STEVEN SODERBERGH (Director) has helmed ten feature films: "sex, lies and videotape," "Kafka," "King of the Hill," "The Underneath," "Schizopolis," "Gray's Anatomy," "Out of Sight," "The Limey," "Erin Brockovich," and Traffic.
Born in Georgia and raised primarily in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Soderbergh began making short films at age 13. After graduating from high school, he traveled to Los Angeles. He worked there as a freelance editor before returning to Baton Rouge to continue making short films and writing screenplays.
After shooting a documentary profiling the rock group Yes, he was asked to direct a full- length concert film for the band. The result was "9012LIVE," which received a Grammy Award nomination in 1986 for Best Long-Form Music Video.
Soderbergh spent two more years writing screenplays, both "on spec and for hire, and completed the script for "sex, lies and videotape." Soderbergh shot the film, his feature directorial debut, in Baton Rouge with James Spader, Andie MacDowell, Peter Gallagher, and Laura San Giacomo playing the four lead roles. The film world-premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 1989, and four months later won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes International Film Festival.
His second film, "Kafka" (1991) was a black-and-white mystery/suspense film set in post WWI Prague. Combining elements of Franz Kafka's life and letters with fiction, the film starred Jeremy Irons in the title role.
The memoirs of author A.E. Hotchner provided the basis for Soderbergh's third film, "King of the Hill" (1993), which detailed the attempts of an imaginative 12-year old boy to keep his family from splitting apart during the Great Depression. According to the annual Premiere Magazine Critic's Chart, the film was the fifth best-reviewed feature of the year.
He next reunited with leading man Peter Gallagher for "The Underneath" (1995), a dark tale of obsession and betrayal set in present-day Austin, Texas. The film also starred Alison Elliot, Elisabeth Shue, and Joe Don Baker.
In the spring of 1997, Soderbergh had two films in release: Schizopolis," an experimental low-budget comedy in the spirit of Richard Lester and Luis Bunuel; and "Gray's Anatomy," the filmed version of Spalding Gray's acclaimed monologue, in which Gray describes his experiences in the world of medicine (both the alternative and established variety) after being diagnosed with a rare eye disease.
The sexy crime caper "Out of Sight," starring George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez and based on Elmore Leonard's novel of the same name, followed. According to the annual Premiere Magazine Critic's Chart, "Out of Sight" was the third best-reviewed feature of 1998. The National Society of Film Critics awarded "Out of Sight" its top three awards: Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Screenplay (Scott Frank); and the Boston Society of Film Critics voted the film is Best Picture and Best Screenplay awards. In addition, the film received Academy Award nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay (Scott Frank) and Best Film Editing (Anne V. Coates).
"The Limey" (1999), an action drama starring Terence Stamp, Peter Fonda, and Lesley Ann Warren, earned five Independent Spirit Award nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Terence Stamp), Best Supporting Actor (Luis Guzman), Best Director, and Best Screenplay (Lem Dobbs).
"Erin Brockovich," released in March 2000, starred Julia Roberts, Albert Finney, and Aaron Eckhart in the true story of a California single mother who takes on a power company in a direct-action suit and brings it to its knees. A stirring, funny, and unconventional drama, the film has earned over $250 million worldwide.
In addition to his credits as director, Soderbergh functioned as producer on Greg Mottola's "The Daytrippers" (1996) and Gary Ross' "Pleasantville" (1998); and as executive producer on Scott McGehee and David Siegel's "Suture" (1994). He also co-wrote the thriller "Nightwatch" (1998), which was directed by Ole Bornedal.
Soderbergh is currently in pre-production on his eleventh film, "Ocean's Eleven" (loosely based on Lewis Milestone's 1960 film of the same name). The cast will include Alan Arkin, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, and Julia Roberts.
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