John Carpenter biography
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John Carpenter filmography

[h3]As a child, Carpenter became fascinated with 1950s science fiction and horror films, such as 'Forbidden Planet', as well as the classic Westerns of John Ford and Howard Hawks; he began shooting his own 8mm films in his spare time.[/h3]

After graduating from high school, Carpenter attended the University of Southern California to study filmmaking. There, he co-wrote a student film called 'The Resurrection of Bronco Billy' which, in 1971, won an Oscar for Best Live Action Short.

Carpenter, with friend Dan O'Bannon, began work on a sci-fi parody called 'Dark Star'. Over time, Carpenter expanded the student short to feature length, at a cost of sixty thousand dollars. The film received positive reviews when it was released theatrically in 1974, but it opened few doors commercially.

His next project was the low-budget thriller 'Assault on Precinct 13'. While the film wasn't a hit, it caught the attention of critics in the UK, where it was enthusiastically received at the London Film Festival.

Carpenter was then recruited to make 'Halloween'. Shot on a budget of three hundred and twenty five thousand dollars, 'Halloween' became a roaring commercial success, over time grossing more than eighteen million dollars and, for many years, holding the record for the biggest box-office gross for an independently released film.

He also directed a pair of movies for television, including the critically acclaimed [urlnew=http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_home/116:0/Elvis_Presley.htm]'Elvis'[/urlnew], which marked his first collaboration with actor [urlnew=http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_home/635:0/Kurt_Vogel_Russell.htm]Kurt Russell[/urlnew].

In 1979, Carpenter married actress Adrienne Barbeau. The couple had a son, Cody, in 1984, before the marriage ended shortly after.

In 1981, he reluctantly made 'Halloween II', but he was more enthusiastic about 'Escape From New York', a clever fusion of science fiction and action-adventure.

Carpenter enjoyed further success with a remake of 'The Thing', the [urlnew=http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_home/449:0/Stephen_King.htm]Stephen King[/urlnew] adaptation 'Christine', and 'Starman'. His critical success was not mirrored in his personal life, however, and he and Barbeau were divorced.

After a disappointing reception for 'Big Trouble in Little China', Carpenter deliberately scaled back his projects. He preferred to make smaller films over which he could maintain greater control, such as 'They Live' and 'In the Mouth of Madness'.

Carpenter also composed (and occasionally performed) the music for most of his films, as well as those of others.

In 1990, Carpenter married producer Sandy King. King actually produced a number of Carpenter's later feature films, including: They Live, In the Mouth of Madness, Ghosts of Mars and Escape from L.A.
John Carpenter biography



- He is sometimes credited as Frank Armitage, Johnny Carpenter, James T. Chance, John T. Chance, Rip Haight and Martin Quatermass.

- Though many people die in his films, it is very rare he will show any gore.

- John likes to name his characters after real people.

- His favourite actors to work with are Sam Neil, Kurt Russell and Peter Jason.

- John has made a cameo appearance in many of his films.

- His son, Cody, was born in 1984.

- He was paid $10,000 for filming 'Halloween'.
John Carpenter biography



[b]DIRECTOR:[/b]

Ghosts of Mars (2001)

Vampires (1998)

Escape from L.A. (1996)

Village of the Damned (1995)

In the Mouth of Madness (1995)

Body Bags (1993) (TV)

Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992)

They Live (1988)

Prince of Darkness (1987)

Big Trouble in Little China (1986)

Starman (1984)

Christine (1983)

Thing, The (1982)

Escape from New York (1981)

Fog, The (1980)

Elvis (1979)

Someone's Watching Me! (1978)

Halloween (1978)

Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)

Dark Star (1974)

Gorgon, the Space Monster (1969)

Gorgo Versus Godzilla (1969)

Sorceror from Outer Space (1969)

Warrior and the Demon (1969)

Terror from Space (1963)

Revenge of the Colossal Beasts (1962)

[b]WRITER:[/b]

Halloween 9 (2004)

Halloween: Resurrection (2002)

Ghosts of Mars (2001)

Silent Predators (1999)

Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)

Escape from L.A. (1996)Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers
(1995)

Blood River (1991)

El Diablo (1990)

Halloween 5 (1989)

They Live (1988)

Prince of Darkness (1987)

Black Moon Rising (1986)

Halloween II (1981)

Escape from New York (1981)

Fog, The (1980)

Someone's Watching Me! (1978) (TV)

Halloween (1978)

Zuma Beach (1978) (TV)

Eyes of Laura Mars (1978) (also story)

Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)

Dark Star (1974)

Resurrection of Broncho Billy, The (1970)
John Carpenter biography



[b]COMPOSED MUSIC FOR THE FOLLOWING:[/b]

Halloween 9 (2004) (theme)

76th Annual Academy Awards, The (2004) (TV) (from "Halloween")

Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest (2003) (TV) (from 'Halloween')

Tales From the Mist: Inside 'The Fog' (2002) (V)

Thriller (2002) (from "Halloween Theme")

Halloween: Resurrected (2002) (V) (theme) (uncredited)

Halloween: Resurrection (2002) (theme)

Red Desert Nights: Making 'Ghosts of Mars' (2001) (V)

Scoring Ghosts of Mars (2001) (V)

Ghosts of Mars (2001)

'Halloween' Unmasked 2000 (1999) (V)

Sentinel Returns (1998) (VG)

Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998) (theme)

Vampires (1998)

Escape from L.A. (1996)

Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995) ("Halloween" theme)

Village of the Damned (1995)

In the Mouth of Madness (1995)

"Bassie en Adriaan en de reis vol verrassingen" (1994) TV Series
(theme from "Halloween")

Body Bags (1993) (TV)

Halloween 5 (1989) ("Halloween" theme)

They Live (1988)

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) ("Halloween"
theme)

Prince of Darkness (1987)

Big Trouble in Little China (1986)

Halloween (1983) (VG) ("Halloween" theme)

Christine (1983)

Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)

Halloween II (1981)

Escape from New York (1981)

Fog, The (1980)

Halloween (1978)

Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)

Dark Star (1974)

Resurrection of Broncho Billy, The (1970)
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