Happy Birthday director Timur Bekmambetov

Born: June 25, 1961 in Guryev, Kazakh SSR, USSR [now Atyrau, Kazakhstan]

QUOTES:

It was like an army operation… We understood from the very beginning that Russia needs big, ambitious and brave film-making. Before us, there was only art-house – great, talented movies for European festivals – and very bad, very cheap and creatively weak commercial movies.

…but the most powerful special effect is the actor. All the visual style is an extension of character.

[on producing Hardcore Henry (2015)] Sharlto [Sharlto Copley] was a big part of the plan. He’s very creative. His first movie, District 9 (2009), was a really good example of collaboration between actor and director. And I knew he was brave. I had invited him to go to Kazakhstan for a small film festival and he jumped on a plane and came. I figured he would be very, very important for Ilya [director Ilya Naishuller]. Producing is about the people you choose. Choosing the right people is about 90% of producing. (…) The sense of humor is really, really important. I understood that Ilya has a very similar sensibility as Sharlto. “District 9” also had this mischievous tone but at the same time was very emotional and heartbreaking. Ilya had the same taste, so that collaboration made this movie. [2016]

[on Hardcore Henry (2015)] There is no way a studio would make this movie. I’m the only crazy person in the world who can agree to greenlight the project with no script and have the language to make the movie not exist. It’s a challenge, but it’s why we make movies. (…) My only motivations are challenge and curiosity. If I don’t know how to do something, then I’m doing it. [2016]