Jonathan Demme biography
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Jonathan Demme filmography

[h3]Demme's mother was an actress, and his father worked in public relations. He hoped to become a veterinarian, but changed his mind at college and applied for a position as film critic at the university's newspaper.[/h3]

After finishing college, Demme continued as a film critic for a small paper in Coral Gables, until his father introduced him to flamboyant producer, Joseph E. Levine. Levine was impressed with the young man's writing and, after a stint in the military, Demme was given a job as a publicist in the producer's organisation.

Over the next several years, Demme worked for several film companies, and continued to write about film and music.

While in London in 1970, he was recommended to Roger Corman, the independent producer/director, who soon gave Demme the opportunity to write a motorcycle picture for him. Demme teamed up with friend, Joe Viola, to turn the premise of Rashomon into a biker film, 'Angels Hard As They Come'.

After several more films for Corman, Demme was hired to direct the [urlnew=http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_home/286:0/Alfred_Hitchcock.htm]Hitchcockian[/urlnew] thriller 'Last Embrace', and, in 1980, he landed 'Melvin and Howard'. While the film was only a modest commercial success, the New York Film Critics Circle named it the Best Film of 1980.

He then worked on 'Swing Shift', with [urlnew=http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_home/516:0/Goldie_Hawn.htm]Goldie Hawn[/urlnew], but they disagreed about the political focus of the project and he left.

The director's next movie was a concert film documenting the rock band Talking Heads. 'Stop Making Sense' was both a massive critical success and a surprise commercial hit, and he later directed music videos for artists such as [urlnew=http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_home/1375:0/Neil_Young.htm]Neil Young[/urlnew], and [urlnew=http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_home/831:0/Bruce_Springsteen.htm]Bruce Springsteen[/urlnew].

It was 1991's 'The Silence of the Lambs' that propelled Demme into the first rank of American filmmakers, earning him an Oscar for Best Director. Demme followed this success with the AIDS-related drama, 'Philadelphia', another blockbuster, and an adaptation of Toni Morrison's novel, 'Beloved'.

A political activist and collector of Haitian art, he has been married twice, first to director/producer Evelyn Purcell and later artist Joanne Howard.
Jonathan Demme biography




Jonathan Demme biography



[b]Director:[/b]

Dancing with Shiva (2008) (post-production)

Jimmy Carter Man from Plains (2007)

"Right to Return: New Home Movies from the Lower 9th Ward" (2007) (mini) TV mini-series

Neil Young: Heart of Gold (2006)

The Manchurian Candidate (2004)

The Agronomist (2003)

The Truth About Charlie (2002)

Bruce Springsteen: The Complete Video Anthology 1978-2000 (2001) (V)

The Pretenders: Greatest Hits (2000) (V) (video "I Got You Babe")

Beloved (1998/I)

Storefront Hitchcock (1998)

SUBWAYStories: Tales from the Underground (1997) (TV)
(segment "Subway Car from Hell")

Murder Incorporated (1995)

The Complex Sessions (1994)

Philadelphia (1993)

Cousin Bobby (1992)

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

New Order: Substance (1989) (V) (video "The perfect kiss")

Married to the Mob (1988)

Haiti Dreams of Democracy (1988) (TV)

Famous All Over Town (1988)

"Trying Times" (1 episode, 1987)

Swimming to Cambodia (1987)

Something Wild (1986)

Survival Guide (1985) (TV)

Stop Making Sense (1984)

Swing Shift (1984)

"Alive from Off Center" (1984) TV series (unknown episodes)

Who Am I This Time? (1982) (TV)

"Saturday Night Live" (1 episode, 1980)

Melvin and Howard (1980)

Last Embrace (1979)

Columbo: Murder Under Glass (1978) (TV)

Handle with Care (1977)

Fighting Mad (1976)

Crazy Mama (1975)

Caged Heat (1974)

[b]Producer:[/b]

Kiss the Bride (2009) (announced) (producer)

Jimmy Carter Man from Plains (2007) (producer)

"Right to Return: New Home Movies from the Lower 9th Ward" (2007) (mini) TV mini-series (producer)

Neil Young: Heart of Gold (2006) (producer)

The Manchurian Candidate (2004) (producer)

The Agronomist (2003) (producer)

Beah: A Black Woman Speaks (2003) (producer)

Adaptation. (2002) (producer)

The Truth About Charlie (2002) (producer)

Maangamizi: The Ancient One (2001) (executive producer)

The Opportunists (2000) (executive producer)

Beloved (1998/I) (producer)

The Uttmost (1998) (producer)

Shadrach (1998) (executive producer)

SUBWAYStories: Tales from the Underground (1997) (TV) (executive
producer)

Mandela (1996) (producer)

That Thing You Do! (1996) (producer)

Courage and Pain (1996) (producer)

Into the Rope (1996) (producer)

Devil in a Blue Dress (1995) (executive producer)

Roy Cohn/Jack Smith (1994) (executive producer)

One Foot on a Banana Peel, the Other Foot in the Grave: Secrets
from the Dolly Madison Room (1994) (producer)

Philadelphia (1993) (producer)

Household Saints (1993) (executive producer)

Amos & Andrew (1993) (executive producer) (uncredited)

Women & Men 2: In Love There Are No Rules (1991) (TV)
(producer)

Miami Blues (1990) (producer)

Haiti Dreams of Democracy (1988) (TV) (producer)

Something Wild (1986) (producer)

The Hot Box (1972) (producer)

Angels Hard as They Come (1971) (producer)
Jonathan Demme biography




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