The Truman Show

Background:

“America is certainly starting to look outward at last. The impact of its actions and the world's attitude towards them is being thrown in its face. My film is only based on what I've torn from the newspaper headlines. It's just that maybe I read more closely or widely than most.” Andrew Niccol

A veteran commercial director in London, New Zealand born Andrew Niccol went on to achieve success as a director and screenwriter in Hollywood thanks to his work in the critical acclaimed science fiction film “Gattaca” (1997), from which he picked up two Gérardmer Film Festival Awards and a Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival Award. His popularity was raised even higher with his Academy Award and Golden Globe nominated screenplay for the Jim Carrey successful movie “The Truman Show” (1998), which also earned him a Saturn Award, a BAFTA Award, an Online Film Critics Society Award, a London Critics Circle Film Award (also for “Gottaca”) and several other nominations. The latter film also marked Niccol's debut as a producer. Niccol also directed, produced and wrote “S1m0ne” (2002) and “Lord of War” (2005). His new film, “The Cross,” will hit theaters in 2010.

Niccol is married to model/actress Rachel Roberts. They have two kids.

New Zealander

Childhood and Family:

Andrew M. Niccol was born on June 10, 1964, in Paraparaumu, New Zealand. He was raised in Auckland and enrolled at Auckland Grammar School. At age 21, he left New Zealand to pursue a directing career in London, England. After ten years, he made the move to Hollywood.

In 2002, Andrew married Canadian model-turned-actress Rachel Roberts (born on April 8, 1978), whom he met on the set of “S1m0ne.” The couple had a boy, Jack, in 2003 and a girl named Ava in 2008.

Gattaca

Career:

Andrew Niccol got his start directing television commercials in London. After a decade of making ads, he decided to head to Los Angeles to chase a filmmaking career.

Niccol made his feature film directorial debut with “Gattaca” (1997), which he also wrote. The science fiction drama starred Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman and Jude Law with supporting roles played by Loren Dean, Ernest Borgnine, Gore Vidal and Alan Arkin. Although it received critical acclaim from critics, the movie was not a success at the box office but was nominated for an Oscar for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration and a Golden Globe for Best Original Score - Motion Picture. As for his work, Niccol earned a Fun Trophy and Special Jury Prize at the 1998 Gérardmer Film Festival, a Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival for Best Film, an ALFS Award for Screenwriter of the Year at the 1999 London Critics Circle Film Awards and a Grand Prix nomination at the 1998 Paris Film Festival.

The following year, Niccol gained further recognition with his outstanding writing on “The Truman Show” (1998, originally written before “Gottaca”), a movie chronicling the life of a man who finds he is living in a constructed reality soap opera. Helmed by Australian born Peter Weir and starring Jim Carrey as Truman Burbank, the film was a critical and commercial success. It received a number of nominations at the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Saturn Awards and BAFTA Awards. Niccol won a Saturn for Best Writer, a BAFTA for Best Screenplay - Original, London Critics Circle Film's AFLS Award for Screenwriter of the Year (also for his previous film “Gattaca”), an Online Film Critics Society for Best Screenplay, Original, an Oscar nomination for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen, a Golden Globe nomination for Best Screenplay - Motion Picture, a Writers Guild of America nomination for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen, a Chicago Film Critics Association for Best Screenplay, and a Chlotrudis nomination for Best Screenplay for his work in the film. Also a co-producer, he jointly netted a BAFTA nomination for Best Film.

“My biggest mistake, going back to 'The Truman Show,' was that I wrote my most expensive film first and you just shouldn't do that. I remember talking to the studio head at the time and she said, ‘There's no way for a first film that we'll give you a budget of $80 million. But we would give you $20 million.’ So I went off and wrote ‘Gattaca’ and made sure it was $20 million. So they let me make it.” Andrew Niccol

Niccol returned to the director's chair with “S1m0ne” (2002), which he also produced and wrote. A fantasy film about a Hollywood filmmaker who decides to digitally create an actress to star in his movie, the film met with mixed reactions from critics and failed to attract audiences despite having top talents like Al Pacino, Winona Ryder and Catherine Keener in it.

Two years later, Niccol executive produced and contributed to the story of the Steven Spielberg directed hit “The Terminal,” which received mixed reviews. The movie starred Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones. The next year, he directed, produced and wrote “Lord of War,” a political thriller starring Nicolas Cage as Yuri Orlov. The film was well received by critics and grossed over $72 million worldwide with an estimated budget of $42 million. Apart from Cage, the film's cast also included Jared Leto, Ethan Hawke, Ian Holm and Bridget Moynahan.

Niccol is set to direct and produce his screenplay “The Cross,” which is slated a 2010 release. The drama will star Orlando Bloom, Olga Kurylenko, John Goodman and Vincent Cassel. In addition, he is scheduled to direct a movie called “The Host,” which should be released in 2011.

“Hollywood's only allegiance these days is to money. If they think there's cash to be made by making films with a conscience, then you might see a revival of that kind of film making. Otherwise, forget it.” Andrew Niccol

Awards:

• Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films: Saturn, Best Writer, “The Truman Show,” 1999

• BAFTA: Best Screenplay - Original, “The Truman Show,” 1999

• London Critics Circle Film: ALFS Award, Screenwriter of the Year, “The Truman Show” and “Gattaca,” 1999

• Online Film Critics Society (OFCS): Best Screenplay, Original, “The Truman Show,” 1999

• Gérardmer Film Festival: Fun Trophy, “Gattaca,” 1998

• Gérardmer Film Festival: Special Jury Prize, “Gattaca,” 1998

• Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival: Best Film, “Gattaca,” 1997