David Fincher
David Fincher is an American film director renowned for his mastery in crafting psychological thrillers and dramas. Born on August 28, 1962, in Denver, Colorado, Fincher grew up in the San Francisco Bay area, where he developed an early passion for filmmaking by experimenting with an 8mm camera. He began his career in the film industry working at Industrial Light & Magic and transitioned into directing commercials and music videos, gaining recognition for his work with artists like Madonna and the Rolling Stones.
Fincher made his feature film debut with "Alien 3" in 1992, but it was his subsequent films, such as "Seven" (1995), "Fight Club" (1999), and "The Social Network" (2010), that established him as a prominent director. Known for his unique visual styles and exploration of dark themes, his films have garnered critical acclaim and several award nominations, including two Academy Award nominations for Best Director. In addition to his film work, Fincher has directed acclaimed television series, including "House of Cards" and "Mindhunter." As of 2023, he continues to develop projects with Netflix, showcasing his enduring impact on the film and television landscape.
David Fincher
Film director
- Born: August 28, 1962
- Place of Birth: Place of birth: Denver, Colorado
Significance:David Fincher is an American film director who is best known for working on psychological thrillers and dramas. His work has been nominated for several awards, and the director himself received two Academy Award nominations.
Background
David Fincher was born on August 28, 1962, in Denver, Colorado, son of Howard Kelly (Jack) and Claire Fincher. His father worked for Life magazine, and his mother worked in mental health care. In the early 1970s, the family moved to the San Francisco Bay area. Filmmaker George Lucas of Star Wars fame was the family's neighbor, and Fincher and his friends grew up immersed in the heart of the film industry. Fincher asked his parents for an 8mm camera when he was eight years old. It was around this time that he decided he wanted to be a director. He made short films set to music. After high school, he decided to forgo film school and instead worked on some film sets, learning about the different jobs of every crew member. Fincher then worked at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) on films such as Return of the Jedi (1983) and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984).
After working at ILM, Fincher directed a controversial commercial for the American Cancer Society about the dangers of smoking while pregnant, for which he received notice. This led to a lucrative career directing television commercials and music videos that lasted into the 1990s. He worked with musical stars such as Michael Jackson, Sting, the Rolling Stones, and a Perfect Circle. Fincher became known for Madonna's videos for "Vogue" and "Express Yourself." He received a Grammy Award for the Rolling Stones' video for "Love Is Strong."
Work in Film
Fincher directed his first feature film, Alien 3, in 1992 with a budget of $60 million—the largest ever given to a novice director at the time. The third film of the Alienfranchise is much darker than the previous installments. Fincher used techniques that would come to define his work throughout his career: the use of distinct color palettes and different camera angles and views. The film was a failure with viewers and critics, but this did not deter Fincher.
His next film, however, would change people's opinions. Seven (1995) is a psychological thriller about two detectives (played by Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman) trying to locate a serial killer who is murdering people according to the seven deadly sins. Unlike his debut, the film was a huge success and well received by fans and critics.
The Game (1997), which starred Michael Douglas participating in a fight for his life that turns out to be a botched birthday gift, was Fincher's next film. His 1999 film Fight Club, which was based on a novel by Chuck Palahniuk, became another cult hit for the director. The film, which starred Ed Norton and Brad Pitt, is about a club in which members fight each other to get out their frustrations from life. Fincher then directed Panic Room (2002) about a woman (Jodie Foster) who takes refuge in a specially built room to escape a group who has broken into her house. Fincher also produced films and directed commercials. After Panic Room, he worked on four digital commercials, including one for Hewlett-Packard.
In 2007, Fincher directed another dark psychological thriller, Zodiac, which follows a real-life serial killer known as the Zodiac Killer (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) who terrorized the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1960s. He changed gears for the drama The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), which is about a boy who ages backward. Actor Brad Pitt played Benjamin Button, and Fincher used digital technology to superimpose the actor's head onto images of other actors' bodies in making the film. The movie was critically acclaimed and won several awards; it netted Fincher an Oscar nod for directing.
The Social Network (2010) is about the controversy surrounding the founding of social media site Facebook by Mark Zuckerberg. The director received his second Academy Award nomination in directing for this film. Fincher adapted two novels for his next works, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) and Gone Girl (2014).
On the small screen, Fincher directed and served as executive producer on several episodes of the Netflix series House of Cards, a dark political thriller starring Kevin Spacey. He then worked with Charlize Theron on his next effort, Mindhunter, a Netflix series about two FBI agents who interview convicted serial killers in an effort to solve other cases. The series was based on the book Mind Hunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit.
Fincher produced and directed numerous works during the late 2010s and early 2020s. His television series Mindhunter officially debuted on Netflix in 2017. The series aired for two seasons and was indefinitely put on hold in 2020. It was later announced that the series would end with the second season. Fincher's adaptation of the graphic novel The Killer premiered on Netflix in 2023. That same year, Fincher announced that he had extended his contract with Netflix through 2027. As of 2024, he was working on several projects for Netflix, including Squid Game: America, Chinatown, and Bitterroot. During the same year, Fincher was working on Rope, a remake of Alfred Hitchcock's 1948 film.
Impact
Fincher is an eclectic director who would rather see his vision on the big and small screens realized than receive attention and praise from Hollywood. He has an ability to use visual cues such as color and camera angles to tell a story. His work, which focuses on dark and deep themes rather than romance and comedy, has received much attention from fans and critics alike, with some of his films attaining cult status.
Personal Life
Fincher married Donya Fiorentino in 1990 and later divorced. The couple had a daughter, Phelix Imogen Fincher, in 1994. He later married producer Ceán Chaffin. Fincher's father died of cancer in 2003.
Bibliography
Andreeva, Nellie, and Ali Jaafar. "Netflix Sets 'Mindhunter' Drama Series from David Fincher & Charlize Theron." Deadline. Penske Business Media, LLC. 22 Dec. 2015. Web. 4 May 2016.
Chan, Ashton. "David Fincher: The Best Director of Our Time?" Huffington Post. HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. 1 Feb. 2016. Web. 4 May 2016.
Mockenhaupt, Brian. "The Curious Case of David Fincher." Esquire. Hearst Communications, Inc. 1 Mar. 2007. Web. 4 May 2016.
Pavlus, John. "Why David Fincher Is the Best Design Thinker in Hollywood." Fast Company. Mansueto Ventures, LLC. 28 Feb. 2011. Web. 4 May 2016.
Rebello, Stephen. "Playboy Interview: David Fincher." Playboy. Playboy Enterprises.
16 Sept. 2014. Web. 4 May 2016.
Ruimy, Jordan. "David Fincher's Netflix Contract Extended for Three More Years." World of Reel, 22 Jan. 2024, www.worldofreel.com/blog/2024/1/22/6y8rvqj6zigb5w7fobffwxg8w5fun1. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.