Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell and the
Butterfly)
Unlike most directors on the Academy's nominee
list, Julian Schnabel is fairly new to filmmaking. He wrote and directed his
first film, Basquiat, in 1996. This biopic about painter Jean-Michel
Basquiat is a fitting debut for Julian, considering his artistic talent.
Prior to becoming a filmmaker, he made a name for himself as a
neo-expressionist painter. His work is exhibited in museums throughout the
world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Whitney Museum of
American Art.
After the success of Basquiat, Julian brought
Before Night Falls to international audiences. The film's star, Javier
Bardem, received an Oscar® nomination for his performance.
This year,
Julian is celebrating his first Oscar nomination for the film The Diving Bell
and the Butterfly, which is based on the true story of Jean-Dominique Bauby,
an Elle editor who suffers a paralyzing stroke. Using only his left eye,
Jean-Dominique blinks out his memoir and shares his psychological torment with
the world.
