Jim Jarmusch
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Categories: American film directors | Columbia University alumni | People from Akron, Ohio | 1953 births | Living people
Jim Jarmusch (born January 22 1953 in Akron, Ohio) is a noted American independent film director.
BackgroundJarmusch obtained his B.A. from Columbia University. Before graduating from New York University's school of film, Jarmusch decided to drop out of the program and funnel his scholarship funds into his first feature. His advisor at the time, Thaddeus Sebena, helped to support the release. This resulted in his first film, Permanent Vacation, which introduced audiences to the deadpan style that he would later develop in Stranger Than Paradise and Down by Law. Jim had worked as a teaching assistant to American director Nicholas Ray while at NYU. Through Ray's efforts, Jarmusch became a production assistant on Wim Wenders' tribute to Ray, "Lightning Over Water" (1980) [1]. CareerJarmusch's first major release, Stranger Than Paradise, was released to much critical acclaim. Recounting a strange journey of three disillusioned youths from New York to Cleveland to Florida, the film broke many conventions of traditional Hollywood moviemaking, and to this day is still considered a landmark work in modern independent film.[2] In 1986, Jarmusch wrote and directed Down by Law, a film about three convicts in a New Orleans jailhouse. In 1995, Jarmusch released Dead Man, a film set in the American West in the 19th century starring Johnny Depp and Gary Farmer that has been called a Western movie, an "acid western," an "anti-Western," and a "post-Western" by various critics. The film has been hailed as one of the few films made by a Caucasian that presents an authentic Native American culture and character, and Jarmusch stands by it as such; however, critics have both praised and decried the film for its portrayal of the American West, violence, and especially Native Americans.[3] The film was shot in black and white by Robby Müller, and features a score composed and performed by Neil Young. Following artistic success and critical acclaim in the American independent film community, he achieved mainstream renown with his far-East philosophy-themed take on a crime film set in New York City, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, starring Forest Whitaker, which also featured a soundtrack by the Wu-Tang Clan's RZA. Coffee and CigarettesOne of his major projects is an ongoing series of short films called Coffee and Cigarettes. The original six-minute film appeared on Saturday Night Live in 1986, featuring filmmaker Roberto Benigni and comedian Steven Wright. Three years later, he released Coffee and Cigarettes: Memphis Version, with actor Steve Buscemi, which was eight minutes long. The next 12-minute installment was in 1993, Coffee and Cigarettes: Somewhere in California, featuring musicians Tom Waits and Iggy Pop. In 1993, Jarmusch said, "I've shot two more which are waiting to be edited, and I've scripted two or three more. Although the intention is for them to work separately as short films, I plan to shoot around 12 to 14 and put them together for a video release." [2]. These were released in 2004 as Coffee and Cigarettes. The movie consists of 11 installments (the 1986 Coffee and Cigarettes, Memphis Version and Somewhere in California being segments 1, 2 and 3), featuring, among others, Jack and Meg of The White Stripes, Cate Blanchett, RZA, GZA, Bill Murray, Steve Coogan and Alfred Molina. Sons of Lee MarvinJarmusch is the founder of The Sons of Lee Marvin, a humorous 'semi-secret society'. Members of the society reportedly include musician Tom Waits and actor John Lurie, both of whom have worked with Jarmusch on several occasions. Richard Bose, Nick Cave, Thurston Moore, Iggy Pop (who has also worked with Jarmusch), Josh Brolin and Neil Young are also rumored to be members. The entry criterion for the club is that the person must have some physical resemblance or plausibly look like a son of the actor Lee Marvin — as such, women are not allowed to join. Most current members also share what seems to be a beat mentality in that they represent and express the lives of the down and out. The club supposedly meets occasionally to watch Lee Marvin movies together. Its members perpetuate the joke in the media.
The real son of Lee Marvin is said to have objected to the existence of the organization when he encountered Waits in a bar.[4] MusicJarmusch was the keyboardist for the No-Wave band Del-Byzanteens, whose sole LP Lies to Live By was a minor underground hit in the US and Britain in 1982. Jarmusch is also featured on Think Differently Music: Wu-Tang Meets The Indie Culture quoting Bach and Yehudi Menuin. New filmJarmusch is currently set to start production in February 2008 on his new film, The Limits of Control. The film will star Isaach de Bankolé and be set in Spain. PersonalJarmusch divides his time between New York City and the Catskill Mountains of Upstate New York. Although Jarmusch does not frequently make public appearances, in early 2003 he signed the Not In My Name declaration (along with people such as Noam Chomsky and Susan Sarandon), opposing the invasion of Iraq. FilmographyDirector
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