The casting game

We often judge a movie based on its cast and director. It’s like saying a film by Steven Spielberg or Michael Bay is a guaranteed blockbuster.

I think it’s a bit unfair. But this is how the system goes. We can’t help but watch films that everyone else wants to see.

Have you heard of Roland Emmerich? He hasn’t directed as many films as the rest of the known directors in Hollywood have, but his few projects make it big on-screen.

Emmerich studied at the University of Television and Film Munich in the late ‘70s.

His student film, Arche Noah Prinzip Das (1984) opened the 1984 Berlin Film Festival. This feature made his name known far and wide after it was sold in more than 20 countries.

The following year, 1985, he and his producer-sister Ute Emmerich created Centropolis Film Productions, better known now as Centropolis Entertainment.

After directing Moon 44, an English-language feature film in Germany, producer Mario Kassar noticed Emmerich’s talent.

He was invited to come to Hollywood to direct and work with Dean Devlin, who was also introduced in Moon 44.

His first big Hollywood hit was directing Independence Day with Will Smith in 1996. This was the first film to gross $100-M in less than one week after its showing and is still considered one of the best films ever made.

Godzilla was next in line. Unfortunately, it didn’t make a good impression on the critics and failed to meet box-office expectations.

Emmerich took some time off and veered away from doing films with much visual effects by directing The Patriot.

Emmerich was considered as director of Spider-Man in 2002, but plans didn’t push through. He also turned down the directorial job for Die Another Day.

Soon after, he directed and produced The Day After Tomorrow in 2004.

I found this movie amazing, almost as good as Independence Day.

Emmerich was interested in directing The Transformers, but Dreamworks chose Spielberg and Bay over him.

Emmerich’s most recent visual effects-laden film is 10,000 BC with Steven Strait and Camilla Belle.

Even when it was still in the previews, I had been wanting to watch the film. The movie is about a hunter determined to save his people and fight for his ladylove.

Emmerich felt that the casting played a big role in the movie. Besides keeping the film on low-budget, he knows casting well-known actors automatically distracts the audience from appreciating the uniqueness of his film.

Needless to say, I found every single one of his actors perfect for their role.

My research on Emmerich showed that just like any other directors, he has his own signature style. Emmerich likes to cast a certain group of actors for minor roles in most of his films. Some of these actors are included in at least two of his films: Christopher John Fields, Jack Moore, Steve Gianelli, Arick Avari, and a few others.

Emmerich is also known for featuring the number “44” somewhere in his films in reference to Moon 44.

His movies always have a scene showing a couple kissing in front of a luminous background, and he often includes a scene shot in the rain.

He is the perfect director of large-scale disaster films.

Emmerich is also openly gay. In fact, he donated the largest contribution ($150,000) to the 2006 Outfest’s Legacy Project, which is dedicated to the gay and lesbian film reservation.

Find time to catch 10,000 BC and let’s make Emmerich’s name more well-known to more people.

Have a great week ahead!