Neill Blomkamp
Neill Blomkamp | |
---|---|
Born | Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa | 17 September 1979
Nationality |
|
Alma mater | Vancouver Film School |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1996–present |
Spouse | Terri Tatchell |
Children | 1 |
Neill Blomkamp (Afrikaans: [ˈnil ˈblɔmkamp]; born 17 September 1979) is a South African and Canadian film director, screenwriter and producer. He is known as the co-writer and director of the science fiction action film District 9 (2009), for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and the director of the dystopian science fiction action film Elysium (2013), which garnered moderately positive reviews. He also directed the science fiction action film Chappie (2015) and the sports drama film Gran Turismo (2023).
Blomkamp employs a documentary-style,
.Time named Blomkamp as one of the 100 Most Influential People of 2009.[3] A 2011 article in Forbes named him as the 21st most powerful celebrity from Africa.[4]
Early life
Blomkamp was born in
Career
In the late 1990s, he started working in the film industry as a visual effects artist and 3D animator. His animation credits include
In 2003, he was hired to illustrate photo-realistic future aircraft for
Blomkamp was then slated to direct his first feature-length film, an adaptation of the Halo series of video games, produced by
Blomkamp has admitted since that the Halo pre-production was a nightmare, and relations between 20th Century Fox and Blomkamp severely disintegrated before the project's end.[8] When funding for the Halo film collapsed,[9] Peter Jackson decided to produce District 9 instead, an adaptation of Blomkamp's earlier short film Alive in Joburg, which had been produced by Hansen and Copley. The film, directed by Blomkamp, starring Copley, and co-written with Blomkamp's wife and production partner Terri Tatchell, was released in mid-August 2009 by TriStar Pictures to widespread critical acclaim and became a box office success, earning $210 million worldwide.[10] District 9 was later nominated for the 2010 Academy Award for Best Picture, along with nominations for Best Visual Effects, Editing, and Adapted Screenplay.
In October 2010, a video released on the
After
In early 2015, Blomkamp posted several pictures to his Instagram page that showed concept art for an Alien film he might have been working on.[17] Included in the art is Ripley and Hicks, a ship bearing resemblance to The Derelict from the 1979 Alien, and a concept Xenomorph.[18] In a February 2015 interview with Collider, he stated that he planned the Alien sequel with Sigourney Weaver in the lead role as Ellen Ripley.[19] On 18 February 2015, Blomkamp himself confirmed that the Alien film will be his next project.[20] In March 2015, he confirmed that he planned more than one sequel to the Alien franchise.[21] The project was shelved in October 2015, pending the outcome of Ridley Scott's second prequel installment, Alien: Covenant.[22] In January 2017, a fan on Twitter asked Blomkamp about the outlook of the film going into production, he responded by saying they were "slim".[2] On 1 May 2017, its title had been revealed to be Alien: Awakening. Ridley Scott confirmed Blomkamp's film had been officially canceled.[23] Fans of the franchise started a petition to help save Blomkamp's cancelled film.[24] There have been no further developments since, as of February 2024.
In November 2015, it was announced that Blomkamp would be working on adapting the forthcoming Tom Sweterlitsch novel The Gone World, described as a "sci-fi time travel" concept, but the film was either subsequently scrapped or stuck in "development hell," with production never going forward.[25][26]
In 2017, Blomkamp announced the creation of his own film production company, Oats Studios, and confirmed a series of experimental short films and other content titled Oats Studios Volume 1 to be released via Steam. The films will also be available for free streaming on YouTube. These films are distributed to gauge interest in a certain theme, with the intention to expand them into a feature film if deemed viable. The first short, an alien invasion-themed film co-written with Sweterlitsch, is titled Rakka.[27]
In July 2018, Blomkamp announced that he would be directing a new entry in the
In December 2020, it was revealed that Blomkamp had secretly shot a supernatural horror film, Demonic, in British Columbia during the summer of 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.[32]
In August 2021, it was confirmed that the sequel to District 9 was in the works but that the script was still under development. In 2022, it was announced that he would direct the sports film Gran Turismo based on the video game series and the true story of Jann Mardenborough, a teenage Gran Turismo player that later would become an actual racing driver.[33]
Personal life
Blomkamp is a
Filmography
Feature films
Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer |
---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | District 9 | Yes | Yes | No |
2013 | Elysium | Yes | Yes | Yes |
2015 | Chappie | Yes | Yes | Yes |
2021 | Demonic | Yes | Yes | Yes |
2023 | Gran Turismo | Yes | No | No |
Commercials
Year | Title | Brand |
---|---|---|
2003 | Crab | Nike |
2004 | Alive with technology | Citroën C4 |
2006 | Rain | Gatorade |
Short films
Year | Title | Director | Writer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2004 | Tetra Vaal | Yes | No | Also editor and producer |
2005 | Alive in Joburg
|
Yes | Uncredited | Also visual effects |
2006 | Tempbot | Yes | No | |
Yellow | Yes | No | Also visual effects | |
2007 | Halo: Landfall | Yes | No | |
2016 | The Escape | Yes | No | |
2017 | Rakka | Yes | Yes | |
Firebase | Yes | Yes | ||
God: Serengeti | Yes | Yes | ||
God: City | Yes | Yes | ||
Cooking with Bill: Damasu 950 | Yes | No | Also producer | |
Cooking with Bill: Sushi | Yes | Yes | ||
Cooking with Bill: PrestoVeg | Yes | No | ||
Cooking with Bill: Smoothie | Yes | No | ||
Zygote | Yes | Yes | ||
Kapture: Fluke | Yes | Yes | ||
ADAM: The Mirror | Yes | Yes | ||
Praetoria | Yes | Yes | ||
Gdansk | Yes | Yes | ||
Lima | Yes | Yes | ||
2022 | Off the Grid - Switcher Part 1 | Yes | No |
Other roles
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | Stargate SG-1 | 3D animator | |
First Wave | |||
Mercy Point | |||
1999 | Aftershock: Earthquake in New York | Uncredited | |
2000 | Dark Angel
|
Lead animator | |
2001 | 3000 Miles to Graceland | Lead 3D animator | |
2008 | Crossing the Line | Additional director | |
TBA | Ash | Executive producer |
Recognition
- 2004, Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival- "Saatchi & Saatchi New Directors Showcase"
- 2004, First Boards Awards - "One of the top five directors to watch"
- 2004, Shark Awards (shortlisted)
- 2005, VES awards"Outstanding VFX in a commercial" for Citroën - Alive with technology
- 2008, Cannes Lions 2008 - Film Lions- Grand Prix - Halo: Combat
- 2009, Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay - District 9
- 2009, Nominated - Satellite Award for Best Director & Satellite Award for Best Adapted Screenplay - District 9
- 2009, Won - Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America - District 9[37]
- 2010, Nominated - Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, Nominated - Academy Award for Best Picture 2009 - District 9 (written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell)
Reception
Critical, public, and commercial reception to films Blomkamp has directed:
Film | Rotten Tomatoes[38] | Metacritic[39] | CinemaScore[40] | Budget | Box office[41][failed verification] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
District 9 | 90% | 81 | B | $30 million | $210.8 million |
Elysium | 65% | 61 | B | $115 million | $286.1 million |
Chappie | 32% | 41 | B | $49 million | $102.1 million |
Demonic | 15% | 34 | — | $1.5 million | $136,069 |
Gran Turismo | 65% | 48 | A | $60 million | $117.6 million |
References
- ^ a b "Why 'Robocop' and Neill Blomkamp Need Each Other". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- ^ a b Miska, Brad (23 January 2017). "There's a "Slim Chance" We'll See Neill Blomkamp's 'Alien 5'". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- ^ "Neill Blomkamp". MovieMaker. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- ^ Nsehe, Mfonobong. "The 40 Most Powerful Celebrities in Africa". Forbes. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- YouTube
- ^ Lee, Chris (2 August 2009). "Neill Blomkamp's 'District 9' wins over fanboys and Peter Jackson". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Trevor Cawood". Ad Age. 19 November 2007. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
- ^ Brake, David (21 April 2013). "Best Films Never Made: Neill Blomkamp's Halo". One Room with a View.
- ^ Baillie, Russell (18 July 2009). "Jackson's new sci-fi film a return to his origins". The New Zealand Herald.
- ^ "'District 9' director is no neophyte in an alien land". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 16 August 2009.
- ^ Wallace, Lewis (23 November 2010). "Video: Neill Blomkamp Takes a Stab at Something Creepy (and Cryptic)". Wired.
- ^ "IS IT DEAD?". YouTube.com. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021.
- ^ Vejvoda, Jim (10 April 2013). "Elysium's Neill Blomkamp Would Still Love to Make a Halo Movie". IGN.
- ^ "Neill Blomkamp on his next sci-fi film, Chappie". denofgeek.com. 11 June 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- ^ "Neill Blomkamp Talks Chappie". empireonline.com. 14 July 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- ^ "Sony, MRC Reunite With Neill Blomkamp on 'Chappie'". variety.com. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
- ^ "Neill Blomkamp's 'Alien' Still "May Happen"!". variety.com. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
- ^ "Neill Blomkamp's Alien Sequel Closer to Getting Made". variety.com. 11 February 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
- ^ "Neill Blomkamp Wants to Direct a New ALIEN Movie and "It May Happen"". variety.com. 11 February 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
- ^ "Um... So I think it's officially my next film. #alien". variety.com. 18 February 2015. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
- ^ "Neill Blomkamp Looking to Make More Than One Alien". DC. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
- ^ Vejvoda, Jim (29 October 2015). "Director Neill Blomkamp Reveals Alien 5 on Hold". IGN. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
- ^ Stolworthy, Jacob (2 May 2017). "Alien 5 is doomed as the crew of the Nostromo". Independent. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ "The Future of Alien and/versus Predator - ComicBookRumors". ComicBookRumors. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2018.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Neill Blomkamp already has his next project lined up". The A.V. Club. 12 November 2015.
- ^ "Neill Blomkamp's FOUR Unmade Movies & Why They Didn't Happen". 20 August 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ "District 9 director Neill Blomkamp on why he's starting his own movie studio". The Verge. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (11 July 2018). "Neill Blomkamp To Direct New 'RoboCop' For MGM; Justin Rhodes Rewriting Sequel Script By Creators Ed Neumeier & Michael Miner". Deadline. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- ^ "RoboCop is coming back (again), this time from District 9 director Neill Blomkamp". The Verge. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- ^ Dessem, Matthew. "It Gives Me Great Pleasure to Introduce You to the Future of RoboCop Movies". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- CinemaBlend. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ Ankers, Adele (9 December 2020). "Neill Blomkamp Made a Top Secret Horror Movie During the COVID-19 Pandemic". IGN. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- ^ Davids, Brian (17 August 2021). "Neill Blomkamp on 'Demonic' and the "Stripped-Down," "Bare Bones" 'District 10'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
- ^ Meyer, Joshua (27 August 2022). "The Long Wait For Neill Blomkamp's District 10 Will Be Even Longer To 'Time It Right'". /Film. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ Furminger, Sabrina (5 March 2015). "Chappie screenwriter Terri Tatchell a natural born storyteller". Vancouver Is Awesome. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- tor.com. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ Standlee, Kevin (15 May 2010). "Nebula Awards Results". Science Fiction Awards Watch. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
- ^ "Neill Blomkamp". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ "Neill Blomkamp". Metacritic. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
- ^ "CinemaScore". cinemascore.com. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
- Amazon.com. Retrieved 8 April 2015.