Mike Flanagan (director)
| Mike Flanagan | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1978 (age 36–37)[1] Salem, Massachusetts, US[1] |
| Occupation | film director |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Known for | Before I Wake, Oculus, Absentia |
Mike Flanagan is an American director, screenwriter, and editor. He is known for the horror films Before I Wake, Oculus and Absentia.
Early life
Flanagan was born in 1978 in Salem, Massachusetts. His father was in the United States Coast Guard, and the family moved around often. Although he only briefly lived in Salem, it left an impression on him, and Flanagan would retain an abiding interest in both the Salem witch trials and associated topics, such as ghost stories and horror fiction. Flanagan eventually ended up in Maryland, where he attended Towson University,[1] and where he graduated with a BA in Electronic Media & Film, with a minor in Theater.[2]
Career
Flanagan's student films were more oriented toward melodrama. He later characterized them as "unfit for public consumption" but said that they were "incredible learning experiences".[1] His first film directed after graduation, Ghosts of Hamilton Street (2003), was filmed in Maryland and featured local actors,[3] including Scott Graham, whom Flanagan met at Towson. Graham would go on to star in Flanagan's 2006 short film, Oculus: Chapter 3 – The Man with the Plan, which he made for $1500.[2] Flanagan originally intended for the Oculus story to be told in a series of short films, but he could not find the financing. Instead, he shot the chapter that included a back story and used that to demonstrate that he could direct a horror film. The short proved popular at film festivals, and producers were interested in developing the concept; however, they either wanted to shoot it as a found footage film or rejected Flanagan's stipulation that he direct the feature-length adaptation. Flanagan directed Absentia (2011), which was financed through a Kickstarter campaign, in response to this rejection.[1] Made for $70,000, Absentia was released direct-to-video but become popular when Netflix offered it on their streaming service.[4] After the surprise success of Absentia, Flanagan returned to Oculus, which he again shopped around. Intrepid Pictures took an interest in the concept and agreed to let Flanagan direct.[5] His next film, Before I Wake, is due for release in 2015.[6] He has been attached to write and direct an adaptation of Stephen King's novel Gerald's Game[7] and is co-writing a remake of I Know What You Did Last Summer; the latter has an expected release date of 2016.[8]
Filmography
| Title | Year | Director | Writer | Editor | Producer | notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Makebelieve | 2000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | student film |
| Still Life | 2001 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | student film |
| Ghosts of Hamilton Street | 2003 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| "Oculus: Chapter 3" | 2006 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | short film |
| Absentia | 2011 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Oculus | 2013 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| Before I Wake | 2015 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| Gerald's Game | 2015 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| I Know What You Did Last Summer | 2016 | No | Yes | No | No |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Barone, Matt (2014-04-10). "Fear the Glass: The Making of "Oculus," the Best Haunted Mirror Movie You'll Ever See". Complex.com. Retrieved 2015-01-08.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Miller, Mark L. (2011-02-18). "Bug talks with Mike Flanagan Writer/Director of OCULUS and ABSENTIA!". Ain't It Cool News. Retrieved 2015-01-08.
- ↑ "Made in Maryland". The Baltimore Sun. 2006-11-01. Retrieved 2015-01-08.
- ↑ Schwartzel, Erich (2013-09-15). "Cheap Horror Movies Make a Killing". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2015-01-08.
- ↑ Barton, Steve (2014-01-27). "Exclusive: Mike Flanagan Reflects on the Horrors of Oculus". Dread Central. Retrieved 2015-01-08.
- ↑ Vlessing, Elan (2014-05-20). "Cannes: Entertainment One Acquires Trio of Films for Canada". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2015-01-08.
- ↑ Siegemund-Broka, Austin (2014-09-15). "'I Know What You Did Last Summer' Reboot Moving Forward at Sony". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2015-01-08.
- ↑ Busch, Anita (2014-09-15). "'I Know What You Did Last Summer' In Season Again At Sony". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2015-01-08.