Originally from England, RUPERT WAINWRIGHT (Director) studied at Oxford University and put himself through college by acting in such noted British films as Another Country and Dreamchild, before coming to study film at UCLA on a Fulbright Scholarship.
Wainwright is probably best known for Stigmata, an original vision of a classic horror film blended with a personal search for faith under the strictures of the Roman Catholic Church’s hierarchy. Starring Patricia Arquette, Gabriel Byrne and Jonathan Pryce (with a cameo by The Fog’s Rade Serbedzija), Stigmata is a gripping supernatural thriller with a unique take on corruption, evil and the limits of faith. It also was one of the first fictional pieces in any medium to introduce audiences to the mysteries of the Gnostic Gospels. The film was a worldwide hit, as controversial for its content as it was praised for its striking imagery.
His second feature, The Sadness of Sex, was an art house success that was praised by the Los Angeles Times as “an inspired tour de force.” Other critics said it was “hilarious screwball erotica,” “nothing short of stunning” and that it “expands the possibilities of cinema.” A poignant comedy about love and the cycles of passion and heartbreak, it starred New York performance artist and noted short story author Barry Yourgrau and Peta Wilson in her big screen debut. The movie was later serialized on the Web at iFilm.com, becoming one of the most successful short film series launches ever and receiving one of the first Yahoo! Internet Movie awards.
Wainwright’s other credits include the hit Blank Check, a children’s feature for Walt Disney Studios. He has also worked in television, most notably directing “Dillinger,” a two-hour TV movie for ABC starring Mark Harmon, Sherilyn Fenn and Will Patton and “Wolf Lake,” a highly regarded pilot for CBS.
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