Film director Barry Sonnenfeld: personal and creative biography

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Barry Sonnenfeld is a bright and talented person who has gone from a cameraman to a famous director. More information about his education, work and marital status is available in the article.

Short biography

He was born in 1953, April 1st. His home is one of the largest and most beautiful American cities - New York. He was brought up in a respected Jewish family. Our hero's father was an art teacher. From an early age, he instilled in his son a love of beauty.

During his school years, Barry was fond of photography. He could not boast of good academic performance. He often skipped classes to go to the cinema for the next Hollywood premiere. However, the guy still managed to graduate from high school and Hempshire College.

The beginning of creative activity

Our hero got a job as a laboratory assistant at a local university. There B. Sonnenfeld met the Coen brothers. A warm friendship developed between them.

In 1978, Barry graduated from the film school, opened at New York University. For a while, he had to work odd jobs. And in 1982, Sonnenfeld was offeredtry yourself as a cinematographer. And he did not miss this chance. Barry was involved in the making of the documentary In Our Waters. Subsequently, this tape was nominated for an Oscar.

Soon the Coen brothers reminded of themselves. They offered Sonnefeld mutually beneficial cooperation. Our hero worked as a cameraman for them when creating the thriller "Just Blood". This picture was released in 1984. The work of the director brothers Coen and cameraman B. Sonnefeld was highly appreciated not only by the audience, but also by avid critics. This film won several awards at the international film festival held in Portugal.

Barry Sonnenfeld continued to collaborate with the Coen brothers. Together they created films such as the comedy Raising Arizona and the gangster drama Miller's Crossing. He also had the opportunity to work as a cinematographer in films created by Danny DeVito and Rob Reiner.

Director Barry Sonnenfeld: Movies

From the mid-1980s, Barry began to learn new professions - an actor and a producer. And the company "Orion Pictures" appointed him the director of the comedy film "The Addams Family". In November 1991, this unusual and fascinating series premiered on one of the American channels. The Addams Family comedy was an incredible success.

In 1993, Barry Sonnenfeld presented his second directorial work. It's about the romantic comedy The Concierge.

In his films, director Sonnenfeld demonstrates a great sense of humor and fascinating (sometimes heartbreaking)plot. A vivid example of this is the comedy filmed by him "Get Shorty" (1995). The incomparable John Travolta was cast in the title role (Pawnbroker Chili Palmer).

Men in Black

In 1996 Steven Spielberg contacted him by phone. The meeting of two directors took place in one of the New York cafes. They agreed to create a fantasy-comedy action movie "Men in Black". And soon got to work.

The main male role was given to black actor Will Smith. His partner in the film was Tommy Lee Jones, who played Kevin Browne. A few words about the plot. Two government agents are sent in search of aliens who are "disguised" as ordinary people. They have the most powerful and modern weapons at their disposal.

The sci-fi action comedy was a wild success. It had a budget of $90 million and a box office gross of over $580 million. Subsequently, the second and third parts of "Men in Black" were filmed.

Let's list the most interesting directorial works of our hero for 2006-2017:

• family comedy film Madhouse on Wheels (2006);
• fantasy series Dead on Call (2007);
• French-Chinese comedy Nine Lives (2016);
• American mystic-drama series Lemony Snicket: 33 Unfortunates (2017).

Private life

Barry Sonnenfeld met his soul mate a long time ago. In 1989, the director entered into a legal marriage with Susan Ringo. His chosen one is a professional actress andfilm producer.

In May 1993, the couple had a common daughter. The baby was named Chloe. She followed in the footsteps of her parents and connected her fate with cinema. Chloe Sonnefeld is an actress who started acting in films from the age of 4. You may have seen her in Men in Black (parts 2 and 3) and the adventure comedy Madhouse on Wheels.

In conclusion

Now you know where B. Sonnenfeld was born and built his career. Biography, creativity and his personal life - all this was considered by us. Let's wish the director more interesting ideas, prestigious awards and loyal fans!