Biography for
Michael Winterbottom More at IMDbPro »

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Often has actors improvise, rather than work exclusively from the script.

Films often have references (visual and/or spoken) to the works of Werner Herzog (Butterfly Kiss (1995), The Claim (2000), 24 Hour Party People (2002)) or Krzysztof Kieslowski (I Want You (1998/I), Wonderland (1999), Code 46 (2003)).

Films often deal with social and/or political concerns (Go Now (1995), Welcome to Sarajevo (1997), Wonderland (1999), In This World (2002)).

Because of the improvisational element of much of his work, his films often use hand-held (sometimes digital) photography with roughly edited jumps between scenes and locations (Butterfly Kiss (1995), Wonderland (1999), With or Without You (1999), The Claim (2000), 24 Hour Party People (2002), In This World (2002), 9 Songs (2004)).

Often has a sequence with the lead characters running or romantically playing on the beach. (Butterfly Kiss (1995), Jude (1996), I Want You (1998/I), _With Or Without You (1999)_, In This World (2002), 9 Songs (2004)).

For three films in a row (I Want You (1998/I), With or Without You (1999) and Wonderland (1999)), had a central character who worked as a hairdresser.

Trivia

Co-founder of Revolution films (UK); along with producing partner Andrew Eaton.

Is a keen admirer of German new wave films, particularly those directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder.

Often works from a script by Frank Cottrell Boyce.

Frequently works with actors Christopher Eccleston, Shirley Henderson, John Simm and James Nesbitt.

His former partner Sabrina Broadbent wrote a novel, "Descent", which "The Manchester Guardian" describes as "closely based on their life together. Or rather, not together, because the husband in the book is understood to be a workaholic film director who keeps disappearing in pursuit of interesting projects". ("A Winterbottom's Tale", February 1, 2004)

Often works with cinematographers Marcel Zyskind (In This World (2002), Code 46 (2003), 9 Songs (2004)) and Alwin H. Kuchler (The Claim (2000), Heartlands (2002), Code 46 (2003)).

Went to college with director Marc Evans (Resurrection Man (1998), My Little Eye (2002), Trauma (2004/I)). Winterbottom's company Revolution Films produced Marc Evans' second film Resurrection Man (1998).

Apparently, his first job on a film shoot was working as Lindsay Anderson's assistant in his early twenties, a position he described as "...basically holding cups of tea".

Was the original director chosen for The Cider House Rules (1999), Goal! (2005), and Freedomland (2006) and did extensive work before leaving each of those projects.

Member of jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1998

Attended Oxford before going to Bristol University to study film.

Was approached to direct The Cider House Rules (1999).

Was approached to direct Good Will Hunting (1997) for $1.5 million but declined.

Often flies economy with his crew.

Hoped to use the sets of Danny Boyle's film Sunshine on the production's off days to shoot his own science fiction comedy. Permission was never worked out and Winterbottom's film was canceled.

Has two daughters with Sabrina Broadbent.

Went to Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Blackburn.

Personal Quotes

I don't particularly like the idea that there's an arc to the story and that therefore in this scene you have to convey this bit of information or emotion. I like more the feeling that, of course, there is a shape to the story, but that each scene should feel right, should be true at that moment, and that gradually you accumulate these moments of truth until you get enough of them together that it becomes a story that's interesting.

Cinema has been extremely conservative and prudish. I wanted to go to the opposite extreme and show the relationship only through sex. [on 9 Songs (2004)]

When I was at university, the film club always showed In the Realm of the Senses (Ai no corrida (1976)) at the start of a new year to get people to join. It was full of explicit sex, yet you can buy it in HMV now.

"Why can a writer engage in sexual imagery with no restrictions and yet a film author can't do the same?"

Where Are They Now

(March 2006) He visited Argentina for to promote his film A Cock and Bull Story (2005) in Mar del Plata International Film Festival.

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