David Cronenberg Birthday March 15
David Cronenberg
David Paul Cronenberg, OC, FRSC (born March 15, 1943)is a Canadian filmmaker, screenwriter, and occasional actor. He is one of the principal originators of what is commonly known as the body horror or venereal horror genre. This style of filmmaking explores people’s fears of bodily transformation and infection. In his films, the psychological is typically intertwined with the physical. In the first half of his career, he explored these themes mostly through horror and science fiction, although his work has since expanded beyond these genres.
Trade Mark:
His films generally involve the horror caused by a mutation, by a parasite, or by particular medical conditions.
Uses dark backgrounds.
Films often include explicit carnage.
Frequent references to the Flesh or the New Flesh.
Frequently uses the music of Howard Shore.
Frequently casts Robert A. Silverman.
Movies about crime families.
Frequently casts Viggo Mortensen.
Trivia:
Costumes in his films are usually designed by his sister Denise Cronenberg.
Was set to direct Total Recall (1990). He even wrote a few drafts of the script before Paul Verhoeven took over.
Brother of costume designer Denise Cronenberg.
Father of Caitlin Cronenberg and Brandon Cronenberg.
Uncle of Aaron Woodley
Is of German / Dutch descent
John Carpenter paid homage to him in Escape from New York (1981). One of the United States Police Force guards is on the line with Hauk, then adds that Cronenberg is on the line for him. Another person paid homage to in the movie was George A. Romero, who had Isaac Hayes’s right-hand man named after him.
President of jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1999
Directed an episode of “Friday the 13th” (1987), The Services, called Faith Healer. 13 years later, he appeared in the Friday the 13th film (unreleated to the series), Jason X (2001).
Was offered the chance to direct Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) but he declined.
His crew referred to the final Brundlefly monster seen in the climax of The Fly (1986) as the Space Bug.
Father was a bookstore owner and sometime columnist for the Toronto Telegram. Mother was a piano rehearsal accompanist for the National Ballet.
Father died at age 61.
Deferred his own salary to make Spider (2002).
Father of Assistant Director Cassandra Cronenberg.
Cites Winter Kept Us Warm (1965) as his inspiration for becoming a filmmaker. It was screened at the University of Toronto when he was a student.
Has admired bugs and insects since childhood. This fascination has lingered on, and can be felt through many of his films.
At one point, Cronenberg was in line to direct the film “The Singing Detective” (2003), with Al Pacino in the lead.
Turned down the chance to direct “Top Gun” (1986).
Turned down the chance to direct RoboCop.
His regular cinematographer until 1988 was Mark Irwin until Dead Ringers (1988), on which Irwin was unable to work because of his commitment to The Blob (1988). Cronenberg then hired Peter Suschitzky, who became his regular cinematographer, and Cronenberg and Irwin have not worked together since then.
His father was a journalist and his mother played the piano. These roles are reversed in The Fly (1986), in which Jeff Goldblum plays the piano to impress Geena Davis, who plays a journalist.
Has often referred to The Brood (1979) as his own twisted version of Kramer vs. Kramer (1979).
