George Huang (director)
Encyclopedia
George Huang is a Taiwanese-American film-maker. In addition to working on his own films, he also frequently contributes work to other independent film-makers
, especially Robert Rodríguez
.
ese immigrants
, George Huang grew up with an avid love of motion pictures. After high school, he attempted to move from his love of film into something tangible by enrolling in a producing program at the University of Southern California
. After graduating, he began working from the bottom-up as an aspiring executive assistant at Columbia Pictures
.
acquired the distribution rights to the film El Mariachi
by Robert Rodríguez
. As the film was being prepared for release, Rodriguez struck up a friendship with the young studio assistant with whom he shared a love of film. As Rodriguez, a native and resident of Austin, Texas
, had no L.A.
residence, he stayed at Huang's apartment.
Rodriguez -known for his money-saving/high-quality filmmaking
techniques- was amazed by Huang's blasé attitude toward the way his superiors spent millions and millions on the production of a single motion picture. Huang, believing his own original stories will never be told, shared some story ideas with Rodriguez who promptly told his new friend and room-mate that he needs to immediately quit his job and make his own films. Huang was understandably reluctant to this idea, but in January 1993, he resigned from his post at Columbia
.
Huang next began writing, and seeking financing for, a script loosely based on his experiences at Columbia
. Released in 1994, Huang's debut film, Swimming with Sharks
is a biting satire of Hollywood politics from the point-of-view of a studio underling. Although not a major box-office smash, the movie received critical acclaim.
Since then, Huang has gone on to do a lot of behind-the-scenes work with directorial turns on several short-lived television
series such as Significant Others, Live Through This
, and The Invisible Man
. He also directed the independent film
s Trojan War
(starring Jennifer Love Hewitt
) and How to Make a Monster
(which has become a cult favourite, starring Clea DuVall
as the only leading role).
Huang shot Elijah Wood
's audition tape that landed him the role of Frodo Baggins
in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
.
In 2005, comic book
creator Mike Allred announced that Huang was writing the screenplay
for the movie Madman, based on Allred's comic of the same name
. In February 2006, Allred announced that script was near completion and that he and Robert Rodríguez
hoped to begin co-directing before the end of the year.
Filmmaking
Filmmaking is the process of making a film, from an initial story, idea, or commission, through scriptwriting, casting, shooting, directing, editing, and screening the finished product before an audience that may result in a theatrical release or television program...
, especially Robert Rodríguez
Robert Rodriguez
Robert Anthony Rodríguez is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer, editor and musician. He shoots and produces many of his films in his native Texas and Mexico. He has directed such films as Desperado, From Dusk till Dawn, The Faculty, Spy Kids, Sin City, Planet...
.
Early life
The son of TaiwanTaiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
ese immigrants
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
, George Huang grew up with an avid love of motion pictures. After high school, he attempted to move from his love of film into something tangible by enrolling in a producing program at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. After graduating, he began working from the bottom-up as an aspiring executive assistant at Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
.
Career
In 1992, ColumbiaColumbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
acquired the distribution rights to the film El Mariachi
El Mariachi
El Mariachi is a 1992 Mexican-American action film that is the debut of writer/director Robert Rodriguez. The Spanish language film was shot in the northern Mexican bordertown of Ciudad Acuña with a mainly amateur cast...
by Robert Rodríguez
Robert Rodriguez
Robert Anthony Rodríguez is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer, editor and musician. He shoots and produces many of his films in his native Texas and Mexico. He has directed such films as Desperado, From Dusk till Dawn, The Faculty, Spy Kids, Sin City, Planet...
. As the film was being prepared for release, Rodriguez struck up a friendship with the young studio assistant with whom he shared a love of film. As Rodriguez, a native and resident of Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, had no L.A.
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
residence, he stayed at Huang's apartment.
Rodriguez -known for his money-saving/high-quality filmmaking
Filmmaking
Filmmaking is the process of making a film, from an initial story, idea, or commission, through scriptwriting, casting, shooting, directing, editing, and screening the finished product before an audience that may result in a theatrical release or television program...
techniques- was amazed by Huang's blasé attitude toward the way his superiors spent millions and millions on the production of a single motion picture. Huang, believing his own original stories will never be told, shared some story ideas with Rodriguez who promptly told his new friend and room-mate that he needs to immediately quit his job and make his own films. Huang was understandably reluctant to this idea, but in January 1993, he resigned from his post at Columbia
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
.
Huang next began writing, and seeking financing for, a script loosely based on his experiences at Columbia
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
. Released in 1994, Huang's debut film, Swimming with Sharks
Swimming with Sharks
Swimming With Sharks is a 1994 American comedy drama film, directed and written by George Huang.- Plot :...
is a biting satire of Hollywood politics from the point-of-view of a studio underling. Although not a major box-office smash, the movie received critical acclaim.
Since then, Huang has gone on to do a lot of behind-the-scenes work with directorial turns on several short-lived television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
series such as Significant Others, Live Through This
Live Through This (TV series)
Live Through This is a teen drama broadcast on MTV during the 2000–2001 season, though cancelled after only 13 episodes due to poor ratings. The hour-long drama plot involved a fictional '80s band entitled "The Jackson Decker Band" reuniting for one last comeback tour. Each episode featured...
, and The Invisible Man
The Invisible Man
The Invisible Man is a science fiction novella by H.G. Wells published in 1897. Wells' novel was originally serialised in Pearson's Weekly in 1897, and published as a novel the same year...
. He also directed the independent film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
s Trojan War
Trojan War (film)
Trojan War is a 1997 romantic comedy directed by George Huang. It stars Will Friedle, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Marley Shelton.-Plot:High school student Brad has had an unrequited crush on a classmate named Brooke for years. After she asks him to come over one night to tutor her, she ends up...
(starring Jennifer Love Hewitt
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Jennifer Love Hewitt is an American actress, producer, television director and former singer-songwriter. Hewitt began her acting career as a child by appearing in television commercials and the Disney Channel series Kids Incorporated...
) and How to Make a Monster
How to Make a Monster (2001 film)
How To Make A Monster is a 2001 film starring Clea DuVall, Steven Culp, Jason Marsden and Tyler Mane. It is the third release in the Creature Features series of film remakes produced by Stan Winston. Julie Strain made a cameo appearance in the film as herself. How To Make A Monster debuted on...
(which has become a cult favourite, starring Clea DuVall
Clea DuVall
Clea Helen D'Etienne DuVall is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Sofie on the television series Carnivàle as well as for films such as The Faculty , Girl, Interrupted and The Grudge .-Early life:DuVall was born in Los Angeles, California, the only child of Rosemary and...
as the only leading role).
Huang shot Elijah Wood
Elijah Wood
Elijah Jordan Wood is an American actor. He made his film debut with a minor part in Back to the Future Part II , then landed a succession of larger roles that made him a critically acclaimed child actor by age 9. He is best known for his high-profile role as Frodo Baggins in Peter Jackson's...
's audition tape that landed him the role of Frodo Baggins
Frodo Baggins
Frodo Baggins is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium.He is the main protagonist of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. He was a hobbit of the Shire who inherited Sauron's Ring from Bilbo Baggins and undertook the quest to destroy it in the fires of Mount Doom...
in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
The Lord of the Rings is an epic film trilogy consisting of three fantasy adventure films based on the three-volume book of the same name by English author J. R. R. Tolkien. The films are The Fellowship of the Ring , The Two Towers and The Return of the King .The films were directed by Peter...
.
In 2005, comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
creator Mike Allred announced that Huang was writing the screenplay
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
for the movie Madman, based on Allred's comic of the same name
Madman
Madman is a fictional character, a comic book superhero created by Mike Allred and most recently published by Image Comics. He first appeared in Creatures of the Id...
. In February 2006, Allred announced that script was near completion and that he and Robert Rodríguez
Robert Rodriguez
Robert Anthony Rodríguez is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer, editor and musician. He shoots and produces many of his films in his native Texas and Mexico. He has directed such films as Desperado, From Dusk till Dawn, The Faculty, Spy Kids, Sin City, Planet...
hoped to begin co-directing before the end of the year.
Filmography
- Locker 13Locker 13Locker 13 is a 2009 thriller directed by Bruce Dellis, George Huang, Jason Marsden, Matthew Mebane, Adam Montierth, Donovan Montierth, and Rick Schroder....
(director) - Swimming with SharksSwimming with SharksSwimming With Sharks is a 1994 American comedy drama film, directed and written by George Huang.- Plot :...
(writer/director) - Trojan WarTrojan War (film)Trojan War is a 1997 romantic comedy directed by George Huang. It stars Will Friedle, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Marley Shelton.-Plot:High school student Brad has had an unrequited crush on a classmate named Brooke for years. After she asks him to come over one night to tutor her, she ends up...
(director) - Significant Others television series (director)
- Live Through ThisLive Through This (TV series)Live Through This is a teen drama broadcast on MTV during the 2000–2001 season, though cancelled after only 13 episodes due to poor ratings. The hour-long drama plot involved a fictional '80s band entitled "The Jackson Decker Band" reuniting for one last comeback tour. Each episode featured...
television series (writer/director) - The Invisible ManThe Invisible ManThe Invisible Man is a science fiction novella by H.G. Wells published in 1897. Wells' novel was originally serialised in Pearson's Weekly in 1897, and published as a novel the same year...
television series (director; episode: "Germ Theory") - How to Make a MonsterHow to Make a Monster (2001 film)How To Make A Monster is a 2001 film starring Clea DuVall, Steven Culp, Jason Marsden and Tyler Mane. It is the third release in the Creature Features series of film remakes produced by Stan Winston. Julie Strain made a cameo appearance in the film as herself. How To Make A Monster debuted on...
(writer/director) - Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (creative consultant)
- SWATS.W.A.T. (film)S.W.A.T. is a 2003 action-crime film directed by Clark Johnson, and is based on the 1975 television series of the same name. It stars Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell, LL Cool J and Michelle Rodriguez. It was produced by Neal H...
(producer) - Madman (writer)