Derek Cianfrance

Derek M. Cianfrance (/ˈsiːənfræns/;[3] born January 1974) is an American film director, cinematographer, screenwriter, and editor.[4] He is best known for writing and directing the films Blue Valentine and The Place Beyond the Pines, as well as the HBO miniseries I Know This Much Is True.

Derek Cianfrance
Cianfrance at the screening of Blue Valentine during 18th Annual Hamptons Film Festival
Born
Derek M. Cianfrance[1][2]

January 1974 (age 47)[1]
Lakewood, Colorado, United States
Alma materUniversity of Colorado Boulder
OccupationFilm director, screenwriter
Years active1998–present
Spouse(s)Shannon Plumb
Children2

Life and career

Cianfrance attended the University of Colorado Boulder, studying film production under avant-garde filmmakers Stan Brakhage and Phil Solomon. At 23, he wrote, directed, and edited his first feature film, Brother Tied, which premiered and was awarded at the International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg and was well received at festivals including Sundance.

His second feature, Blue Valentine, starred Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams. The two actors became familiar with their roles several years before filming but never met in person.[5] The project was originally slated to shoot in California, but Cianfrance relocated to Brooklyn so that Williams could be with her daughter.[6] There were no rehearsals and Cianfrance rarely shot more than one take per shot. The film was originally given an NC-17 rating, despite having little nudity and no violence.[7] It has since been changed to an R-rating after an appeal was filed by The Weinstein Company.[8]

Blue Valentine star Gosling worked with Cianfrance again on The Place Beyond the Pines (2013), which followed a motorcycle stunt rider (Gosling) who becomes a bank robber to support his newborn son.[4] Bradley Cooper also stars in the film.[4] Principal photography was done in the summer of 2011. Location filming was done in upstate New York in Schenectady, Niskayuna, and Glenville areas in 2011.

Cianfrance had been working on Metalhead, which centers on a metal drummer whose eardrums become ruptured and he becomes deaf. The film featured the members of the band Jucifer portraying themselves.[9] However, the project was later scrapped and abandoned, until his friend and The Place Beyond the Pines co-writer Darius Marder took it up, resulting in Sound of Metal (2019). Starring Riz Ahmed, the film premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival and was released by Amazon Studios in 2020.[10]

Cianfrance wrote and directed the HBO miniseries I Know This Much Is True, an adaptation of Wally Lamb's novel of the same name.[11] The series premiered in Spring 2020.[12]

Other work

Cianfrance is also known for his TV documentary work, which includes portraits of musicians Sean Combs and Run DMC and the Battleground basketball series. He is currently working on a television series called Muscle, for HBO, which he says will be a comedy series with a unique take on "character development."[13]

Personal life

Cianfrance is married to actress and film director Shannon Plumb. Together, they have two children.[14][15]

Filmography

Writer/director

Actor

References
  1. "Brother Tied". Sundance Film Festival. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  2. "Derek Ciafrance". The New York Times. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  3. Murphy, Mekado (March 22, 2013). "Inside 'The Place Beyond the Pines'". The New York Times. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  4. Scott, A. O. (March 28, 2013). "Good Intentions, Paving the Usual". The New York Times.
  5. Awards Watch Roundtable, 2010. Hollywood Reporter Archived 2011-07-12 at the Wayback Machine
  6. Contactmusic.com
  7. Indiewire.com
  8. Hollywood.com
  9. Douglas, Edward (March 22, 2013). "Interview: Derek Cianfrance Uncovers The Place Beyond the Pines". Coming Soon. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  10. Perez, Rodrigo (June 13, 2020). "'I Know This Much Is True': Derek Cianfrance On The Epic Canvas Of TV, 'Empire Of The Summer Moon' & Much More [Interview]". ThePlaylist. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  11. Andreeva, Nellie (18 October 2017). "Mark Ruffalo To Star In HBO Limited Drama Series In Works From Derek Cianfrance Based On Wally Lamb Book". Deadline Hollywood.
  12. Ben Travers (18 October 2017). "20 HBO Original Programs to Be Excited About in 2020 — 'The Outsider,' 'Perry Mason,' and More". IndieWire.
  13. Slash Film
  14. Galloway, Stephen (September 5, 2012). "'Blue Valentine' Director Reveals How the Movie Changed His Life (Q&A)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  15. "Mothers & Film: An Interview With Shannon Plumb". Skipriporplay. May 11, 2013. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  16. Goldberg, Matt (September 3, 2013). "The Place Beyond the Pines Director Derek Cianfrance to Helm The Light Between Oceans". Collider. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
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