GetWiki

{{short description|American film director and cinematographer (born 1953)}}

factoids

New York City, New York (state)>New York, U.S.| death_date = | years_active = 1978–presentSusan L. Ringo|1989}}| children = 1Hampshire College (Bachelor of Arts>BA)New York University (MFA)

• Film director
• producer
• cinematographer

{edih}}}Barry Sonnenfeld (born April 1, 1953) is an American filmmaker and television director. He originally worked as a cinematographer for the Coen brothers before directing films such as The Addams Family (1991) and its sequel Addams Family Values (1993), Get Shorty (1995), the Men in Black trilogy (1997–2012), and Wild Wild West (1999).

Early life

Sonnenfeld was born and raised in New York City, the son of Irene "Kelly" (Kellerman), an art teacher, and Sonny Sonnenfeld, a lighting salesman, educator, and architectural lighting designer.WEB,weblink Barry Sonnenfeld Biography (1953-), Filmreference.com, 2013-03-16, WEB,weblink In Memoriam: Sonny Sonnenfeld, 1919-2016 - PLSN, Jacob, Coakley, WEB,weblink Paid Notice: Deaths SONNENFELD, IRENE KELLY., 9 March 2000, The New York Times, He was raised in a Jewish family.WEB,weblink TCM Barry Sonnenfeld Biography, Tcm.com, 2013-03-16, After he received his bachelor's degree from Hampshire College, he graduated from New York University Film School in 1978.

Career

He began working on pornographic films'I guess I'm a whore, a masochist and a whore'. The Guardian. 12 August 1999. before starting work as director of photography on the Oscar-nominated In Our Water (1982). When he met Joel Coen at a Christmas party, he told Sonnenfeld about a script that he had written with brother Ethan Coen, Blood Simple, and hired him to be their cinematographer, with the resulting movie coming out in 1984. This film began his collaboration with the Coen brothers, who used him for their next two pictures, Raising Arizona (1987) and Miller's Crossing (1990). He also worked with Danny DeVito on Throw Momma from the Train (1987) and Rob Reiner on When Harry Met Sally... (1989) and Misery (1990).Sonnenfeld gained his first work as a director from Paramount Pictures on The Addams Family, a box-office success released in November 1991. Its sequel, Addams Family Values (1993), was not as successful at the box office, but he received critical acclaim for his fourth directorial outing, Get Shorty (1995). Produced by Jersey Films and based on a novel by Elmore Leonard, the film won a Golden Globe for John Travolta (Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical). The film was also entered into the 46th Berlin International Film Festival.WEB,weblink Berlinale: 1996 Programme, 2012-01-01, berlinale.de, Following Tim Burton and the Coen brothers, Sonnenfeld's films would tell stories about unusual and unorthodox people who are into the unexpected and the strange. His films would often use his trademark filmmaking techniques such as his unusual camera angles, offbeat dialogue and, in certain films, strange behavior and weird creatures.In 1996, Steven Spielberg asked him to direct Men in Black (1997). Starring Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith, the film was a critical and financial success. In 1998, Jon Peters asked him to direct Wild Wild West (1999). Starring Smith and Kevin Kline, the film was a critical and financial flop. He also directed the comedy Big Trouble (2002), after which he made his most successful film sequel to that point, Men in Black II (2002). He is also a contributing editor for Esquire. He also co-produced (alongside his partner Barry Josephson) the 2007 film Enchanted for Walt Disney Pictures that starred Amy Adams. In 2008, Sonnenfeld earned an Emmy for directing Pushing Daisies. Sonnenfeld returned for Men in Black 3;WEB,weblink 'Men in Black 3' Ready to Roll in 3-D With Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, 22 April 2010, released in 2012, the third installment received positive reviews and became the highest-grossing film in the series worldwide. In 2007, his Right Coast production company has been signed with Sony.WEB, Schneider, Michael, 2007-06-14, Sony, Sonnenfeld pact for TV,weblink 2020-10-17, Variety, en, His memoir, Barry Sonnenfeld, Call Your Mother: Memoirs of a Neurotic Filmmaker, was published by Hachette Books in 2020.WEB,weblink Call Your Mother: Filmmaker Barry Sonnenfeld Looks Back With Humor In New Memoir, Kolberg, Brad, Wisconsin Public Radio, May 9, 2020, October 22, 2021,

Personal life

As of 2022, Sonnenfeld lives in Pemberton, British Columbia with his wife Susan.WEB, SmartLess: "Barry Sonnenfeld" on Apple Podcasts,weblink 2022-01-05, Apple Podcasts, en-US, In 1999, Sonnenfeld was the sole passenger on a plane that crashed upon landing at Van Nuys Airport. He was unhurt.NEWS, Fox, Sue, February 27, 1999, Film Director Says Jet Crew Fled After Crash, Los Angeles Times,weblink July 29, 2021,

Filmography

Film{| class"wikitable"

! Year! Film! Director! Producer! Notes| 1991The Addams Family (1991 film)>The Addams Family| {{yes}}| {{no}}|1993For Love or Money (1993 film)>For Love or Money| {{yes}}| {{no}}|| Addams Family Values| {{yes}}| {{no}}| | 1995Get Shorty (film)>Get Shorty| {{yes}}executive}}|| 1997Men in Black (1997 film)>Men in Black| {{yes}}| {{no}}| Nominated- Saturn Award for Best Director| 1999| Wild Wild West| {{yes}}| {{yes}}| Golden Raspberry Award for Worst PictureGolden Raspberry Award for Worst Director2002Big Trouble (2002 film)>Big Trouble| {{yes}}| {{yes}}|| Men in Black II| {{yes}}| {{no}}|| 2006RV (film)>RV| {{yes}}| {{no}}|| 2012| Men in Black 3| {{yes}}| {{no}}| | 2016Nine Lives (2016 film)>Nine Lives| {{yes}}| {{no}}|Producer{{colbegin|colwidth=22em}}

• The Crew (2000)
• The Ladykillers (2004)
• Enchanted (2007)
• Space Chimps (2008)
• Disenchanted (2022)

{{colend}}Executive producer{{colbegin|colwidth=22em}}

• Out of Sight (1998)
• Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
• (Men in Black: International) (2019)

{{colend}}

As cinematographer{| class"wikitable"

! Year! Title! Director! Notes| 1982| In Our Water| Meg Switzgable| Documentary;With Robert Chappell| 1984| Blood SimpleCoen Brothers>Joel Coen| | 1985| Compromising Positions| Frank Perry| 1987| Raising Arizona| Joel Coen| | Three O'Clock High| Phil Joanou| | Throw Momma from the Train| Danny DeVito| | 1988Big (film)>Big| Penny Marshall| | 1989| When Harry Met Sally...| Rob Reiner| 1990| Miller's Crossing| Joel Coen| Misery (film)>Misery| Rob Reiner|

As actor{| class"wikitable"

! Year! Title! Role|1991The Addams Family (1991 film)>The Addams Family| Passenger on Gomez's train (uncredited)|1993|Addams Family Values|Mr. Glicker|1995Get Shorty (film)>Get Shorty|Doorman (Uncredited)|1997Men in Black (1997 film)>Men in Black|Alien on Monitor|2002Big Trouble (2002 film)>Big Trouble|Gator fan on radio (voice) (uncredited)|2002|Men in Black II|Neuralyzed Father|2006RV (film)>RV|Irv|2012|Men in Black 3|Husband Watching Launch|2016Nine Lives (2016 film)>Nine Lives|Additional cat voices

Television

TV series{| class"wikitable"

! Year! Title! Director! Executiveproducer! Notes| 1998Maximum Bob (TV series)>Maximum Bob| {{yes}}| {{yes}}| Directed "Pilot"| 1998–1999Fantasy Island (1998 TV series)>Fantasy Island| {{no}}| {{yes}}| 13 episodes| 2000Secret Agent Man (TV series)>Secret Agent Man| {{no}}| {{yes}}| 12 episodes| 2001–2002The Tick (2001 TV series)>The Tick| {{yes}}| {{yes}}| Directed "Pilot"| 2007–2009| Pushing Daisies| {{yes}}| {{yes}}| Directed 2 episodes;Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series| 2007–2010| Notes from the Underbelly| {{yes}}| {{yes}}| Directed 6 episodes| 2008| Suburban Shootout| {{yes}}| {{no}} Unaired pilot| 2010| Funny in Farsi| {{yes}}| {{no}}| 2013Beverly Hills Cop (franchise)#Unaired television pilot>Beverly Hills Cop| {{yes}}| {{no}}| 2014| Storyline| {{no}}| {{yes}}| 1 episode| 2016| Independent Lens| {{no}}| {{yes}}| TV series documentary;Film An Honest Liar| 2016–2019The Tick (2016 TV series)>The Tick| {{no}}| {{yes}}| 12 episodes| 2017–2019A Series of Unfortunate Events (TV series)>A Series of Unfortunate Events| {{yes}}| {{yes}}| Directed 10 episodes;Nominated- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program| 2021| Schmigadoon!| {{yes}}| {{yes}}| Directed 6 episodesProducer

• Karen Sisco (2004) (1 episode)

As cinematographer{| class="wikitable"! Year! Title! Notes| 1984| ABC Afterschool Specials| 1 episode| 1985| Doubletake| 2 episodesActing roles{| class="wikitable"! Year! Title! Role! Notes|2001The Tick (2001 TV series)>The Tick|Guy in Couch, Cab Driver (uncredited)|Episode: "Pilot"|2017–2019A Series of Unfortunate Events (TV series)>A Series of Unfortunate Events|Mr. Tammerlane (voice)Isaac "Ike" Anwhistle|4 episodes

TV movies{| class"wikitable"

! Year! Title! Director! Executiveproducer| 1999| Partners| {{no}}| {{yes}}2008| Hackett| {{yes}}| {{no}}| Play or Be Played| {{yes}}| {{yes}}| 2009| The Bridget Show| {{yes}}| {{no}}| 2014| Dead Boss| {{yes}}| {{no}}As cinematographer

• How to Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days (1984)
• Classified Love (1986)
• Welcome Home, Bobby (1986)

Future projects

He is working on new projects, among them include Things a Man Should Never Do Past 30: a single-camera comedy from executive producer/director Sonnenfeld, the Tannenbaum Company and Sony Pictures Television. The project mostly is based on the personal experiences of Esquire writer David Katz and Esquire editor at large A. J. Jacobs. The show is about a man working at a men's magazine who is reluctant to embrace adulthood and his friend who is an immersion journalist. Al Higgins (Malcolm in the Middle) is set to serve as showrunner/head writer if the project is picked up.NEWS,weblink dead, The Hollywood Reporter, Nellie, Andreeva, It's a man's world at CBS, November 24, 2008,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20081224210315weblink">weblink December 24, 2008, He has become attached to a movie adaptation of The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz, about a family of private investigators.NEWS,weblink Variety, Sonnenfeld takes 'Spellman Files', Michael, Fleming, April 1, 2009, Sonnenfeld will direct the movie adaptation of the fantasy novel Gil's All Fright Diner in partnership with DreamWorks Animation.WEB,weblink Barry Sonnenfeld to Direct Gil's All Fright Diner for DreamWorks, 17 December 2009, He is also developing a sitcom for ABC, Funny in Farsi, based on the book of the same name.NEWS,weblink Reuters, Sonnenfeld takes helm of "Farsi" comedy pilot, November 30, 2009, In 2012, it was stated that he was appointed to direct Lore, an adaptation based on the comic by T.P. Louise and Ashley Wood of the same name.WEB,weblink Barry Sonnenfeld To Direct Supernatural 'Lore' With Dwayne Johnson {{!, IndieWire|last=Jagernauth|first=Kevin|website=www.indiewire.com|date=25 September 2012 |language=en|access-date=2017-01-29}}NEWS,weblink Barry Sonnenfeld in Talks to Direct 'Lore' for Warner Bros., The Hollywood Reporter, en, 2017-01-29, But, in 2013, Indie director Dave Green has signed on to replace Barry Sonnenfeld as director, Sonnenfeld will take part as executive producer on the project.NEWS,weblink Director Dave Green Replaces Barry Sonnenfeld in Lore, 2013-08-28, en-US, 2017-01-29, Barry is also in talks with Warner Bros. to make a live action film adaptation of the DC Comics characters, The Metal Men.WEB,weblink Exclusive: Barry Sonnenfeld's Secret Comic-Book Movie Is, Vulture, June 2012, December 31, 2019, WEB,weblink DC Entertainment Chief Reveals What's Next for Superman, Wonder Woman and 5 Superheroes Who Deserve Movies (Q&A), The Hollywood Reporter, July 17, 2013, December 31, 2019, Sonnenfeld also agreed to direct the Beverly Hills Cop pilot for CBS and serve as an executive producer as well.WEB, Andreeva, Nellie, Barry Sonnenfeld To Direct CBS' 'Beverly Hills Cop' Pilot,weblink Deadline Hollywood, February 8, 2013, December 31, 2019, However, Paramount Pictures dropped the idea in favor of a (Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F|fourth film) directed by Mark Molloy.

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

• {{IMDb name|1756}}
• {{amg name|112135}}

{{Barry Sonnenfeld}}{{Navboxes|title = Awards for Barry Sonnenfeld|list ={{DirectorsGuildofAmericaOutstandingDirectingComedySeries 1990–2009}}{{EmmyAward ComedyDirector 2001-2025}}{{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director}}}}{{Authority control}}