Brad Anderson (film director)
Encyclopedia
Brad Anderson is a film director
. A director of thriller and horror films and television projects, he is best known for having directed The Machinist
(2004), starring Christian Bale
, as well as producing and directing several installments of the FOX science-fiction series Fringe
.
-winning actress Holland Taylor
. Before he began his film career, he attended Bowdoin College
, where he majored in anthropology and Russian. He then went to London to finish his film education before returning to Boston.
audience favorites (and romantic comedies) Next Stop Wonderland
(1998) and Happy Accidents
(2000) to darker films such as Session 9
(2001) and The Machinist
(2004), starring Christian Bale
. He was inspired to use the Danvers State Hospital
for Session 9 because he drove past it every day. His work on the psychological drama The Machinist
, his most notable film to date, has helped earn Anderson a cult following.
His two most recent films were the well-received Transsiberian
(2008), a thriller starring Woody Harrelson
, Emily Mortimer
, and Ben Kingsley
, and the horror film, Vanishing on 7th Street
(2010), starring Hayden Christensen
, John Leguizamo
and Thandie Newton
.. Notably, both Transsiberian
and The Machinist
were funded by Anglo-German production companies.
In 2002, Anderson was a member of the dramatic jury at the Sundance Film Festival. At one point, he was also one of the candidates to direct the sequel to Paranormal Activity.
as well as two episodes of The Wire
.
for the lead, who has since been replaced by Liev Schrieber.
Anderson will direct The Living and the Dead, based on the novel of the same name by Robert Tinnell and Todd Livingston.
After working together on The Machinist
, Anderson and Bale currently plan to collaborate again on an adaptation of J.G. Ballard's novel, Concrete Island
.
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
. A director of thriller and horror films and television projects, he is best known for having directed The Machinist
The Machinist
The Machinist is a 2004 English-language Spanish psychological thriller film directed by Brad Anderson and written by Scott Kosar....
(2004), starring Christian Bale
Christian Bale
Christian Charles Philip Bale is an English actor. Best known for his roles in American films, Bale has starred in both big budget Hollywood films and the smaller projects from independent producers and art houses....
, as well as producing and directing several installments of the FOX science-fiction series Fringe
Fringe (TV series)
Fringe is an American science fiction television series created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The series follows a Federal Bureau of Investigation "Fringe Division" team based in Boston, Massachusetts under the supervision of Homeland Security...
.
Early life
Anderson was born in Madison, Conneticut, the son of Pamela Taylor Anderson, a community services administrator. He is the nephew of Emmy AwardEmmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
-winning actress Holland Taylor
Holland Taylor
Holland Virginia Taylor is an American actress of film, stage and television. Her notable television roles include Ruth Dunbar in Bosom Buddies, senator's wife Margaret Powers on Norman Lear's The Powers That Be, Judge Roberta Kittleson in The Practice and Evelyn Harper in Two and a Half...
. Before he began his film career, he attended Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
, where he majored in anthropology and Russian. He then went to London to finish his film education before returning to Boston.
Film career
His films have varied from Sundance Film FestivalSundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
audience favorites (and romantic comedies) Next Stop Wonderland
Next Stop Wonderland
Next Stop Wonderland is a 1998 romantic comedy film directed by Brad Anderson and written by Anderson and Lyn Vaus. * This film was an audience favorite at the Sundance Film Festival in 1998 and set off a bidding war among studio distributors, with Miramax Films paying $6 million for the $1 million...
(1998) and Happy Accidents
Happy Accidents
Happy Accidents is a 2000 American film starring Marisa Tomei and Vincent D'Onofrio. The movie revolves around Ruby Weaver, a New York woman with a string of failed relationships, and Sam Deed, a man who claims to be from the year 2470...
(2000) to darker films such as Session 9
Session 9
Session 9 is a 2001 American psychological horror film directed by Brad Anderson. It stars David Caruso, Peter Mullan, Stephen Gevedon, Paul Guilfoyle, Josh Lucas, and Brendan Sexton III...
(2001) and The Machinist
The Machinist
The Machinist is a 2004 English-language Spanish psychological thriller film directed by Brad Anderson and written by Scott Kosar....
(2004), starring Christian Bale
Christian Bale
Christian Charles Philip Bale is an English actor. Best known for his roles in American films, Bale has starred in both big budget Hollywood films and the smaller projects from independent producers and art houses....
. He was inspired to use the Danvers State Hospital
Danvers State Hospital
Danvers State Hospital, also known as the State Lunatic Hospital at Danvers, The Danvers Lunatic Asylum, and The Danvers State Insane Asylum, was a psychiatric hospital located in Danvers, Massachusetts....
for Session 9 because he drove past it every day. His work on the psychological drama The Machinist
The Machinist
The Machinist is a 2004 English-language Spanish psychological thriller film directed by Brad Anderson and written by Scott Kosar....
, his most notable film to date, has helped earn Anderson a cult following.
His two most recent films were the well-received Transsiberian
Transsiberian (film)
Transsiberian is a 2008 thriller directed by Brad Anderson, which premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and began its theatrical release on July 18, 2008 in New York City....
(2008), a thriller starring Woody Harrelson
Woody Harrelson
Woodrow Tracy "Woody" Harrelson is an American actor.Harrelson's breakthrough role came in the television sitcom Cheers as bartender Woody Boyd...
, Emily Mortimer
Emily Mortimer
Emily Kathleen A. Mortimer is an English actress. She began performing on stage, and has since appeared in several film and television roles, including Scream 3, Match Point, Lars and the Real Girl, and Shutter Island....
, and Ben Kingsley
Ben Kingsley
Sir Ben Kingsley, CBE is a British actor. He has won an Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards in his career. He is known for starring as Mohandas Gandhi in the film Gandhi in 1982, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor...
, and the horror film, Vanishing on 7th Street
Vanishing on 7th Street
Vanishing on 7th Street is a 2011 American post-apocalyptic horror-thriller film directed by Brad Anderson and starring Hayden Christensen, Thandie Newton and John Leguizamo.-Plot:...
(2010), starring Hayden Christensen
Hayden Christensen
Hayden Christensen is a Canadian actor. He appeared in Canadian television programs when he was young, then diversified into American television in the late 1990s. He moved on to minor acting roles before being praised for his role of Sam in Life as a House, for which he was nominated for a Golden...
, John Leguizamo
John Leguizamo
Jonathan Alberto "John" Leguizamo is an Colombian-American actor, producer, voice artist, and comedian.-Early life:...
and Thandie Newton
Thandie Newton
Thandiwe Nashita "Thandie" Newton is a British actress. She has appeared in a number of British and American films, including The Pursuit of Happyness, Mission: Impossible II, Crash, Run, Fatboy, Run and W....
.. Notably, both Transsiberian
Transsiberian (film)
Transsiberian is a 2008 thriller directed by Brad Anderson, which premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and began its theatrical release on July 18, 2008 in New York City....
and The Machinist
The Machinist
The Machinist is a 2004 English-language Spanish psychological thriller film directed by Brad Anderson and written by Scott Kosar....
were funded by Anglo-German production companies.
In 2002, Anderson was a member of the dramatic jury at the Sundance Film Festival. At one point, he was also one of the candidates to direct the sequel to Paranormal Activity.
Television work
Anderson has directed numerous episodes of FringeFringe (TV series)
Fringe is an American science fiction television series created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The series follows a Federal Bureau of Investigation "Fringe Division" team based in Boston, Massachusetts under the supervision of Homeland Security...
as well as two episodes of The Wire
The Wire (TV series)
The Wire is an American television drama series set and produced in and around Baltimore, Maryland. Created and primarily written by author and former police reporter David Simon, the series was broadcast by the premium cable network HBO in the United States...
.
Future projects
Anderson replaced Joseph Ruben as director of Bold Films thriller Jack in May 2010, and cast John CusackJohn Cusack
John Paul Cusack is an American film actor and screenwriter. He has appeared in more than 50 films, including The Journey of Natty Gann, Say Anything..., Grosse Point Blank, The Thin Red Line, Stand by Me, Con Air, Being John Malkovich, High Fidelity, Serendipity, Runaway Jury, The Ice Harvest,...
for the lead, who has since been replaced by Liev Schrieber.
Anderson will direct The Living and the Dead, based on the novel of the same name by Robert Tinnell and Todd Livingston.
After working together on The Machinist
The Machinist
The Machinist is a 2004 English-language Spanish psychological thriller film directed by Brad Anderson and written by Scott Kosar....
, Anderson and Bale currently plan to collaborate again on an adaptation of J.G. Ballard's novel, Concrete Island
Concrete Island
Concrete Island is a 1974 English fiction novel by J. G. Ballard.- Plot introduction :A twisted adaptation of Robinson Crusoe, the story's protagonist, Robert Maitland, a wealthy architect, finds himself stranded in a manmade 'island' between the Westway and M4 Motorway in West London, forced to...
.
Filmography
- The Darien Gap (1996)
- Next Stop WonderlandNext Stop WonderlandNext Stop Wonderland is a 1998 romantic comedy film directed by Brad Anderson and written by Anderson and Lyn Vaus. * This film was an audience favorite at the Sundance Film Festival in 1998 and set off a bidding war among studio distributors, with Miramax Films paying $6 million for the $1 million...
(1998) - Happy AccidentsHappy AccidentsHappy Accidents is a 2000 American film starring Marisa Tomei and Vincent D'Onofrio. The movie revolves around Ruby Weaver, a New York woman with a string of failed relationships, and Sam Deed, a man who claims to be from the year 2470...
(2000) - Session 9Session 9Session 9 is a 2001 American psychological horror film directed by Brad Anderson. It stars David Caruso, Peter Mullan, Stephen Gevedon, Paul Guilfoyle, Josh Lucas, and Brendan Sexton III...
(2001) (also co-writer, with Stephen Gevedon) - The MachinistThe MachinistThe Machinist is a 2004 English-language Spanish psychological thriller film directed by Brad Anderson and written by Scott Kosar....
(2004) - TranssiberianTranssiberian (film)Transsiberian is a 2008 thriller directed by Brad Anderson, which premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and began its theatrical release on July 18, 2008 in New York City....
(2008) (also co-writer, with Will Conroy) - Vanishing on 7th StreetVanishing on 7th StreetVanishing on 7th Street is a 2011 American post-apocalyptic horror-thriller film directed by Brad Anderson and starring Hayden Christensen, Thandie Newton and John Leguizamo.-Plot:...
(2010) - Jack (2011)
Fringe
- FringeFringe (TV series)Fringe is an American science fiction television series created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The series follows a Federal Bureau of Investigation "Fringe Division" team based in Boston, Massachusetts under the supervision of Homeland Security...
(2011) TV Series (episode "And Those We've Left BehindAnd Those We've Left Behind"And Those We've Left Behind" is the sixth episode of the fourth season of the Fox science-fiction drama television series Fringe, and the series' 71st episode overall...
") - FringeFringe (TV series)Fringe is an American science fiction television series created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The series follows a Federal Bureau of Investigation "Fringe Division" team based in Boston, Massachusetts under the supervision of Homeland Security...
(2011) TV Series (episode "One Night in OctoberOne Night in October"One Night in October" is the second episode of the fourth season of the Fox science fiction drama television series Fringe, and the series' 67th episode overall.-Plot:...
") - FringeFringe (TV series)Fringe is an American science fiction television series created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The series follows a Federal Bureau of Investigation "Fringe Division" team based in Boston, Massachusetts under the supervision of Homeland Security...
(2011) TV Series (episode "OsOs (Fringe)"Os" is the 16th episode of the third season of the American science fiction drama television series Fringe, and the 59th episode overall. The episode centered around the Fringe team's investigation into a series of robberies of the element osmium, which they connect to a scientist who is able to...
") - FringeFringe (TV series)Fringe is an American science fiction television series created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The series follows a Federal Bureau of Investigation "Fringe Division" team based in Boston, Massachusetts under the supervision of Homeland Security...
(2011) TV Series (episode "ImmortalityImmortality (Fringe)"Immortality" is the 13th episode of the third season of the American science fiction drama television series Fringe, and the 56th episode overall.-Plot:...
") - FringeFringe (TV series)Fringe is an American science fiction television series created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The series follows a Federal Bureau of Investigation "Fringe Division" team based in Boston, Massachusetts under the supervision of Homeland Security...
(2010) TV Series (episode "EntradaEntrada (Fringe)"Entrada" is the eighth episode of the third season of the American science fiction drama television series Fringe, and the 51st episode overall. The third season spent much of its time alternating between the prime and parallel universes, and "Entrada" was the first of the season to have time...
") - FringeFringe (TV series)Fringe is an American science fiction television series created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The series follows a Federal Bureau of Investigation "Fringe Division" team based in Boston, Massachusetts under the supervision of Homeland Security...
(2010) TV Series (episode "The PlateauThe Plateau (Fringe)"The Plateau" is the third episode of the third season of the American science fiction drama television series Fringe, and the 46th episode overall...
") - FringeFringe (TV series)Fringe is an American science fiction television series created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The series follows a Federal Bureau of Investigation "Fringe Division" team based in Boston, Massachusetts under the supervision of Homeland Security...
(2010) TV Series (episode "Olivia. In the Lab. With the Revolver.Olivia. In the Lab. With the Revolver."Olivia. In the Lab. With the Revolver." is the 17th episode of the second season of the American science fiction drama television series Fringe, and the 37th episode overall. In terms of production, it is the season’s sixteenth episode, "Unearthed" being held over from the first season...
") - FringeFringe (TV series)Fringe is an American science fiction television series created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The series follows a Federal Bureau of Investigation "Fringe Division" team based in Boston, Massachusetts under the supervision of Homeland Security...
(2009) TV Series (episode "Night of Desirable ObjectsNight of Desirable Objects (Fringe)"Night of Desirable Objects" is the second episode of the second season of the American science fiction drama television series Fringe. The episode followed Olivia and Peter's investigation into mysterious disappearances taking place in a small Pennsylvania town.The episode was written by executive...
") - FringeFringe (TV series)Fringe is an American science fiction television series created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The series follows a Federal Bureau of Investigation "Fringe Division" team based in Boston, Massachusetts under the supervision of Homeland Security...
(2009) TV Series (episode "There's More Than One of EverythingThere's More Than One of Everything"There's More Than One of Everything" is the finale of the first season of the American science fiction drama television series Fringe. The finale followed David Robert Jones' attempts to open a doorway to the parallel universe, while the Fringe team tries to stop him.The episode's story was...
") - FringeFringe (TV series)Fringe is an American science fiction television series created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The series follows a Federal Bureau of Investigation "Fringe Division" team based in Boston, Massachusetts under the supervision of Homeland Security...
(2009) TV Series (episode "UnleashedUnleashed (Fringe)"Unleashed" is the 16th episode of the first season of the American science fiction drama television series Fringe. The episode was written by Zack Whedon and J. R. Orci, and directed by Brad Anderson. It centered around a man-made chimera, which escaped from an animal testing facility and attacked...
") - FringeFringe (TV series)Fringe is an American science fiction television series created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The series follows a Federal Bureau of Investigation "Fringe Division" team based in Boston, Massachusetts under the supervision of Homeland Security...
(2009) TV Series (episode "The TransformationThe Transformation"The Transformation" is the 13th episode of the first season of the American science fiction drama television series Fringe. The episode was written by Zack Whedon and J. R...
") - FringeFringe (TV series)Fringe is an American science fiction television series created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The series follows a Federal Bureau of Investigation "Fringe Division" team based in Boston, Massachusetts under the supervision of Homeland Security...
(2008) TV Series (episode "In Which We Meet Mr. JonesIn Which We Meet Mr. Jones"In Which We Meet Mr. Jones" is the seventh episode of the first season of the American science fiction drama television series Fringe. The episode was written by J. J. Abrams and Jeff Pinkner, and directed by Brad Anderson...
")
Other Work
- The Killing (2011) TV Series (episode "Orpheus Descending")
- TremeTreme (TV series)Treme is an American television drama series created by David Simon and Eric Overmyer that premiered on April 11, 2010 on HBO. It takes its name from Tremé, a neighborhood of New Orleans...
(2011) TV Series (episode "Carnival Time") - Boardwalk Empire (2010) TV Series (episode "Belle FemmeBelle Femme"Belle Femme" is the ninth episode of the first season of the HBO television series Boardwalk Empire, which originally aired 14 November 2010...
") - UndercoversUndercovers (TV series)Undercovers is an American action spy television series created by J. J. Abrams and Josh Reims for NBC. They were executive producers of the pilot along with Abrams' frequent collaborator Bryan Burk....
(2010) TV Series (episode "Assassin") - TremeTreme (TV series)Treme is an American television drama series created by David Simon and Eric Overmyer that premiered on April 11, 2010 on HBO. It takes its name from Tremé, a neighborhood of New Orleans...
(2010) TV Series (episode "Shallow Water, Oh Mama") - Fear ItselfFear Itself (TV series)Fear Itself was a horror/suspense anthology television series shot in the city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, with some additional shooting in the city of St. Albert and the town of Devon, Alberta. It began airing on June 5, 2008 on NBC....
(2008) TV Series (episode "Spooked") - Masters of HorrorMasters of HorrorMasters of Horror is an informal social group of international film writers and directors specializing in horror movies and an American television series created by director Mick Garris for the Showtime cable network.- Origin :...
(2006) TV Series (episode "Sounds Like") - The WireThe Wire (TV series)The Wire is an American television drama series set and produced in and around Baltimore, Maryland. Created and primarily written by author and former police reporter David Simon, the series was broadcast by the premium cable network HBO in the United States...
(2006) TV Series (episode "A New DayA New Day (The Wire episode)"A New Day" is the eleventh episode of the fourth season of the HBO original series The Wire. Written by Ed Burns from a story by David Simon & Ed Burns, and directed by Brad Anderson, it originally aired on November 26, 2006.-Title reference:...
") - The WireThe Wire (TV series)The Wire is an American television drama series set and produced in and around Baltimore, Maryland. Created and primarily written by author and former police reporter David Simon, the series was broadcast by the premium cable network HBO in the United States...
(2002) TV Series (episode "The CostThe Cost (The Wire episode)"The Cost" is the tenth episode of the first season of the HBO original series, The Wire. The episode was written by David Simon from a story by David Simon & Ed Burns and was directed by Brad Anderson. It originally aired on August 11, 2002....
") - The ShieldThe ShieldThe Shield is an American television drama series starring Michael Chiklis which premiered on March 12, 2002 on FX in the United States and concluded on November 25, 2008 after seven seasons...
(2002) TV Series (episode "Inferno") - Homicide: Life on the StreetHomicide: Life on the StreetHomicide: Life on the Street is an American police procedural television series chronicling the work of a fictional version of the Baltimore Homicide Unit. It ran for seven seasons on NBC from 1993 to 1999, and was succeeded by a TV movie, which also acted as the de-facto series finale...
(1993) TV Series (episode "Bones of Contention")