Francis Lawrence

Francis Lawrence (born March 26, 1971)[1] is an Austrian-born American filmmaker and producer. After establishing himself as a director of music videos and commercials, Lawrence made his feature-length directorial debut with the supernatural thriller Constantine (2005) and has since directed the postapocalyptic horror film I Am Legend (2007), the romantic drama Water for Elephants (2011), three of the four films in the Hunger Games film series, and the spy thriller Red Sparrow (2018).

For other people named Francis Lawrence, see Francis Lawrence (disambiguation).

Francis Lawrence
Lawrence at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con
Born (1971-03-26) March 26, 1971
Vienna, Austria
NationalityAmerican
Alma materLoyola Marymount University
OccupationDirector, producer
Years active1993–present

Life and career

Lawrence was born to American parents in Vienna, Austria. His father is a theoretical physicist who taught at California State University, Northridge, and his mother is a vice president of technology at a public-relations agency based in his hometown.[2][3]

He moved to Los Angeles at the age of four.[2] Lawrence worked as second assistant camera on the feature Pump Up the Volume directed by Allan Moyle prior to earning his bachelor's degree in film production at Loyola Marymount University Film School. He went on to work as first assistant director on the feature Marching out of Time directed by Anton Vassil in 1993. Lawrence then joined ex-classmate Michael Jason Rosen in co-directing music videos. Lawrence directed his first music videos for the San Jose band, A Western Front. Rosen and Lawrence made the two videos for a total of $3,000 with Jeffrey Michael Cutter, another ex-classmate, shooting for them. Lawrence, Rosen, and Cutter also made a video for Michael Blakey, president of Atico Records and Tidal Force drummer for that band's single, "A Man Rides Through". Soon, Lawrence became known for his original and imaginative music video scripts and visual directing style.

He eventually joined a major new production company and his successful career as music video director, having worked with stars Rihanna, Green Day, Britney Spears, The Black Eyed Peas, Jay-Z, Melanie C, Avril Lavigne, Aerosmith, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Fastball, Lisa Marie Presley, Destiny's Child, Garbage, Gwen Stefani, Pink, Shakira, En Vogue, Monica, Missy Elliott, and the Backstreet Boys. He has also directed numerous commercials for clients such as Coca-Cola, L'Oréal, Calvin Klein, Pepsi-Cola, Maybelline, Kid's Footlocker, Bacardi, McDonald's, GAP, Bud Light, CoverGirl, Oldsmobile, and Disneyland. In 2005, his feature-film debut was Constantine, based on the Hellblazer comic book, starring Keanu Reeves.

In 2007, he directed I Am Legend (based on the Richard Matheson novel), with Will Smith. In 2011, he directed Water for Elephants. In 2012, Lawrence directed and executive produced the pilot episode of the Fox paranormal series, Touch.[4] He is currently signed to DNA Inc. In 2011, he won a Grammy Award for Best Music Video, Short Form for directing Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" music video.

In April 2012, Lionsgate Films announced that Lawrence had been selected to direct the film adaptation of the novel Catching Fire.[5][6] The book and film were the sequel to the blockbuster hit, The Hunger Games, starring Jennifer Lawrence (no relation). This film adaptation of The Hunger Games was directed by Gary Ross, and both novels were written by Suzanne Collins. Lawrence was officially confirmed as the director for the film on May 3, 2012.[7]

He returned to direct the two final parts of the series, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014) and Part 2 (2015).[8] Lawrence is currently working on a film adaptation of the novel Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk.

He most recently directed Red Sparrow, based on the novel of the same name by Jason Matthews, and featuring The Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence and Joel Edgerton. The film was released on March 2, 2018.

Filmography
Main article: Francis Lawrence videography
Year Title Distributor
2005 Constantine Warner Bros. Pictures
2007 I Am Legend
2011 Water for Elephants 20th Century Fox
2013 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Lionsgate
2014 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
2015 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
2018 Red Sparrow 20th Century Fox

References
  1. "Biography of Francis Lawrence". The New York Times.
  2. Lee, Chris (February 19, 2005). "From MTV to wrestling with Satan". LATimes.com. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  3. Brownfield, Paul (December 13, 2007). "Finding hope in dystopia". LATimes.com. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  4. "TOUCH Attracts A Lethal Weapon – Danny Glover Joins FOX Pilot". Seriable.
  5. Dershowitz, Jessica (April 20, 2012). "Francis Lawrence to direct "The Hunger Games" sequel "Catching Fire"". CBSNews.com. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  6. "Director Francis Lawrence Chosen For ‘Catching Fire’ Sequel To ‘Hunger Games’". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
  7. Staskiewicz, Keith (May 3, 2012). "Francis Lawrence confirmed as 'Catching Fire' director". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  8. "'Exclusive: Francis Lawrence to Direct Remainder of THE HUNGER GAMES Franchise with Two-Part Adaptation of MOCKINGJAY′". Collider.com. November 1, 2012.
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