COM 329, Contemporary Film

The Three Amigos:

Alfonso Cuarón

Alejandro González Iñárritu

Guillermo del Toro

All Three:

Are Mexican-born expatriates…”in exile,” with anxiety, and perspective

Had breakthrough films in 2006 (“sister films,” they say): Cuarón: Children of Men

Iñárritu: Babel

del Toro: Pan’s Labyrinth

ARE FRIENDS! (Met through Mexican TV) Candor, brutally honest

They totally support each other, even to the point of sacrificing nominations for awards

They sometimes work on each others’ films

e.g., Cuarón was a producer and Iñárritu an editor on Pan’s Labyrinth

Focus on themes over character, and even over story e.g., Three of Iñarritu’s four features focus on death

e.g., “Communication” for all three of the 2006 films

Are super-smart!

Have common senses of humor!

Alfonso Cuarón

(1961-)

Studied philosophy and film in college (but dropped out)

Sydney Pollack brought him to the U.S. to work on a project for Showtime

Had big successes with A Little Princess (a U.S. children’s film, 1995) and Y Tu Mama Tambien (a Spanish-language Mexican road movie, 2001)

Since then, has directed/produced/written in a range of genres or film types

Alfonso Cuarón

Year Film

Credited as

Director Writer Producer EditorAssistant director

1986 Les Pyramides Bleues Yes

1991 Sólo con tu pareja Yes Yes Yes Yes

1995 A Little Princess Yes

1998 Great Expectations Yes Yes

2001 Y tu mamá también Yes Yes Yes

2004

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Yes

Crónicas Yes

The Assassination of Richard Nixon

Yes

2005 Black Sun Yes

2006Children of Men Yes Yes Yes

Pan's Labyrinth Yes

2007 Year of the Nail Yes

2008 Rudo y Cursi Yes2013 Gravity Yes Yes Yes Yes

Alejandro González Iñárritu

(1963-)

A self-proclaimed “frustrated [rock] musician”

Studied Communication in college, then worked successfully in radio

With a partner, started a film production company in Mexico, then after the success of Amores Perros (2000) moved to California

He brought “themes” to the other 2 directors, who had been working in “form”

Has directed only 4 feature films, but they have garnered many awards, including 12 Academy Award nominations; he is the first Mexican director to be nominated for an AA

Alejandro González Iñárritu

AS DIRECTOR:

Year Film

2014 Birdman

2012 Naran Ja (short)

2011 Behind Biutiful: Director's Flip Notes (documentary short)

2010 Write the Future (TV short)

2010 Biutiful

2007 To Each His Own Cinema (segment "Anna")

2006 Babel

2003 21 Grams

2002 September 11 (segment "Mexico")

2001 Powder Keg (short)

2000 Amores Perros

1996 El timbre (short)

1995 Detrás del dinero (TV short)

Guillermo del Toro

(1964-)

Went to film school in Guadalajara, and for 10 years worked as a special effects makeup designer

He co-founded a film festival in Guadalajara

After the success of his Mexican Cronos (1993), Miramax gave him $30 million to make the U.S.-based Mimic (1997)

Prolific as director/producer/writer

Works heavily in horror and fantasy—”if there is not a monster on my call sheet, I won’t show up to shoot”

Guillermo del Toro

Year Film Director Producer Writer Other Notes

1985Doña Lupe (short) Yes Yes Yes Executive producer

Doña Herlinda and Her Son Yes Executive producer

1987 Geometria (short) Yes Yes Yes

1993 Cronos Yes Yes Yes Man Walking Dog

1997 Mimic Yes Yes

1998 Under a Spell Yes

2000 Bullfighter Yes Bullboy #2

2001 The Devil's Backbone Yes Yes Yes Executive producer

2002I Murder Seriously Yes Executive producer

Blade II Yes

2004

Crónicas Yes

Hellboy Yes Yes YesGuy Dressed as

Dragon

2006Hellboy: Sword of Storms Yes Creative producer

Pan's Labyrinth Yes Yes Yes

2007

Hellboy: Blood and Iron Yes Creative producer

The Orphanage Yes Executive producer

Hellboy: Iron Shoes (short) Yes Creative producer

Diary of the Dead YesNewsreader (voice role; uncredited)

Guillermo del Toro

Year Film Director Producer Writer Other Notes

2008

Insignificant Things Yes

Hellboy II: The Golden Army Yes Yes YesCreature Vocals

(uncredited)

Quantum of Solace Yes Additional Voices

While She Was Out Yes Executive producer

Rudo y Cursi Yes

2009Rage Yes

Splice Yes Executive producer

2010

Biutiful Yes Associate producer

Julia's Eyes Yes

Megamind Yes Creative consultant

2011

Kung Fu Panda 2 YesCreative consultant;

also executive producer

Cowboys & Aliens YesCreative consultant

(uncredited)

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark Yes Yes YesCreature Voices / Man

on Plane

Puss in Boots YesMoustache Man / Comandante; also executive producer

2012

The Captured Bird (short) Yes Executive producer

Rise of the Guardians Yes Executive producer

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Yes

El Santos vs. La Tetona Mendoza YesGamborimbo Punx

(voice)

2013

Mama Yes Executive producer

Pacific Rim Yes Yes Yes

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Yes

2014 The Hobbit: There and Back Again Yes

end