MICHAEL RYMER
Australian born and raised, Rymer crossed the ocean to attended the
University of Southern California to study film in 1981. During his studies
he made several short films for which he was awarded the Warner
Communications Scholarship for Directing, and he directed one of the
advanced senior projects, The Cut, a documentary about a hairdressing
salon.
In 1986, Rymer turned to stage and enrolled in an intensive two-year
Stanislavsky-based training program in acting. While training, he wrote and
directed two plays: Darkness at Noon and Ensenada, and worked as
a script assessor for three studios.
After completing his first short film, Deep Sleep, in the late '80s, he
was commissioned by a number of other Australian-based studios to write a number
of other screenplays including Never Surrender, Mommy's Little
Monster and Electric Dreaming.
Rymer went on to write the feature length film, Angel Baby, which he
also directed. Released in 1995, the film that centred around two schizophrenics
who meet during therapy and fall passionately in love, earned oodles of
awards around the world and in Australia including Australian Film Institute
Awards for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, the Australian
Writers Guild Award for Best Original Screenplay, and the Australian Film
Critics Circle Award for Best Director and Best Screenplay.
He then returned to the U.S. to direct his next screenplay, Allie & Me,
released two years later. Although it received little attention, his next
film, In Too Deep, did not fail to gain notice. Starring such big names
as Omar Epps, LL Cool J and Nia Long, the cop film received a number of awards,
mixed reaction from critics, and box office numbers that more than doubled their
small budget.
In 2001 he filmed The Queen of the Damned, which marked the first time
Rymer had ever directed a film he didn't write.
Filmogrpahy (director):
The Queen of the Damned (2002)
Perfume (2001)
In Too Deep (1999)
Allie & Me (1997)
Angel Baby (1995)
Filmography (writer):
Perfume (2001)
Allie & Me (1997)
Angel Baby (1995)
Dead Sleep (1990)