Zachary Edward "Zack" Snyder is an American film director, film producer, and screenwriter,
best known for action and science fiction films. Snyder made his feature film debut
with the 2004 remake Dawn of the Dead and has gone on to be known for his comic book
movies and superhero films, including 300, Watchmen, Man of Steel and its upcoming sequel,
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Snyder is the co-founder of Cruel and Unusual Films,
a production company he established in 2004, alongside his wife Deborah Snyder and producing
partner Wesley Coller.
Personal life Snyder was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and
was raised in Riverside, Connecticut. His mother, Marsha, was a painter and a photography
teacher at Daycroft School, which Snyder later attended. His father, Charles Edward "Ed"
Snyder, worked as an executive recruiter. Snyder attended Camp Owatonna in Harrison,
Maine during the summer months as a child. Snyder's mother inspired him to study paintings
a year after high school at Heatherley School of Fine Art in England, although he had already
begun filmmaking. Afterward, Snyder attended the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena,
California. Snyder lives in Pasadena with his second wife,
producer Deborah Snyder. The couple first met in 1996, and married on September 25,
2004 at the St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in Manhattan, New York.
Career
Snyder went on to shoot, as a director and as a cinematographer, television commercials
for such clients as the automobile companies Audi, BMW, Subaru and Nissan, among others.
Other commercial work has been for clients including Nike, Reebok, and Gatorade.
Snyder made his feature film debut with the remake Dawn of the Dead, and scored a box
office hit with 300, adapted from writer-artist Frank Miller's Dark Horse Comics miniseries
of the same name. His Warner Bros. film Watchmen was released on March 6, 2009 and grossed
$185 million worldwide. His follow-up project/animation debut titled Legend of the Guardians: The
Owls of Ga'Hoole was released on September 24, 2010. Snyder produced, co-wrote, and directed
Sucker Punch, which was released on March 25, 2011. The film, based on a script written
by Snyder and Steve Shibuya, was about a young woman in a mental hospital who fantasizes
of escape with her fellow inmates. He directed 2013's Man of Steel for Warner
Bros., a reboot of the Superman franchise. He will direct a yet-to-be-produced remake
of the 1969 film The Illustrated Man, and produced the prequel/sequel to 300, 300: Rise
of an Empire. He also wants to direct a segment for an upcoming Heavy Metal 3, and plans to
write and direct a sequel to Legend of the Guardians.
In October 2012, Warner Bros. announced a planned 2015 release for their Justice League
film. It remains unknown at this point whether or not Henry Cavill is expected to reprise
his role. During an interview with the New York Post in November 2012, director Zack
Snyder stated, “I don’t know how ‘Justice League’ is going to be handled. Honestly,
I don’t. But ‘The Man of Steel’ exists, and Superman is in it. I don’t know how
you’d move forward without acknowledging that,” and claimed that Warner Bros. expects
him to "keep them on course" as regards to a potential cinematic universe. It was rumored
in early March 2013 that Snyder would direct the Justice League film and that Christopher
Nolan would again be producing. In November 2012, Snyder proclaimed that he
would not be involved with the development of Star Wars Episode VII. Speculation swirled
again in January 2013, when Vulture reported that he would be developing a Star Wars spin-off
film inspired by Seven Samurai. However, this report was later denied as rumor by Snyder's
representative. As of March 2013, it was rumored that Zack Snyder might be attached to the
long in progress Justice League movie. As reported by Latino Review, Snyder might either
step in as a producer or he might direct the project itself. These reports have not been
confirmed yet. Snyder is set to direct a Man of Steel sequel. During Comic Con 2013, Snyder
announced that Batman and Superman will share the screen in the Man of Steel sequel titled
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, coming in 2016. Cavill will reprise his role as Superman
and announced in August 2013 that Ben Affleck would play Batman. In April 2014, Snyder was
announced by Warner Bros. to direct the Justice League film after finishing Batman v Superman:
Dawn of Justice. Style
Snyder often uses slow motion in and out of the fight scenes in his films, which Amy Nicholson
of Boxoffice magazine remarked separates the director from other filmmakers who make multiple
cuts and close-ups during a fight. A minute-long shot from 300 shows King Leonidas walking
down as he slaughters his enemies, and the camera only dollys in and out to emphasize
each kill and move, though he has proven capable of directing a fast-paced combat scene, as
shown first in Watchmen, and later on in Man of Steel.
Awards Snyder's body of work has earned him a number
of awards, including two Clio Awards and a Gold Lion Award for his Jeep "Frisbee" commercial.
He also won an award for his humorous commercial "General's Party".
Filmography Music videos
"Love Is a Crime" performed by Lizzy Borden "Tomorrow" performed by Morrissey
"Black Gold" performed by Soul Asylum "World Class Fad" performed by Paul Westerberg
"I Know" performed by Dionne Farris "Walk This World" performed by Heather Nova
"Desolation Row" performed by My Chemical Romance
Films Collaborations
Actors Crew
Snyder's wife Deborah Snyder, has produced all of his films dating back to 300.
Larry Fong and William Hoy were Snyder's cinematographer and film editor, respectively, on the films
300, Watchmen and Sucker Punch. John "D.J." Desjardin was the visual effects
supervisor on Watchmen, Sucker Punch and Man of Steel.
References
External links Cruel and Unusual Films – Snyder's production
company Snyder at MySpace
Zack Snyder at the Internet Movie Database Zack Snyder at Believe Media
Zack Snyder Biography at Tribute.ca Zack Snyder Directing 'Superman' at Deadline
Zack Snyder directing Superman reboot at The Hollywood Reporter
Zack Snyder on Twitter