jones on 8 January 1947) is an English rock singer, musician and actor. ... David Bowie (born David Robert Hayward-Jones on 8 January 1947) is an English rock singer, musician and actor. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Lenny Kravitz, 2005 (José Cruz/ABr) Leonard Albert Kravitz (born May 26, 1964) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and guitarist whose retro-style amalgam of rock, pop, funk, and even techno is inspired by such music icons as Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon. ... Closer to God (also known as Halo 9) is a single by Nine Inch Nails for the song Closer released in 1994. ... NIN redirects here. ... G. Love & Special Sauce is an alternative hip-hop band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... R.E.M. is a rock band formed in Athens, Georgia on April 5, 1980 by Michael Stipe (vocals), Bill Berry (drums), Peter Buck (guitar), and Mike Mills (bass). ... R.E.M. is a rock band formed in Athens, Georgia in early 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and vocalist Michael Stipe. ... For other people with the same name, see Michael Jackson (disambiguation) Michael Joseph Jackson (born August 29, 1958), also known by the nicknames King of Pop and Wacko Jacko, is an American musician whose successful music career and controversial personal life have been at the forefront of pop culture for... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Sonic Youth is a rock group formed in New York City in 1981. ... Eels (also sometimes eels or EELS, depending on the album) are an American rock band formed by singer/songwriter Mark Oliver Everett, better known as Mr. ... The correct title of this article is el Scorcho. ... Weezer is an American rock band. ... Beck Beck Hansen (born Bek David Campbell, July 8, 1970) is an American musician, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. ... The Perfect Drug Versions (also known as Halo 11) is an EP by Nine Inch Nails of remixes for the song The Perfect Drug released in 1997. ... NIN redirects here. ... Fiona Apple (born September 13, 1977) is an American singer-songwriter. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Lenny Kravitz, 2005 (José Cruz/ABr) Leonard Albert Kravitz (born May 26, 1964) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and guitarist whose retro-style amalgam of rock, pop, funk, and even techno is inspired by such music icons as Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon. ... Macy Gray Macy Gray (born Natalie McIntyre on September 6, 1970 in Canton, Ohio) is an American neo-soul/R&B singer and actress. ... Macy Gray Macy Gray (born Natalie McIntyre on September 6, 1970 in Canton, Ohio) is an American neo-soul/R&B singer and actress. ... Members of The Wallflowers on the cover of Red Letter Days. ... Wax figure of Mick Jagger at Prague wax museum Sir Michael Philip Mick Jagger (born 26 July 1943) is an English rock musician, actor, writer, songwriter, record and film producer and businessman. ... No Doubt is an American alternative rock band whose music was initially influenced heavily by ska, punk and New Wave. ... Audioslave is an alternative rock supergroup consisting of Chris Cornell (formerly of Soundgarden) and the instrumentalists of Rage Against the Machine. ... Hurt is a promotional single from Nine Inch Nails remix album Further Down the Spiral (Halo Ten). ... Johnny Cash (February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was a vastly influential American country music and rock music singer, guitarist and songwriter. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Linkin Park Is Awesome A nu metal/rapcore band from Los Angeles, California, currently signed to Warner Brothers Records. ... Jay-Z (aka the Jigga, HOV and Hova, born Shawn Carter on December 4, 1970 in Brooklyn, New York) is an African American rapper/hip hop artist and record label executive; one of the most popular and successful rappers of the late 1990s and early 2000s. ... Speed of Sound is the first single from British rock band Coldplays third album, X&Y. It made its radio premiere on BBC Radio 1 with Steve Lamacq on the evening of Monday, 18 April 2005; the track is currently available for download on the bands official site... Coldplay is a post-Britpop/alternative rock band from London, England well known for their rock melodies and introspective lyrics. ...

External links

• Mark Romanek official website
• Mark Romanek at The Internet Movie Database
• Mark Romanek Interview about the making of Nine Inch Nails Video Perfect Drug, inspired by Edward Gorey - Mooncusser Films
• Johnny Cash's "Hurt" Delves Into Life of Former Hell-Raiser, MTV VMA Lens Recap
• Jay-Z Has The Guts To Get "Shot," Rick Rubin Demands To Look Cool, MTV VMA Lens Recap. Describes the concept of Mark Romanek's first hip-hop video, Jay-Z's "99 Problems."