Roger Christian (filmmaker)

Last updated

Roger Christian
RogerChristianApr2011.jpg
Roger Christian (April 2011)
Born (1944-02-25) 25 February 1944 (age 80) [1]
London, England, United Kingdom
Occupation(s)Film director, production designer, set decorator
Years active1968–present
SpouseLina Dhingra
Website www.rogerjchristian.com at the Wayback Machine (archived 15 July 2011)

Roger John Christian (born 25 February 1944) [1] is an English set decorator, production designer and feature film director. He won an Academy Award for his work on the original Star Wars and was Oscar-nominated for his work on Alien . Christian directed the second unit on both Return of the Jedi [2] and Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace as well as feature films including The Sender and Nostradamus . He also directed the 2000 film Battlefield Earth .

Contents

Career

He began his career as an assistant art director on several UK productions including the Hammer Studios film And Soon the Darkness (1970). He won an Academy Award for set decoration on the science fiction classic Star Wars (1977). [3] (Christian claims to be the third crew member hired for the project.) [4] Two years later, Christian received his second Oscar nomination for his work as the production designer on Ridley Scott's Alien (1979). [5] Christian's use of aircraft scrap and other machinery to dress the set interiors of these films and creation of weapons using old working guns adapted by adding junk revolutionized the look of science fiction films. [4] [6] Christian maintained his working relationship with George Lucas over the years, having worked on Return of the Jedi (1983) and being the second unit director on Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999). He later briefly met with the Episode VII art department and Star Wars Rebels crew, although not in an official capacity. [7]

Christian began his directing career with the shorts Black Angel (1980) and the Oscar-winning The Dollar Bottom (1981). [8] [9] Black Angel, filmed at locations in Scotland, was mentored by George Lucas who tied the film as a programme with The Empire Strikes Back in UK, Australia, and Scandinavia. [10] The 25-minute film is a retelling of the hero's journey in classical mythology, and it influenced several major directors. [10] He made his feature film debut with the horror film The Sender (1982). Chosen as the opening film at the Avoriaz Film Festival, the film has become a cult classic. Quentin Tarantino has described The Sender as his favorite horror film of 1982. [11] Christian directed the music video "Election Day" by the band Arcadia in Paris, France in 1985. [12] His 1994 feature film Nostradamus , about the life of the famous French prophet, has received worldwide recognition. [10]

His biggest project to date was the big budget L. Ron Hubbard science fiction adaptation Battlefield Earth (2000) [13] starring John Travolta and Barry Pepper, which The Guardian considered a commercial and critical disaster, and as one of the "worst films ever made". [14] [15] [16] In 2009, NPR declared the film "the worst science fiction film of the decade". [17] Christian does not consider Battlefield Earth to be a "Scientology movie" as he intended it as a throwback to regular science fiction. [18] He also won the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director.

In 2006, he directed an action/adventure/mystery movie, Prisoners of the Sun , starring John Rhys-Davies, David Charvet, Carmen Chaplin, and Gulshan Grover. It was unreleased until 2014 when it had geographically limited release in Nordic countries.

Personal life

Christian is a Buddhist. He is an admirer of filmmakers Peter Jackson and Quentin Tarantino. [18] [19]

Filmography

Short film

YearTitleDirectorWriterProducer
1980 Black Angel YesYesYes
1981 The Dollar Bottom YesNoNo
2012Riddle of the Black CatNoNoYes

Feature film

YearTitleDirectorWriterNotes
1982 The Sender YesNo
1984 Starship YesYes
1994 Nostradamus YesStory
1995 The Final Cut YesNo
1996 Underworld YesNoAlso wrote lyrics for the song My Pop
1997 Masterminds YesNo
2000 Battlefield Earth YesNo
2004 American Daylight YesNo
Bandido YesNoAlso producer and production designer
2013 Stranded YesNo
Prisoners of the Sun YesNo
2016 Joseph & Mary YesNo
Bear Clan StationYesNo
2022Galaxy Built On HopeYesYesDocumentary film [20]

Music video

YearTitleArtist
1985"Election Day" Arcadia
1986"Fire on the Water" Chris de Burgh

Television

YearTitleDirectorWriterNotes
2013Dangerous IntuitionYesNoTV movie
TBAReplicants on AtlantiaYesYes

Other credits

Set dresser

Assistant art director

Art director

Set decorator

2nd unit director

Other

YearTitleRoleNotes
1968 Oliver! Art department assistantUncredited
1974 Mahler Associate art director
2013 13 Eerie Executive producer
2017 The Black Prince Consulting producer

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryTitleResultRef.
1978 Academy Awards Best Production Design Star Wars Won [21]
1980 Alien Nominated [22]
1981 BAFTA Awards Best Short Film The Dollar Bottom Nominated
1982 Avoriaz International Fantastic Film Festival Grand Prize The Sender Nominated
1987 Fantasporto International Fantasy Film Award for Best Film Starship Nominated
2001 Golden Raspberry Awards Worst Director Battlefield Earth Won

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quentin Tarantino</span> American filmmaker (born 1963)

Quentin Jerome Tarantino is an American filmmaker. His films are characterized by stylized violence, extended dialogue often with profanity, and references to popular culture.

<i>Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace</i> 1999 film by George Lucas

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace is a 1999 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas in his first directorial effort since 1977. The film stars Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd, Ahmed Best, Ian McDiarmid, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Pernilla August, and Frank Oz. It is the fourth film in the Star Wars film series, the first film of the prequel trilogy and the first chronological chapter of the "Skywalker Saga". Set 32 years before the original trilogy, during the era of the Galactic Republic, the plot follows Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi as they try to protect Queen Padmé Amidala of Naboo in hopes of securing a peaceful end to an interplanetary trade dispute. Joined by Anakin Skywalker—a young slave with unusually strong natural powers of the Force—they simultaneously contend with the mysterious return of the Sith. The film was produced by Lucasfilm and distributed by 20th Century Fox.

<i>Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones</i> 2002 film by George Lucas

Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones is a 2002 American epic space opera film directed by George Lucas and written by Lucas and Jonathan Hales. The sequel to The Phantom Menace (1999), it is the fifth film in the Star Wars film series and second chronological chapter of the "Skywalker Saga". The film stars Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, and Frank Oz.

<i>Pulp Fiction</i> 1994 crime film by Quentin Tarantino

Pulp Fiction is a 1994 American independent crime film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino from a story he conceived with Roger Avary. It tells four intertwining tales of crime and violence in Los Angeles, California. The film stars John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Tim Roth, Ving Rhames, and Uma Thurman. The title refers to the pulp magazines and hardboiled crime novels popular during the mid-20th century, known for their graphic violence and punchy dialogue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qui-Gon Jinn</span> Fictional character in the Star Wars universe

Qui-Gon Jinn is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise. He was introduced as a Jedi Master in the prequel film The Phantom Menace (1999), and is portrayed by Liam Neeson. He appears in the series Tales of the Jedi, and is featured as a Force spirit in the animated series The Clone Wars (2008) and the live-action miniseries Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022). Qui-Gon also appears in novels, comics and video games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yoda</span> Fictional character in the Star Wars universe

Yoda is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise. He is a small, green humanoid alien who is powerful with the Force. He first appeared in the 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back, in which he is voiced and puppeteered by Frank Oz, who reprised the role in Return of the Jedi (1983), the prequel trilogy, the sequel trilogy, and the animated series Star Wars Rebels. Other actors who voice Yoda are Tom Kane, Piotr Michael, John Lithgow, Tony Pope and Peter McConnell. In addition to films and television series, Yoda appears in comics, novels, video games and commercials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tatooine</span> Fictional planet in the Star Wars universe

Tatooine is a fictional desert planet that appears in the Star Wars franchise. It is a beige-colored, desolate world orbiting a pair of binary stars, and inhabited by human settlers and a variety of other life forms. The planet was first seen in the original 1977 film Star Wars, and has to date featured in a total of seven Star Wars theatrical films, three live-action television series, and four animated series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Avary</span> Canadian producer, screenwriter and director (born 1965)

Roger Roberts Avary is a Canadian-American film, television director, screenwriter and producer. He worked with Quentin Tarantino on Pulp Fiction, for which they won Best Original Screenplay at the 67th Academy Awards. Avary directed Killing Zoe, The Rules of Attraction, Lucky Day, and wrote the screenplays for Silent Hill and Beowulf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sandcrawler</span> Type of vehicle in the Star Wars universe

The sandcrawler is a fictional transport vehicle in the Star Wars universe that is found on the desert planet Tatooine. The vehicle, as it appears in its major appearances in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, is 37 meters long and 18 meters tall. Only a 27-meter length of its lower hull was constructed as a set for the film. Other appearances were simulated with matte paintings and a remote-controlled model.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Madsen</span> American actor

Michael Madsen is an American actor. Alongside his frequent collaborations with Quentin Tarantino—Reservoir Dogs (1992), Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004), The Hateful Eight (2015), and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)—he is known for his appearances in films, such as The Natural (1984), The Doors (1991), Thelma & Louise (1991), Free Willy (1993), Species (1995), Donnie Brasco (1997), Die Another Day (2002), Sin City (2005), and Scary Movie 4 (2006). He has played voice roles in various video games, including Grand Theft Auto III (2001), Narc (2005), the Dishonored series (2012–2017), and Crime Boss: Rockay City (2023). Madsen has five children, including actor Christian Madsen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Burtt</span> American sound designer (born 1948)

Benjamin Burtt Jr. is an American sound designer, film director, film editor, screenwriter, and voice actor. As a sound designer, his credits include the Star Wars and Indiana Jones film series, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), WALL-E (2008), and Star Trek (2009).

<i>Rogue Planet</i> (novel) 2000 novel by Greg Bear

Rogue Planet is a 2000 novel set in the Star Wars galaxy. It is a prequel novel occurring after the events of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. The book was written by Greg Bear. The cover art was by David Stevenson. The book takes place 29 years before Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.

<i>Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace</i> (video game) 1999 video game

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace is a 1999 action-adventure video game developed by Big Ape Productions and published by LucasArts for Windows and the PlayStation. An adaptation of the film of the same title, players take on the role of Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi and several other characters in a near-identical retelling of the film. Each playable character has a unique weapon and ability.

<i>Battlefield Earth</i> (film) 2000 film by Roger Christian

Battlefield Earth is a 2000 American science fiction film based on the 1982 novel of the same name by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. It was directed by Roger Christian and stars John Travolta, Barry Pepper, and Forest Whitaker. The film follows a rebellion against the alien Psychlos, who have ruled Earth for 1,000 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norman Reynolds</span> British production designer (1934–2023)

Norman Reynolds was a British production designer and art director, best known for his work on the original Star Wars trilogy and Raiders of the Lost Ark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darth Maul</span> Star Wars character

Darth Maul is a character in the Star Wars franchise created by George Lucas. He first appeared in the prequel film Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999). Maul returned in the animated television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels (2014–2018), as well as the standalone film Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018). Lucas had intended for Maul to feature in the sequel film trilogy, but these plans were discarded when Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jabba the Hutt</span> Character in Star Wars

Jabba the Hutt is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise. He is a large, slug-like crime lord of the Hutt species. Jabba first appeared in the 1983 film Return of the Jedi, in which he is portrayed by a one-ton puppet operated by several puppeteers. In 1997, he appeared in the Special Edition of the original Star Wars film, which had been retitled Star Wars: Episode IV—A New Hope. Jabba made his third film appearance in the 1999 prequel film The Phantom Menace. He is voiced by Larry Ward in Return of the Jedi and by Scott Schumann in A New Hope and The Phantom Menace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quentin Tarantino filmography</span>

Quentin Tarantino is an American film director, screenwriter and film producer who has directed ten films. He first began his career in the 1980s by directing and writing Love Birds In Bondage and writing, directing and starring in the black-and-white My Best Friend's Birthday, an amateur short film which was never officially released. He impersonated musician Elvis Presley in a small role in the sitcom The Golden Girls (1988), and briefly appeared in Eddie Presley (1992). As an independent filmmaker, he directed, wrote, and appeared in the violent crime thriller Reservoir Dogs (1992), which tells the story of six strangers brought together for a jewelry heist. Proving to be Tarantino's breakthrough film, it was named the greatest independent film of all time by Empire. Tarantino's screenplay for Tony Scott's True Romance (1993) was nominated for a Saturn Award. Also in 1993, he served as an executive producer for Killing Zoe and wrote two other films.

References

  1. 1 2 "Roger Christian". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. ↑ Revenge of the Jedi call sheet
  3. ↑ 1978|Oscars.org
  4. 1 2 Singer, Jeremy (4 May 2014). "The Man Who Literally Built 'Star Wars'". Esquire . Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  5. ↑ 1980|Oscars.org
  6. ↑ Martin Anderson (2 September 2009). "In praise of the sci-fi corridor". Den of Geek.
  7. ↑ Szostak, Phil (2015). The Art of 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'. Abrams Books. p. 124. ISBN   978-1-4197-1780-2.
  8. ↑ Short Film Winners: 1981 Oscars
  9. ↑ 1981|Oscars.org
  10. 1 2 3 Anderson, Martin (9 March 2010). "Exclusive interview: The worlds of Roger Christian". Shadowlocked. Archived from the original on 16 December 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
  11. ↑ Cole, Andrew (14 January 2008). "Every film mentioned by Edgar Wright and Quentin Tarantino in their Hot Fuzz commentary track". Tysto. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  12. ↑ Arcadia – Making of....Election Day Video on YouTube
  13. ↑ 25 MOVIES SO BAD THEY'RE UNMISSABLE < < Rotten Tomatoes
  14. ↑ Campbell, Duncan (31 May 2000). "Cult classic". Guardian Unlimited. Guardian Newspapers Limited. Retrieved 29 July 2006. [...] Battlefield Earth has opened to spectacularly bad notices, many of which have suggested that the film is the worst of the year, the decade, the millennium or whatever exotic time-frame the alien Psychlos recognise.
  15. ↑ Farache, Emily (18 October 2000). "Travolta Sets Sights on "Battlefield Earth 2"". E! Online . Retrieved 26 March 2007.
  16. ↑ Christian, Roger (4 June 2000). "How dare they call my film a turkey; The director of the new John Travolta epic defends himself against his many critics". The Observer. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
  17. ↑ Raz, Guy (27 December 2009). "Movies That Should Die with the Decade". All Things Considered. National Public Radio. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
  18. 1 2 Anderson, Martin (21 March 2012). "Roger Christian Talks Zombies, Prometheus & Battlefield Earth". Shadowlocked. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  19. ↑ 11. Academy award-winner Roger Christian on the making of Battlefield Earth , retrieved 6 May 2022
  20. ↑ "Galaxy Built On Hope". Galaxy Built On Hope. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  21. ↑ Star Wars Wins Art Direction: 1978 Oscars
  22. ↑ "All That Jazz" winning the Oscar® for Art Direction-Oscars on YouTube
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.