Happy 54th Birthday, Sacha Gervasi! Born today in 1966 as Alexander Sacha Simon Gervasi, this British-American former journalist, screenwriter and film director was born in London, England, United Kingdom.
His mother was Canadian, while his father was American. A professor, he was an economist who had worked as an economic advisor to 35th U.S. President John F. Kennedy in the White House.
Gervasi's paternal grandfather was American foreign correspondent and author Frank Gervasi and his paternal step-grandmother was American popular singer and vocalist Georgia Gibbs.
Gervasi was educated at Westminster School, and then read modern history at King's College London.
As a teenager in 1981, Gervasi befriended Canadian heavy-metal band Anvil. When they toured London, Gervasi became a roadie for the band on three tours, eventually becoming close friends until a falling out in 1986.
During Gervasi's time traveling with them, the band had given him the nickname "teabag".
In the early 2000s, Gervasi co-wrote Steven Spielberg's 2004 American comedy-drama romance film 'The Terminal'.
According to London's The Daily Telegraph, "He [Gervasi] is one of only two English screenwriters to have their scripts made into movies by Steven Spielberg. The other is Tom Stoppard [for 'Empire of the Sun'].
In November 2005, Gervasi reunited with Anvil after a break of twenty years, and started filming a documentary about them.
Three years later, Gervasi co-produced and directed the film of which he is best known. This was the 2008 Canadian documentary/rockumentary film 'Anvil! The Story of Anvil!'
In 1982, Canadian heavy-metal band Anvil delivered a highly influential album that would inspire the likes of Anthrax and Metallica. However, Anvil then dropped off the map to begin what would become decades of toiling in obscurity.
Gervasi follows the band's guitarist and lead vocalist Steve "Lips" Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner as they stumble through a harrowing European tour.
The film reflects on failure, friendship, resilience and the will to follow even the most impossible of dreams.
The film reflects on failure, friendship, resilience and the will to follow even the most impossible of dreams.
'Anvil! The Story of Anvil!" premiered at the 30th Sundance Film Festival in January 2008. The Times later called it "the greatest film ever made about rock and roll".
The following year, the film went on to win Best Music Film and Best Documentary Feature at the 27th International Documentary Association (IDA) Awards.
One year later, 'Anvil! The Story of Anvil!' went on to win Best Documentary at the 25th Independent Spirit Awards in Los Angeles, California in early March 2010.
Later that same year, 'Anvil! The Story of Anvil!' won an Emmy at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards in the category of Outstanding Arts and Cultural Programming. This occurred in late August 2010.
Two years later, Gervasi directed the 2012 American biographical drama film 'Hitchcock'. It starred Sir Anthony Hopkins as the Mater of Suspense, Helen Mirren as his wife and Scarlett Johansson as Janet Leigh.
The following year, 'Hitchcock' was nominated an Oscar for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. This occurred at the 85th Academy Awards in late February 2013.
In September 2018, The Guardian ranked 'Anvil!' as the 7th Best Music Documentary of All Time. In NME's survey of '50 Awesome Music Movies', Anvil! is ranked in at #2.
A 2017 New York Post Decider article on the rockumentary said, "almost ten years on from its initial release, Anvil ranks up there with the best rock documentaries ever made."
According to his personal life, Gervasi has been married to film producer Jessica de Rothschild since 2010. She was the daughter of British financier Sir Evelyn Robert Adrian de Rothschild.
Before this, Gervasi had English singer, songwriter, author, actress, and philanthropist Geri Halliwell as a partner. They have one child together named Bluebell Madonna Halliwell (b. May 14, 2006).
Gervasi has been active from 1999–present.
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