Jan De Bont is a total filmmaker in the European tradition. Born in Eindhoven, Netherlands, Mr. De Bont began making films at the age of 10. After high school, he studied film at The National Film Academy in Amsterdam, and it was there that he saw a very unique war movie, Paths of Glory. The visual style of this film by Stanley Kubrick forever changed the way Mr. De Bont approached filmmaking.

An international city, Amsterdam was open to a wide range of creative influences, particularly from Paris, where a new form of distinctively European independent filmmaking was emerging. Mr. De Bont frequently traveled to Paris to see movies and exchange ideas with directors who were inspiring young filmmakers throughout Europe.

Determined to make his own artistic contribution, Mr. De Bont began making documentaries professionally while still in film school. Out of necessity he became a master of all aspects of the filmmaking process.

His earliest films documented the cultural explosion of the Sixties in Europe. Later Mr. De Bont acquired considerable experience directing actors in weekly episodes of the popular German comedy series Express. He made 35 films and a number of music videos during this period, continually working in multiple capacities.

The 1961film, Paranoia, was Mr. De Bont's first feature film as a director and won him several festival awards. A few years later, he shot a remarkable series of Dutch films with director Paul Verhoeven, which caught the eye of Hollywood producers. The success of his previous films made him one of the most sought-after cameramen and he easily found work with some of the top directors in America.

Since then, Mr. De Bont has worked on such films as: Die Hard, Black Rain, Flatliners, Lethal Weapon 3 and Basic Instinct. His biggest break came in 1993 when he was asked to direct the action-thriller movie Speed. With the success of Speed exceeding expectations, he was courted to direct yet another popular feature film, Twister. Regarded as a consummate women's director, Mr. De Bont is credited as the first director to use both Sandra Bullock and Helen Hunt in major movies.

A director known for the incredible size and scope of his films, Mr. De Bont's versatile filmmaking has influenced almost every genre. From low-budget documentaries to huge Hollywood productions, Jan De Bont has witnessed the realization of his dream from behind the lens.

Mr. De Bont lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two young children.

Credit: ailf.org