Alek Keshishian
About
Biography
Biography
Young Harvard-educated director of music videos (Bobby Brown's "My Prerogative," Elton John's "Sacrifice" and Vanessa Williams's "He's Got the Look") selected by pop diva Madonna to helm a feature-length documentary about her four-month Blond Ambition Tour. "Truth or Dare: On the Road, Behind the Scenes, and in Bed With Madonna" (1991) marked Keshishian's feature debut. Given complete access to the star's most intimate moments, he fashioned a controversial yet intelligent film that aroused curiosity about its sexually explicit exhibitionism even before its debut at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival. Keshishian's first fiction film, "With Honors" (1994), starred Joe Pesci as a homeless man who teaches a few Harvard students the meaning of life.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Music (Feature Film)
Director (Special)
Life Events
1970
Began playing violin at age five (date approximate)
1986
Staged senior thesis project, a pop opera adaptation of "Wuthering Heights" (using music by Kate Bush, Billy Idol and Madonna), at the American Repertory Theater on a budget of $2,000
1991
Directed first documentary feature, "Truth or Dare" (after originally scheduled director David Fincher dropped out), featuring Madonna during her Blond Ambition tour
1994
Directed first fiction film, "With Honors"
1999
Reteamed with Madonna for a commercial for Max Factor cosmetics shown in the U.K.
2001
Helmed a commercial for the Japanese soft drink Love Body, featuring actress Heather Graham
2006
Wrote and directed the romantic comedy "Love and Other Disasters," starring Brittany Murphy
2011
Reunited with Madonna to co-write the screenplay for period drama "W.E."; Madonna directed film
