Marco Brambilla
About
Biography
Biography
This Italian-born filmmaker enjoyed a successful career helming commercials before making his feature directorial debut with "Demolition Man" (1993), a slyly satirical sci-fi thriller lavishly produced by Joel Silver and featuring Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes as mortal adversaries. Marco Brambilla moved to Toronto to study filmmaking and later began his career making commercials for such clients as Levi's, IBM, Coca-Cola and Nike. After being named Canada's top commercial director, he relocated to the USA where he worked for Ridley and Tony Scott's commercial production house, RSA USA. His strong background in advertising is evident in his filmmaking which features a high-gloss finish (not unlike the brothers Scott), quick cutting and high production values.
Brambilla spent several years searching for a follow-up. One pet project which he co-scripted and hoped to direct was a biopic of daredevil motorcyclist Evel Knievel, but the proposed movie languished in development and the helmer moved on to his second film, the 1997 Alicia Silverstone vehicle "Excess Baggage." A comedy about a fake kidnapping that turns real, the film earned almost unanimously negative reviews (including THE NEW YORK TIMES' referring to his direction as "sluggish"), although Benicio Del Toro was singled out for his work as a thief who falls for Silverstone's spoiled heiress. Over the next several years, Brambilla concentrated on video installations as art exhibits, including one, "Marco Brambilla, 'In Action'" that was showcased in NYC in fall 2001. As part of this display, the director included "Sequel," which utilized footage from "Demolition Man." He resumed his directorial career helming the anticipated (and heavily promoted) ABC miniseries "Dinotopia" (2002). A lavish and complex production that reportedly was the largest ever filmed at London's Pinewood Studios, "Dinotopia" depicted a fantasy world where humans co-exist with dinosaurs and was adapted from James Gurney's popular books.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Editing (Feature Film)
Life Events
1987
Named top commercial director in Canada
1990
Worked for Ridley and Tony Scott's RSA USA commercial production house
1990
Moved to the USA
1993
Feature directorial debut, "Demolition Man"
1997
Made second film, the Alicia Silverstone vehicle "Excess Baggage"
2001
Had exhibition in NYC "Marco Brambilla, 'In Action'" which featured three video works
2002
Directed the ABC miniseries "Dinotopia"
