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IMDbPro

Randal Kleiser

  • Director
  • Writer
  • Producer
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Randal Kleiser
Trailer for The Blue Lagoon
Play trailer1:45
The Blue Lagoon (1980)
3 Videos
24 Photos
Randal Kleiser has been an internationally known film director since the release of his first feature, Grease (1978). Other features include The Blue Lagoon (1980) with Brooke Shields, Summer Lovers (1982) starring Peter Gallagher and Daryl Hannah, Grandview, U.S.A. (1984) with Jamie Lee Curtis, Flight of the Navigator (1986), featuring the first use of digital morphing in a motion picture; Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992) and White Fang (1991). In London he directed the critically acclaimed comedy Getting It Right (1989) starring Lynn Redgrave, Helena Bonham Carter, Jane Horrocks and Sir John Gielgud. In 1996 he wrote and directed It's My Party (1996) starring Eric Roberts, Gregory Harrison, Lee Grant, Bruce Davison and Marlee Matlin.

As a writer-producer, he was responsible for the surfing classic North Shore (1987) for Universal Pictures. He also directed the thriller Shadow of Doubt (1998) with Melanie Griffith and Tom Berenger. Working in 70mm 3-D, he directed Honey, I Shrunk the Audience (1994), which drew record crowds at the Disney Theme Parks in Anaheim, Orlando, Tokyo and Paris. His television movies include The Boy in the Plastic Bubble (1976) with John Travolta; the Emmy Award-winning The Gathering (1977) and Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway (1976).

As a freshman at USC, he appeared in George Lucas' first student film, Freiheit (1966). Kleiser's award-winning Master's thesis film, Peege (1973), launched his professional career. He has taught a graduate production workshop at USC and Master Directing Classes for European students at film festivals in Deauville and Sarlat, and Malaga. Kleiser serves as a judge on the Student Awards for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and as chairman of the Academic Subcommittee for the Directors Guild of America, he inaugurated a videoconferencing program to connect film classes with working directors. Working with the Graphics Lab at USC's Institute for Creative Technologies, Kleiser has co-invented a digital Cinerama-like process called Vistarama HD and developed "Silver Metal Lover" for Dimension Pictures. In 2005 he directed Amanda Bynes for Lovewrecked (2005), shot in the Caribbean. Two years later Kleiser came up with an original musical movie shot on virtual sets, Red Riding Hood (2006), starring Joey Fatone and Lainie Kazan.

Kleiser has spent several years working with George Lucas to create The Nina Foch Course for Filmmakers and Actors (2010), an instructional video for aspiring actors, writers and filmmakers. Kleiser was heavily influenced by Nina Foch's teachings during his time at USC and maintained a relationship with Foch as his mentor throughout his career.

Randal Kleiser wrote and directed the 360 degree Virtual Reality series Defrost: The Virtual Series (2019), featuring Carl Weathers, Bruce Davison and Harry Hamlin which was shown at the Sundance Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival in 2016.

Kleiser serves on the Sci Tech Council of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. At the Directors Guild of America, Kleiser chairs the annual Digital Day presentation and serves on the National Board.

Official Site: http://www.randalkleiser.com/
BornJuly 20, 1946
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornJuly 20, 1946
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  • View contact info at IMDbPro
  • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy

Photos24

Director Randal Kleiser (left) with Olivia Newton-John (center) and John Travolta (right) on the graduation carnival set.
John Travolta and Randal Kleiser at an event for Grease (1978)
Randal Kleiser, Col Needham, Pete Hammond, and Keith Simanton
Joey Cramer and Randal Kleiser in Flight of the Navigator (1986)
Randal Kleiser in Flight of the Navigator (1986)
Randal Kleiser in Flight of the Navigator (1986)
Bob Burns and Randal Kleiser in Captain America vs. The Mutant (1964)
Bob Burns and Randal Kleiser in Captain America vs. The Mutant (1964)
Randal Kleiser in Getting It Right (1989)
Ethan Hawke and Randal Kleiser in White Fang (1991)
Ethan Hawke, Seymour Cassel, and Randal Kleiser in White Fang (1991)
Randal Kleiser in White Fang (1991)

Known for

John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in Grease (1978)
Grease
7.2
  • Director(directed by)
  • 1978
Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins in The Blue Lagoon (1980)
The Blue Lagoon
5.8
  • Director
  • 1980
Joey Cramer in Flight of the Navigator (1986)
Flight of the Navigator
6.9
  • Director
  • 1986
White Fang (1991)
White Fang
6.7
  • Director(directed by)
  • 1991

Credits

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IMDbPro

Director

  • Grease XR (2019)
    Grease XR
  • Christopher Atkins, Veronica Cartwright, Bruce Davison, Carl Weathers, Harry Hamlin, Tanna Frederick, Kelly De Sarla, and Clinton Valencia in Defrost: The Virtual Series (2019)
    Defrost: The Virtual Series
  • The Speech JFK Never Gave (2017)
    The Speech JFK Never Gave
  • The Nina Foch Course for Filmmakers and Actors (2010)
    The Nina Foch Course for Filmmakers and Actors
  • Morgan Thompson in Red Riding Hood (2006)
    Red Riding Hood
  • Amanda Bynes and Chris Carmack in Lovewrecked (2005)
    Lovewrecked
  • Royal Standard
  • Shadow of Doubt (1998)
    Shadow of Doubt
  • It's My Party (1996)
    It's My Party
  • Madeline Kahn, Mary Tyler Moore, Gregory Harrison, Melina Kanakaredes, Kelli Williams, and Joe Morton in New York News (1995)
    New York News
  • Honey, I Shrunk the Audience (1994)
    Honey, I Shrunk the Audience
    • (uncredited)
  • Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992)
    Honey, I Blew Up the Kid
    • (directed by)
  • White Fang (1991)
    White Fang
    • (directed by)
  • Getting It Right (1989)
    Getting It Right
  • Big Top Pee-wee (1988)
    Big Top Pee-wee

Writer

  • North Shore Wave Warriors
    • Pre-production
  • Christopher Atkins, Veronica Cartwright, Bruce Davison, Carl Weathers, Harry Hamlin, Tanna Frederick, Kelly De Sarla, and Clinton Valencia in Defrost: The Virtual Series (2019)
    Defrost: The Virtual Series
  • It's My Party (1996)
    It's My Party
  • North Shore (1987)
    North Shore
  • Daryl Hannah, Peter Gallagher, and Valérie Quennessen in Summer Lovers (1982)
    Summer Lovers
  • ABC Weekend Specials (1977)
    ABC Weekend Specials
  • Street People (1976)
    Street People
  • Foot Fetish
    • (uncredited)
  • Peege (1973)
    Peege
  • Orgy Beach Party

Producer

  • Life After Grease
    • Pre-production
  • Joey Cramer in Life After the Navigator (2020)
    Life After the Navigator
  • Christopher Atkins, Veronica Cartwright, Bruce Davison, Carl Weathers, Harry Hamlin, Tanna Frederick, Kelly De Sarla, and Clinton Valencia in Defrost: The Virtual Series (2019)
    Defrost: The Virtual Series
  • The Nina Foch Course for Filmmakers and Actors (2010)
    The Nina Foch Course for Filmmakers and Actors
  • How to Get There
  • It's My Party (1996)
    It's My Party
  • Milla Jovovich and Brian Krause in Return to the Blue Lagoon (1991)
    Return to the Blue Lagoon
  • Getting It Right (1989)
    Getting It Right
  • North Shore (1987)
    North Shore
  • Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins in The Blue Lagoon (1980)
    The Blue Lagoon
  • Orgy Beach Party
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos3

Randal Kleiser Demo Reel
Demo Reel 5:38
Randal Kleiser Demo Reel
The Blue Lagoon
Trailer 1:45
The Blue Lagoon
Classic Hollywood Cinemas
Trailer 4:23
Classic Hollywood Cinemas

Personal details

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    • Official Site
    • July 20, 1946
    • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
    • Jeffrey Kleiser(Sibling)
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Portrayal
    • 3 Interviews
    • 2 Articles

Did you know

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  • Trivia
    College roommate of George Lucas.
  • Quotes
    I try to get the script onto film in an entertaining way. If there's any style, that's for other people to analyze because I don't consciously try to say, "Now, I'll give it this look." I try to go with the feel a script should have. When I do get into a darker film, I'll try to execute that as best I can, too. I don't consciously go into a project thinking that I'm now going to put my stamp on it.

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