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IMDbPro

Albert Pyun(1953-2022)

  • Director
  • Writer
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Albert Pyun
Trailer for Cool Air
Play trailer0:58
Cool Air (2006)
1 Video
2 Photos
Albert Pyun is an award-winning US filmmaker best known for his contributions to the science-fiction and action genres. He is credited with pioneering the cyborg sub-genre and is considered to be a maverick and renegade in independent genre cinema. With over 50 titles to his name, he has enjoyed a prolific career spanning 30+ years and has earned himself a fevered cult following.

His first film, The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982), was the highest-grossing independent film of 1982, earning $36,714,025 in the US. The film's success led to Pyun being attached to various large sci-fi projects, including Total Recall (1990) (eventually directed by Paul Verhoeven) and he became a much sought-after director by several studios. His follow-up film was the post-apocalyptic sci-fi Radioactive Dreams (1984), which helped launch the careers of Michael Dudikoff and John Stockwell, and cemented Pyun's reputation for being an edgy and creative filmmaker. The 1980s was a highly productive decade for him, with the release of Dangerously Close (1986), Vicious Lips (1986), Down Twisted (1987), Alien from L.A. (1988), Journey to the Center of the Earth (1988), Cyborg (1989) and Deceit (1990).

Pyun's work with Cannon Pictures saw him direct more films for the company than any other filmmaker and his involvement with "Spider-Man" and "Masters of the Universe 2" became legendary. When both films were canceled mid-way into their productions, Pyun devised a breakneck strategy to combine the sets and costume designs from both to salvage the lost money and deliver a single stand-alone film. The result was Cyborg (1989), which opened in 1989 as the fourth highest grossing film in the United States. It grossed $10,166,459 and gave Jean-Claude Van Damme his Hollywood superstar status.

The 1990s proved to be an even more prolific decade, with Pyun directing a further 24 films. Notable throughout those years include Captain America (1990), Nemesis (1992), Nemesis 2: Nebula (1995), Nemesis 3: Time Lapse (1996), Nemesis 4: Death Angel (1996), Kickboxer 2: The Road Back (1991), Knightriders (1981), Omega Doom (1996), Adrenalin: Fear the Rush (1996), Hong Kong 97 (1994), Postmortem (1998) and Mean Guns (1997). His work with Charles Band's Full Moon Pictures saw him direct Dollman (1991) and Arcade (1993), both of which continue to hold a strong cult following.

The 2000s marked a new era for Pyun, as he moved away from the independent studio system and began making films much more independently by way of self-funding and outsourcing money personally. This allowed for greater creative freedoms as a filmmaker, despite his budgets being drastically reduced. His new approach to filmmaking has divided audiences, however; those who have followed his career closely agree that his films since 2000 have been far more audacious and personal, none more so than his 2013 film Road to Hell (2008) (shot in 2008). Inspired by Walter Hill's classic Streets of Fire (1984), the film acts as a spiritual sequel and presents the two protagonists in an alternative future. Michael Paré and Deborah Van Valkenburgh reprised their roles of Tom and Reva Cody and their characters are pitted against a vibrant and surreal purgatory landscape. The film has enjoyed a steady run on the festival circuit and is slated for a home-entertainment release. Other notable films from this decade include the stunning one-shot horror film Invasion (2004) (aka "Infection"), the brutal drug trade thriller Bulletface (2010) and the long-awaited Abelar: Tales of an Ancient Empire (2010), a follow up to "The Sword and the Sorcerer". Investor and distributor interference on this film jeopardized the final theatrical cut and the film is slated, along with several of his other films, for an upcoming director's cut release.

The 2010s have proven to be a difficult time in Pyun's career due to declining health and difficulties getting a major project released. His film Cyborg Nemesis: The Dark Rift was shot, but remains unfinished due to pending post-production issues. An incomplete version of the film was screened for an audience at the Yellow Fever Independent Film Festival. His health took a turn for the worst in 2012 when he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The effect of the illness took an emotional and physical toll on him and in early 2013 he announced his retirement. Following a brief hiatus he concluded that the best remedy was filmmaking and he made a triumphant return with The Interrogation of Cheryl Cooper (2014). While he endured medical tests and treatments, the film had an incredibly fast turnaround and was written, shot and completed within a matter of weeks. The story line was a direct follow-up to "Invasion" and continued the one-shot concept. It was entirely filmed over the course of a single day and showcased Pyun's ability to think outside the box, both practically and creatively.

As of 2015 Pyun has attempted to develop various other projects, while maintaining ongoing treatment for his multiple sclerosis. These projects include "Napoleon", "The Kickboxer": "City of Blood" and "Algiers". In maintaining a strong relationship with his fan base Pyun has shared the production details of these projects on his Facebook page and maintains that he is still actively pursuing them. Their further development will depend on his ongoing health. He attributes his relationship with his fans as a driving force in fighting his illness and he has shared his medical journey with them almost every step of the way.

November of 2015 saw the release of a conceptual teaser trailer for a brand-new film titled "Star Warfare Rangers" and the "Cyborg Witch of Endor" (later retitled Interstellar Civil War: Shadows of the Empire (2017)). Having evolved from various attempts to revive his "Cyborg" saga, the film is set to be an original story detailing the search for a missing Cyborg child. The film will mark Albert's 33rd collaboration with his long-standing composer Tony Riparetti and boasts an impressive cast including Brad Thornton, Glenn Maynard, Ellie Church, Tommie Vegas, Shane Ryan and Morgan Weisser, among others.

Pyun's career has seen him work with some of the biggest stars in Hollywood, many of whom got their first break with him. He has worked with the likes of Jean-Claude Van Damme, Sasha Mitchell, Christopher Lambert, Natasha Henstridge, Brion James, Tim Thomerson, Jackie Earle Haley, Teri Hatcher, Rutger Hauer, Olivier Gruner, Charlie Sheen, Burt Reynolds, Steven Seagal, Rob Lowe, Ice-T, Snoop Dogg, Kevin Sorbo, Tom Sizemore, Andrew Dice Clay, Dennis Hopper, Kevin Gage, Robert Patrick, Seth Green, Dennis Chan, Ned Beatty, Darren McGavin, Ronny Cox, Kris Kristofferson, George Kennedy, Richard Lynch, Lee Horsley, Richard Moll, Courteney Cox, Tom Matthews, Nicholas Guest, Kathy Ireland, Deep Roy, Michel Qissi, Andrew Divoff, David Carradine, Vincent Klyn, Mitch Pileggi, Yuji Okumoto, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Michael Pare and Deborah Van Vulkenburgh. His most frequent actor collaborations have been with Norbert Weisser and Scott Paulin, who have worked alongside Albert in dozens of films spanning several decades.

Albert lives in Las Vegas, NV, with his wife and producer, Cynthia Curnan.
BornMay 19, 1953
DiedNovember 26, 2022(69)
BornMay 19, 1953
DiedNovember 26, 2022(69)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Awards
    • 4 wins & 2 nominations

Photos

Albert Pyun, Shane Ryan-Reid, Tommie Vegas, and Brittany Bochart in The Interrogation of Cheryl Cooper (2014)

Known for

Jean-Claude Van Damme and Vincent Klyn in Cyborg (1989)
Cyborg
5.0
  • Director
  • 1989
Radioactive Dreams (1984)
Radioactive Dreams
5.5
  • Director(as Albert F. Pyun)
  • 1984
The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982)
The Sword and the Sorcerer
5.4
  • Director
  • 1982
Nemesis 5: The New Model (2017)
Nemesis 5: The New Model
2.4
  • Producer
  • 2017

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Director

  • City of Blood
    • Director (attached)
    • In Development
  • Cyborg: Rise of the Flesh Eaters
    • Director (attached)
    • In Production
  • The Kickboxer: Algiers
    • Director
    • Pre-production
  • Death Heads: Brain Drain (2018)
    Death Heads: Brain Drain
    • Director
    • Video
    • 2018
  • Brad Thornton, Ellie Church, and Mayling Ng in Interstellar Civil War: Shadows of the Empire (2017)
    Interstellar Civil War: Shadows of the Empire
    • Director
    • 2017
  • Cyborg Nemesis: The Dark Rift
    Cyborg Nemesis: The Dark Rift
    • Director
  • Tommie Vegas in The Interrogation of Cheryl Cooper (2014)
    The Interrogation of Cheryl Cooper
    • Director
    • 2014
  • Abelar: Tales of an Ancient Empire (2010)
    Abelar: Tales of an Ancient Empire
    • Director
    • 2010
  • Bulletface (2010)
    Bulletface
    • Director
    • 2010
  • Road to Hell (2008)
    Road to Hell
    • Director
    • 2008
  • Left for Dead (2007)
    Left for Dead
    • Director
    • 2007
  • Cool Air (2006)
    Cool Air
    • Director
    • Video
    • 2006
  • Aliens Gone Wild (2005)
    Aliens Gone Wild
    • Director
    • 2005
  • Sci-Fi Slaughter (2005)
    Sci-Fi Slaughter
    • Director (uncredited)
    • Video
    • 2005
  • Infection (2005)
    Infection
    • Director
    • 2005
  • Max Havoc: Curse of the Dragon (2004)
    Max Havoc: Curse of the Dragon
    • Director
    • 2004
  • Traci Bingham and Master P in Bad Bizness (2003)
    Bad Bizness
    • Director (uncredited)
    • Video
    • 2003
  • Ticker (2001)
    Ticker
    • Director
    • 2001

Writer

  • Cyborg: Rise of the Flesh Eaters
    • Writer
    • In Production
  • The Kickboxer: Algiers
    • Writer
    • Pre-production
  • Brad Thornton, Ellie Church, and Mayling Ng in Interstellar Civil War: Shadows of the Empire (2017)
    Interstellar Civil War: Shadows of the Empire
    • Writer
    • 2017
  • The Wrecking Crew (2000)
    The Wrecking Crew
    • Writer (as Hannah Blue)
    • 2000
  • Corrupt (1999)
    Corrupt
    • story (as Hannah Blue)
    • 1999
  • Urban Menace (1999)
    Urban Menace
    • Writer (as Hannah Blue)
    • Video
    • 1999
  • Blast (1997)
    Blast
    • written by (as Hannah Blue)
    • 1997
  • Nemesis 4: Death Angel (1996)
    Nemesis 4: Death Angel
    • written by
    • Video
    • 1996
  • Rutger Hauer in Omega Doom (1996)
    Omega Doom
    • screenplay
    • story
    • 1996
  • Nemesis 3: Time Lapse (1996)
    Nemesis 3: Time Lapse
    • written by
    • Video
    • 1996
  • Natasha Henstridge and Christopher Lambert in Adrenalin: Fear the Rush (1996)
    Adrenalin: Fear the Rush
    • written by
    • 1996
  • Nemesis 2: Nebula (1995)
    Nemesis 2: Nebula
    • written by
    • Video
    • 1995
  • Keith Cooke in Heatseeker (1995)
    Heatseeker
    • screenplay
    • story
    • 1995
  • Spitfire (1995)
    Spitfire
    • screenplay
    • story
    • 1995
  • Sasha Mitchell in Kickboxer 4: The Aggressor (1994)
    Kickboxer 4: The Aggressor
    • screenplay
    • story
    • 1994
  • Lance Henriksen, Kris Kristofferson, and Kathy Long in Knights (1993)
    Knights
    • written by
    • 1993
  • Teri Hatcher and Andrew Dice Clay in Brain Smasher... A Love Story (1993)
    Brain Smasher... A Love Story
    • written by
    • Video
    • 1993

Producer

  • Nemesis 5: The New Model (2017)
    Nemesis 5: The New Model
    • executive producer
    • 2017
  • Tales of an Ancient Empire: Behind the Scenes
    • executive producer
    • Video
    • 2012
  • Traci Bingham and Master P in Bad Bizness (2003)
    Bad Bizness
    • producer
    • Video
    • 2003
  • Final Examination (2003)
    Final Examination
    • producer
    • Video
    • 2003
  • Ticker (2001)
    Ticker
    • producer
    • 2001
  • Peter Cunningham, Vincent Klyn, Thom Mathews, Thunderwolf, and Benny Urquidez in Bloodmatch (1991)
    Bloodmatch
    • executive producer
    • 1991

Videos1

Cool Air
Trailer 0:58
Cool Air

Personal details

Edit
  • Official sites
    • Instagram
    • Official Site
  • Alternative names
    • Hannah Blue
  • Height
    • 5′ 8″ (1.73 m)
  • Born
    • May 19, 1953
    • Hawaii, USA
  • Died
    • November 26, 2022
    • Las Vegas, Nevada, USA(after having dementia and multiple sclerosis for years)
  • Spouse
    • Cynthia Curnan2014 - November 26, 2022 (his death)
  • Other works
    Directed Ice-T's "Always Wanted Ta Be A Ho" music video.
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Interview

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Was approached to direct Total Recall (1990) in 1983 by the Ladd Company. Was approached to direct a remake of "The Killer" in 1994 by TriStar Pictures.
  • Quotes
    [on shooting Cyborg Nemesis: The Dark Rift in Buenos Aires]: You might wonder why we selected Argentina as the shoot location for Cyborg Nemesis. Well, first of all, I love the crews there. People there really love cinema. Second, it's in the Southern Hemisphere, which will be in their winter (nuclear of course). Finally, there are locations there that are amazing and that are harder to find in LA and Las Vegas. So those are the reasons we choose Argentina - crews, weather, locations.
  • Trademarks
      Frequently uses George Mooradian as cinematographer

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