Francis Lawrence

Early life

Lawrence was born to American parents in Vienna, Austria. His father was a theoretical physicist who taught at California State University, Northridge, and his mother is a vice president of technology at a public-relations agency based in his hometown.

He moved to Los Angeles at the age of four. Lawrence worked as second assistant camera on the feature Pump Up the Volume directed by Allan Moyle prior to earning his bachelor's degree in film production at Loyola Marymount University Film School.

Career

He went on to work as first assistant director on the feature Marching Out of Time directed by Anton Vassil in 1993. Lawrence then joined ex-classmate Michael Jason Rosen in co-directing music videos. Lawrence directed his first music videos for the San Jose band A Western Front. Rosen and Lawrence made the two videos for a total of $3,000 with Jeffrey Michael Cutter, another ex-classmate, shooting for them. Lawrence, Rosen, and Cutter also made a video for Michael Blakey, president of Atico Records and Tidal Force drummer, for that band's single, "A Man Rides Through". Soon, Lawrence became known for his original and imaginative music video scripts and visual directing style.

He eventually joined a major new production company and his successful career as music video director includes having worked with stars Rihanna, Green Day, Britney Spears, Black Eyed Peas, Jay-Z, Melanie C, Avril Lavigne, Aerosmith, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Fastball, Lisa Marie Presley, Destiny's Child, Garbage, Goo Goo Dolls, Gwen Stefani, Shakira, Pink, Nelly Furtado, En Vogue, Monica, Missy Elliott, Justin Timberlake, and the Backstreet Boys. In 2002, he won a Latin Grammy Award for Best Short Music Video for directing Shakira's "Suerte" music video. He has also directed numerous commercials for clients such as Coca-Cola, L'Oréal, Calvin Klein, Pepsi-Cola, Maybelline, Kid's Footlocker, Bacardi, McDonald's, GAP, Bud Light, CoverGirl, Oldsmobile, and Disneyland. In 2005, his feature-film debut was Constantine, based on the Hellblazer comic book, starring Keanu Reeves.

In 2007, he directed I Am Legend (based on the Richard Matheson novel), with Will Smith. In 2011, he directed Water for Elephants. In 2012, Lawrence directed and executive produced the pilot episode of the Fox paranormal series Touch. He is currently signed to DNA Inc. In 2011, he won a Grammy Award for Best Music Video, Short Form for directing Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" music video.

In April 2012, Lionsgate announced that Lawrence had been selected to direct the film adaptation of the novel Catching Fire. The book and film were the sequel to the blockbuster hit The Hunger Games, starring Jennifer Lawrence (no relation). This film adaptation of The Hunger Games was directed by Gary Ross, and both novels were written by Suzanne Collins. Lawrence was officially confirmed as the director for the film on May 3, 2012.

He returned to direct the two final parts of the series, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014) and Part 2 (2015). Lawrence is currently working on a film adaptation of the novel Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk.

Lawrence directed Red Sparrow, based on the novel of the same name by Jason Matthews, and featuring The Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence and Joel Edgerton. The film was released on March 2, 2018.

Lawrence signed on to direct The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, an adaptation of the Hunger Games prequel novel by original author Suzanne Collins, in April 2020. The film was released on November 17, 2023.

In March 2021, his about:blank production company struck a deal with New Republic Pictures. Their first project together will be an adaptation of the Philip K. Dick novel Vulcan's Hammer, announced in November 2021. In March 2022, it was announced that Lawrence would be directing a feature adaptation of Kevin J. Anderson and Steven L. Sears’ Stalag-X, to be written by Joy Wilkinson. In April 2022, it was announced that Lawrence will be one of the executive producers of Chief of War for Apple TV+.

In August 2022, TheWrap reported that Lawrence had signed with Netflix to direct an adaptation of BioShock, inspired by the 2K Games franchise. In September of the same year, Deadline reported that the director would also be returning to direct a sequel to Constantine.

In November 2023, it was announced that Lawrence would direct and produce The Long Walk for Lionsgate, based on the novel by Stephen King and published under the pseudonym "Richard Bachman". Production began in Manitoba in July 2024, with Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Charlie Plummer, and Roman Griffin Davis among the cast. Most recently, the company had signed a first-look deal with Lionsgate to produce projects.

Filmography

Main article: Francis Lawrence videography

References

References

1. Cammila Collar. (2013). "Biography of Francis Lawrence". [[The New York Times]].
2. Lee, Chris. (February 19, 2005). "From MTV to wrestling with Satan". Los Angeles Times.
3. Brownfield, Paul. (December 13, 2007). "Finding hope in dystopia". Los Angeles Times.
4. "Latin GRAMMYs, Past Winners Search".
5. (November 8, 2011). "TOUCH Attracts A Lethal Weapon – Danny Glover Joins FOX Pilot". Seriable.
6. Dershowitz, Jessica. (April 20, 2012). "Francis Lawrence to direct "The Hunger Games" sequel "Catching Fire"". CBSNews.com.
7. [https://deadline.com/2012/04/francis-lawrence-is-the-choice-for-catching-fire-259211/ "Director Francis Lawrence Chosen For ‘Catching Fire’ Sequel To ‘Hunger Games’"]. ''[[Deadline Hollywood]]''. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
8. Staskiewicz, Keith. (May 3, 2012). "Francis Lawrence confirmed as 'Catching Fire' director".
9. (November 1, 2012). "'Exclusive: Francis Lawrence to Direct Remainder of THE HUNGER GAMES Franchise with Two-Part Adaptation of MOCKINGJAY′". Collider.com.
10. D'Alessandro, Anthony. (2020-04-21). "'Hunger Games' Prequel 'The Ballad of Songbirds And Snakes' Moves Forward At Lionsgate With Series Director Francis Lawrence".
11. (2021-08-05). "'Hunger Games' Prequel To Start Production In First Half Of 2022, Lionsgate Film Boss Joe Drake Says".
12. D'Alessandro, Anthony. (2022-04-28). "'Hunger Games' Prequel 'The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes' Gets 2023 Release Date – CinemaCon".
13. D'Alessandro, Anthony. (2021-03-23). "New Republic Pictures Inks First-Look Deal With Filmmaker Francis Lawrence".
14. Pederson, Erik. (2021-11-08). "'Vulcan's Hammer': Francis Lawrence Directs Film Version Of Philip K. Dick Novel In Works From New Republic".
15. (March 17, 2022). "Francis Lawrence to Direct 'Stalag-X' for New Republic Pictures, About:Blank Producing".
16. Petski, Denise. (2022-04-04). "Jason Momoa To Headline 'Chief Of War' Limited Series For Apple TV+".
17. (November 30, 2023). "Lionsgate Picks Up Stephen King's 'The Long Walk' with Francis Lawrence Attached to Direct (Exclusive)".
18. Grobar, Matt. (July 24, 2024). "Charlie Plummer & Roman Griffin Davis Among Seven New Additions To Lionsgate's Stephen King Adaptation 'The Long Walk' As Production Begins".
19. D'Alessandro, Anthony. (2024-11-20). "'Hunger Games' Franchise Filmmaker Francis Lawrence Inks First-Look Deal With Lionsgate".