Happy 41st Birthday, Neill Blomkamp! Born today in 1979, this South African animator, screenwriter, producer and film director employs a documentary-style, hand-held, cinéma vérité technique.
This blends naturalistic and photo-realistic computer-generated effects, as his films often deal with themes of xenophobia and social segregation.
At the age of sixteen, Blomkamp met South African actor Sharlto Copley. He had also attended Redhill High School with Blomkamp in Johannesburg.
While there, Copley provided Blomkamp with the use of computers at his production company, for Blomkamp to pursue his passion and talent for 3D animation and design.
In return, Blomkamp assisted Copley in creating 3D work for pitches on various projects. Blomkamp was eighteen when he moved to Vancouver with his family two years later, where he enrolled at the Vancouver Film School.
In 2007, Blomkamp directed a trilogy of live-action short films in 2007, known collectively as Landfall. They were set in the Halo universe, to promote the release of Halo 3.
Two years later, Blomkamp co-wrote and directed the film of which he is best known.
This was the 2009 South African/American/New Zealand/Canadian sci-fi/action film 'District 9'. The film had been co-produced by Peter Jackson.
The title and premise of 'District 9' were inspired by events in Cape Town's District 6, during the apartheid era.
The film states that thirty years ago, aliens arrived on Earth -- not to conquer or give aid, but -- to find refuge from their dying planet.
Separated from humans in a South African area called District 9, the aliens are managed by Multi-National United, which is unconcerned with the aliens' welfare but will do anything to master their advanced technology.
When company field agent Wikus Van De Merwe (Sharlto Copley) contracts a mysterious virus that begins to alter his DNA, there is only one place he can hide: District 9.
Upon release, 'District 9' received acclaim from critics, who praised the film's direction, performances, themes, and story. Some called it one of the best science fiction films of the 2000s, as the film garnered numerous awards and nominations.
The following year, 'District 9' won nominated for six BAFTA Awards. These included Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Special Visual Effects, Best Editing, Best Sound, and Best Production Design. This occurred at the 63rd British Academy Film Awards on February 21, 2010.
Two weeks later, the film was nominated for four Oscars. These included Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Editing and Best Visual Effects. This occurred at the 82nd Academy Awards on March 7, 2010.
Time named Blomkamp as one of the 100 Most Influential People of 2009 ("Artists" category) - with an homage contributed by Ridley Scott. Forbes has also named Blomkamp as the 21st most powerful celebrity from Africa.
He was later nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. This occurred at the 82nd Academy Awards in early March 2010.
Blomkamp has established himself in his field with a hand-held, first-person camera style.
He has also became highly sought after for his ability to blend computer-generated effects with a film's naturalistic elements, soon becoming a popular director for commercials.
He also became highly sought after for his ability to blend computer-generated effects with a film's naturalistic elements, soon becoming a popular director for commercials.
Blomkamp provided his visual effects services for a number of American television shows, like Dark Angel (2000–2002) and Smallville (2001–2011), before combining his skill sets as the director of a feature film.
Among his other films, Blomkamp is also known for directing 'Elysium' (2008) and 'Chappie'(2015).
In short, 'Elysium' and 'Chappie' (as well as 'District 9') are not set in the same universe.
This was confirmed by an interview, in which when asked "But there's not a shared universe?", Blomkamp replied "Definitely not".
According to Blomkamp's personal life, he is married to Canadian screenwriter Terri Tatchell. She is best known for co-writing the screenplay of 'District 9'. They have one daughter together.
Blomkamp is known for his collaborations with Copley. He currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and is also friends with Michael Bay.
Blomkamp has been active from 1996–present.
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