MIKE FIGGIS (Director/Producer/Writer) garnered Academy Award
nominations for directing and adapting the screenplay for Leaving Las Vegas,
the powerful, disturbing story of unconditional love between a suicidal
alcoholic and an empathetic hooker, starring Nicholas Cage and Elisabeth
Shue. Cage won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the film,
which received a total of four nominations for the drama based on John O'Brien's
semi-autobiographical novel.
Figgis' background in experimental theater and music have contributed to
his reputation and success as a filmmaker who thrives on artistic risks.
Although he has helmed such "mainstream" movies as Internal Affairs,
the British-born Figgis exhibited his more eclectic, personal style in films
like Stormy Monday and Liebestraum.
Born in Carlisle, England, Figgis lived in Nairobi, Kenya as an infant.
When he was eight years old, his family relocated to Newcastle in Northern
England. As a youth, Figgis played trumpet and guitar in various rock bands,
including the rhythm and blues group Gas Board, featuring pop star Bryan
Ferry.
Upon moving to London, he studied music for three years and began playing
with The People Band, who recorded one album for Transatlantic Records which
was produced by Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts. The People Band would
later make a cameo appearance in Stormy Monday as the Krakow Jazz ensemble.
In the early '70s, Figgis joined England's foremost avant-garde theater
group, The People Show, as a musician, but he soon found himself lured into
acting. For the following 10 years, The People Show toured the world, earning
great success and critical acclaim.
In 1980, Figgis left the troupe to concentrate on writing and directing
theater, and formed his own theater company, The Mike Figgis Group. He crafted
multimedia productions that incorporated an extensive use of film. Among
his early projects, "Redheugh 1980," "Slow Fade" and
"Animals of the City" won awards for their innovative blend of
live action with music and film. "Redheugh 1980" caught the eye
of England's Channel Four, which then financed Figgis' first feature film,
The House, which starred Stephen Rea (The Crying Game).
Figgis' next film, Stormy Monday, marked his emergence into full-length
features. He wrote, directed and scored the film, which was set in Newcastle's
steamy jazz club world and starred Melanie Griffith, Tommy Lee Jones and
Sting. Figgis then made an impressive debut in American film, directing
and co-scoring Internal Affairs with Richard Gere and Andy Garcia.
Kim Novak came out of retirement to star in Figgis' follow-up to Internal
Affairs, Liebestraum, a dark thriller directed and scored by Figgis. Additional
directing credits include Mr. Jones starring Richard Gere and Lena Olin
and The Browning Version starring Albert Finney, Greta Scacchi and Julian
Sands. Figgis also wrote the HBO film "Mara," a 30-minute piece
starring Juliette Binoche and Scott Glenn.
Figgis spent one month chronicling the behind-the-scenes life of the noted
avant-garde artist William Forsythe of the Frankfurt Ballet for his documentary
Just Dancing Around, which was financed by England's Channel Four. The one-hour
piece began airing across Europe in late summer 1996.
ANNIE STEWART (Producer) produced the critically acclaimed Leaving
Las Vegas with director Mike Figgis. Her longtime association with the director
first began with their collaboration on Liebestraum, and she went on to
work with him on Mr. Jones and The Browning Version.
Currently, she and Figgis are in pre-production on Death and the Loss of
Sexual Innocence.
BEN MYRON (Producer) began his career in the film industry as an
exhibitor owning and operating a chain of theaters in San Francisco Bay
Area. In 1985, he produced a highly acclaimed independent feature Signal
7, which was directed by Rob Nilsson. Based on the success of Signal 7,
Myron sold the theatres and devoted his energies to producing.
Most recently, he co-produced Showgirls with Joe Eszterhas and director
Paul Verhoeven; Telling Lies In America, starring Kevin Bacon and Brad Renfro,
which he produced with Fran Kuzui; and he served as executive producer on
the upcoming Leave It to Beaver. Additional feature credits include Checking
Out, City of Joy and One False Move, which was nominated for five Independent
Spirit Awards, including Best Picture.
Myron is currently working on a variety of projects, among them Joe Eszterhas'
wicked satire on the movie business, An Alan Smithee Film, which stars Sylvester
Stallone, Whoopi Goldberg and Jackie Chan. He is also in pre-production
on Mr. Magoo, a live-action comedy based on the exploits of the classic
cartoon character.
ROBERT ENGELMAN (Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager) has
served as producer for such smash hits as The Mask and Mortal Kombat. His
feature credits also include Kazaam, Man's Best Friend, Deadfall and Mr.
Nanny.
Engelman's range of experience is broad, having served in numerous capacities
on a wide variety of motion pictures and television projects. He has co-produced
for Wes Craven and worked alongside such acclaimed directors as Herbert
Ross and the late Anthony Perkins. Engelman earned credits as first assistant
director on Wes Craven's Shocker, Herbert Ross' Steel Magnolias, as well
as The Tender, Full Moon in Blue Water, The Serpent and the Rainbow, Program
to Kill and Nightmare on Elm Street Part 3.
As second assistant director, Engelman contributed his skills to the box
office hits Footloose, Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, The Border and That Championship
Season.
His television credits include serving as producer and production manager
for "The Bambi Bambenek Story," the telefilm "Woman with
a Past" and "Frankenstein: The College Years."
DECLAN QUINN (Director of Photography) previously collaborated with
director Figgis on Leaving Las Vegas. Among his film credits, Quinn shot
Louis Malle's Vanja on 42nd Street, All Things Bright and Beautiful, The
Ballad of Little Jo, Blood and Concrete, The Kill-Off and A Nightmare on
Elm Street Part 6.
Quinn, who is one of the industry's leading cinematographers in the commercial
and music video arenas, was honored with a Cleo Award in 1991 for his work
on MTV's AIDS campaign. He has also worked on campaigns for Coca Cola, L'Oreal,
Amstel Light, Bank of America, Kellogg's, Macy's, Sears, Wendy's and British
Petroleum.
Quinn has lensed music videos for a variety of international recording artists,
including REM, U2, L.L. Cool J, Whitney Houston, Van Halen, Iggy Pop and
Debbie Harry.
WALDEMAR KALINOWSKI (Production Designer) reunites with Mike Figgis
for One Night Stand, having previously worked with the director on the films
Leaving Las Vegas, Internal Affairs, Liebestraum and Mr. Jones. Kalinowski's
additional film credits include Powder, Wrestling Ernest Hemingway, The
Boost, Disorganized Crime and Rough Magic.
Born in Austria and raised in Warsaw, his wide range of professional activities
have included a research project for the first NASA lunar landing in 1969,
as well as a series of performance art and video projects in the mid '70s.
He has also appeared onscreen as an actor, making his feature film debut
in Heaven's Gate. More recently, he appeared as a mobster in Leaving Las
Vegas.
Kalinowski is married to set decorator Florence Fellman, and the two have
worked together exclusively as a production designer-set decorator team
since 1984.
JOHN SMITH (Editor) edited the Academy Award-nominated Leaving Las
Vegas and collaborated on the BBC documentary "Westwood on Liberty,"
which was also directed by Mike Figgis. He has also collaborated with such
top feature film directors as Michael Mann and Hugh Hudson. Smith's company,
Whitehouse Post Productions, which he founded in 1990 with Rick Lawley and
Andrea MacArthur, has emerged as one of the most successful and prestigious
film editing houses in London.
Smith began his editing career at Posthouse Post Productions in the United
Kingdom, working predominantly in commercials. He has edited numerous award-winning
campaigns for such products as Levis Jeans, Volkswagen, Volvo and British
Airways.
ENID HARRIS (Costume Designer) designed the costumes for the feature
films Til' There Was You, Father of the Bride II, Fire With Fire and Commando.
In 1992, Harris earned a Cable Ace nomination for Best Costume Design for
her work on The Disney Channel's "The Ernest Green Story." Her
additional television credits include the "Trail of Tears," "Letter
to My Killer," "The Four Diamonds," "Spies" and
"Apology."
LAURA GOLDSMITH's (Costume Designer) costume designs have been featured
in a variety of films including Leaving Las Vegas, Foxfire and The Lesser
Evil. For television, her credits include "Museum of Love," "A
Stranger to Love," "River of Rage" and "Dying to Love
You."
Goldsmith served as wardrobe supervisor on such films as Nell, Imaginary
Crimes, Holy Matrimony, Liebestraum for director Figgis, and Born in East
L.A., among others.
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