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 Gus Green Van Sant Jr. is an American filmmaker, painter, screenwriter, photographer and musician from Louisville, Kentucky who is known for directing films such as Good Will Hunting, the 1998 remake of Psycho, Gerry, Elephant, My Own Private Idaho, To Die For, Milk, Last Days, Finding Forrester, Promised Land, Drugstore Cowboy and Mala Noche.
Bio:
Gus Green Van Sant Jr. is an American filmmaker, painter, screenwriter, photographer and musician from Louisville, Kentucky who is known for directing films such as Good Will Hunting, the 1998 remake of Psycho, Gerry, Elephant, My Own Private Idaho, To Die For, Milk, Last Days, Finding Forrester, Promised Land, Drugstore Cowboy and Mala Noche.
Tivia:
Favorite director is Stanley Kubrick.Van Sant had planned to make a film about artist Andy Warhol with River Phoenix starring as the young Warhol, but plans were scrapped after Phoenix's death.In addition to being a successful film director, Van Sant is also a published author (his first novel, "Pink", was published in 1997), a musician (two solo albums "Gus Van Sant" and "18 Songs About Golf" were released on the PopTones label in late 1997, plus his musical/spoken word collaboration with William S. Burroughs, "The Elvis Of Letters" was released in 1985 as the first album put out on the Tim Kerr record label), and a photographer (a large book of his photographs titled "108 Portraits" was published in 1992 and is now something of a collectors item.)Often casts Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea in small or cameo roles in his films.Elephant (2003), the very first film he directed that was accepted into Cannes, won the festival's two most prestigious awards: the Palme d'or and best director.In 1992 received the American Civil Liberties Union(ACLU) of Oregon's Freedom of Expression Award, which recognizes courage or creative vision in upholding free expression, particularly in the arts, for his films that have, " let us see inside the lives of individuals we don't often get a glimpse at."Once worked as an assistant to Roger Corman.He dedicated both his 1993 film Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1993) and his 1997 novel "Pink" to the late actor River Phoenix.Directed 5 actors in Oscar nominated performances: Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Minnie Driver, Sean Penn, and Josh Brolin. Williams and Penn won Oscars for performances in one of his movies.Graduate of Rhode Island School of Design.Director of Hanson's music video "Weird" and asked Hanson to produce a song for his next movie.Cast 3 of the 5 Phoenix siblings in his movies. River Phoenix in My Own Private Idaho (1991), Rain Phoenix in Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1993) and Joaquin Phoenix in To Die For (1995).Is a member of a band, Destroy All Blondes.He has taught two classes at the Northwest Film Center in Portland, OR.Was member of the dramatic jury at the Sundance Film Festival in 1991.His 1997 film Good Will Hunting (1997) is parodied in the 2001 Kevin Smith film Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001).Interviewed in "Directors Close Up: Interviews with Directors Nominated for Best Film by the Directors Guild of America", ed. by Jeremy Kagan, Scarecrow Press, 2006.Directed two films which won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay: Good Will Hunting (1997) and Milk (2008). |
| Name: |
Gus Van Sant |
Type: |
Director,Producer,Actor (IMDB) |
| Area: |
All World |
Platform: |
IMDB |
| Category: |
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Business scope: |
Director,Producer,Actor |
| Products for sale: |
Director,Producer,Actor |
| Last update: |
2024-07-01 03:00:33 |
| Height: |
5' 9' (1.75 m) |
| Biography: |
Gus Green Van Sant Jr. is an American filmmaker, painter, screenwriter, photographer and musician from Louisville, Kentucky who is known for directing films such as Good Will Hunting, the 1998 remake of Psycho, Gerry, Elephant, My Own Private Idaho, |
| Trivia: |
Favorite director is Stanley Kubrick.Van Sant had planned to make a film about artist Andy Warhol with River Phoenix starring as the young Warhol, but plans were scrapped after Phoenix's death.In addition to being a successful film director, Van Sant is also a published author (his first novel, "Pink", was published in 1997), a musician (two solo albums "Gus Van Sant" and "18 Songs About Golf" were released on the PopTones label in late 1997, plus his musical/spoken word collaboration with William S. Burroughs, "The Elvis Of Letters" was released in 1985 as the first album put out on the Tim Kerr record label), and a photographer (a large book of his photographs titled "108 Portraits" was published in 1992 and is now something of a collectors item.)Often casts Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea in small or cameo roles in his films.Elephant (2003), the very first film he directed that was accepted into Cannes, won the festival's two most prestigious awards: the Palme d'or and best director.In 1992 received the American Civil Liberties Union(ACLU) of Oregon's Freedom of Expression Award, which recognizes courage or creative vision in upholding free expression, particularly in the arts, for his films that have, " let us see inside the lives of individuals we don't often get a glimpse at."Once worked as an assistant to Roger Corman.He dedicated both his 1993 film Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1993) and his 1997 novel "Pink" to the late actor River Phoenix.Directed 5 actors in Oscar nominated performances: Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Minnie Driver, Sean Penn, and Josh Brolin. Williams and Penn won Oscars for performances in one of his movies.Graduate of Rhode Island School of Design.Director of Hanson's music video "Weird" and asked Hanson to produce a song for his next movie.Cast 3 of the 5 Phoenix siblings in his movies. River Phoenix in My Own Private Idaho (1991), Rain Phoenix in Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1993) and Joaquin Phoenix in To Die For (1995).Is a member of a band, Destroy All Blondes.He has taught two classes at the Northwest Film Center in Portland, OR.Was member of the dramatic jury at the Sundance Film Festival in 1991.His 1997 film Good Will Hunting (1997) is parodied in the 2001 Kevin Smith film Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001).Interviewed in "Directors Close Up: Interviews with Directors Nominated for Best Film by the Directors Guild of America", ed. by Jeremy Kagan, Scarecrow Press, 2006.Directed two films which won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay: Good Will Hunting (1997) and Milk (2008). |
| Trademarks: |
Frequently casts Matt Dillon, Keanu Reeves, Grace Zabriskie, Matt Damon and James Remar
Often uses shot of cloud formation (e.g. Elephant, Drugstore Cowboy, Gerry, Paranoid Park, and Psycho)
Utilizes very low depth of field in his films' cinematography
Usually uses music by Danny Elfman
His end credits are often run over film footage (i.e. home movies in 'Drugstore Cowboy', ice skating in 'To Die For', an incoming storm in 'Elephant') instead of the usual solid black. A notable exception is 'My Own Private Idaho'. |
| Quotes: |
When asked "Why in the hell would you want to do a shot-by-shot remake of Psycho in color?" He serenely replied "So no one else would have to."
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You can't copy a film. If I hold a camera, it's different than if Irving Penn holds it. Even if it's in the same place, it will magically take on his character. Which was part of the experiment. Our 'Psycho' showed that you can't really appropriate. Or you can appropriate, but it's not going to be the same thing.
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I have this new theory about films. It's almost like astrology, where if we started on a Tuesday the film will be different than if we started on a Wednesday. Not because of the planets. It's that sometimes you start with the wrong balance and the whole thing gets messed up.
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Part of me believes in anonymous art. I got that from a writer named Jamake Highwater, who wrote about painting before the Renaissance. The way people related to art in, say, ancient Greece. How it was about the community for the community and not the self-expression of the artist. I thought of 'Good Will Hunting' and 'Finding Forrester' as doing it for the people, and wanted to speak without the hindrance of my own style. I'm not sure if that's possible, but it was my rationale.
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Because we're used to making films and observing films with a sort of shorthand. You see the car going down the road. O.K. Got it. Then it's the next shot. Usually what happens then is people start talking about something that will relate to the story instead of something random and more lifelike, like dental work. We learn in English class not to have it be about dental work. But maybe watching the car going down the road is important. To really watch it - as if you were in the car. |
| Job title: |
Director,Producer,Actor |
| Others works: |
Did all photography for the cover and booklet for the Red Hot Chili Peppers album "Blood Sugar Sex Magic".
Has released two albums of his music
Directed Hanson music video "Weird" (1998).
(novel) "Pink," published 1997.
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| Parents: |
Gus Van Sant Sr. |
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