Quentin Tarantino Biography Essay, Research Paper

Biography for Quentin Tarantino

Nickname QT

Mini biography

In January of 1991 a film titled Reservoir Dogs (1992) hit the Sundance Film festival. The writer – director was a first timer by the name of Quentin Tarantino. The film garnered critical acclaim and the director became a legend in the England, UK and the cult film circuit. Three years later he followed up ‘Dogs’ with the film Pulp Fiction (1994). ‘Pulp’ premiered at the Cannes film festival, where it won the coveted ‘Palme D’Or’ the virtual equal of the Picture at the Academy Awards. At the ‘93 Academy Awards, ‘Pulp’ was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, in addition Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, among others. Tarantino and writing partner Roger Avary came away with the award only for Best Original Screenplay. (Where Roger uttered his now famous line, “I’ve gotta go pee.) In 1995, Tarantino directed one fourth of the Anthology Four Rooms (1995) with friends and fellow auteurs Alexandre Rockwell, Robert Rodriguez, and Allison Anders. That film was released on December 25th in the United States to very weak reviews. This is mainly due to the heavy cutting of the first two segments and the introduction which make much of the plotline unintelligible, and creates a complete mess out of the second segment, directed by

Alexandre Rockwell. The best two segments of the film are Robert Rodriguez’s and

Tarantino’s. Tarantino’s next film was From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), a crime/vampire film which he wrote and co-starred with George Clooney. The film did fairly well theatrically. IMDb mini-biography by Kale Whorton *[email protected]*

Trade mark

Suitcases: A suitcase plays an important role in Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, Jackie Brown and True Romance…

Makes references to cult movies and television

Frequently works with Harvey Keitel

Main character usually dies: Vincent Vega, Jacob Fuller, Mr. White, Clarence Worley (died in original script)

Re-uses names: ie “Vincent” and “Marvin” appear in both Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction

His films usually have a shot from inside a car trunk

Frequently casts Tim Roth

Trivia

(1996 – 2/1998) Dated Mira Sorvino

(November 1997): Was sued by Donald Murphy (I) for $5,000,000, accused of assault.

Tarantino attacked Murphy in restaurant, slammed against the wall and punched him.

(30 July 1997) Together with Lawrence Bender founded record company called A Band

Apart Records. It will focus on film soundtracks and its releases will be distibuted through Maverick Records, owned by Madonna.

(November 1996) Was planning to direct an episode of “X Files, The” (1993), but refuses to join the Director’s guild of America. The guild refused his request for a waiver so that he could direct the show.

Claims that Tarantino acted in the film Dawn of the Dead (1978) or the film King Lear

(1987) are incorrect. Quentin falsely listed these credits years ago on his acting resume to compensate for his lack of experience and these incorrect credits have subsequently beenattributed to him in such places as Leonard Maltin’s Movie and Video Guide and the

Cinemania CD ROM.

First noted screenplay was titled “Captain Peachfuzz and the Anchovy Bandit” which was

written in 1985

Tarantino claims that James Best taught him how to act.

Collects old board games having to do with t.v. shows (I Dream of Jeanie, Dukes of

Hazzard, Mr. T (A-Team), etc.)

Has an ongoing feud with Oliver Stone for the way that he misdirected Natural Born Killers (1994)

In all of his original screenplays the name of a police detective named Scagnetti is referred to at least once. Most of the times the particular scene was cut out of the final versions.

Personal quotes

(at MTV Movie Awards 1994*-?) as he won Best Picture for Pulp Fiction (1994)) “Pop

quiz, hotshot: you go to the awards ceremonies all year long; you keep losing to Forrest

Gump (1994)! It’s really annoying the hell out of you – what do you do? You go to the MTV Awards!”

Where are they now (28 February 1998 – 22 March 1998) Plays Harry Boat in Wait Until Dark, Wilbur Theatre,Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Actor filmography

1.God Said ‘Ha!’ (1998) …. Himself

2.Jackie Brown (1997) (voice) (uncredited) …. Answering Machine Voice

3.Full Tilt Boogie (1997) …. Himself

4.Steven Spielberg’s Director’s Chair (1996) (VG) …. Jack Cavello

5.Girl 6 (1996) …. Q.T.

6.From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) …. Richard Gecko

7.Curdled (1996) (uncredited) …. Richard Gecko

8.Typewriter, the Rifle & the Movie Camera, The (1996) …. Himself

9.Desperado (1995) …. Pick-up Guy

10.Destiny Turns on the Radio (1995) …. Johnny Destiny

11.Four Rooms (1995) (segment “The Man from Hollywood”) …. Chester

12.Pulp Fiction (1994) …. Jimmie

13.”American Cinema” (1994) TV Series

14.Coriolis Effect, The (1994) (voice) …. Panhandle Slim

15.Sleep with Me (1994) …. Sid

16.Somebody to Love (1994) …. Bartender

17.Eddie Presley (1993)

18.Reservoir Dogs (1992) …. Mr. Brown

Filmography as: Actor, Writer, Producer, Director, Notable TV guest appearances

Writer filmography

(2000s) (1990s)

1.40 Lashes (2000)

2.Jackie Brown (1997)

3.From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

4.Curdled (1996) (news report)

5.Rock, The (1996) (uncredited)

6.Crimson Tide (1995) (uncredited)

7.Four Rooms (1995) (segment “The Man From Hollywood”)

8.Pulp Fiction (1994) (stories)

9.Natural Born Killers (1994) (also story) (uncredited for screenplay)

10.It’s Pat (1994) (uncredited)

11.True Romance (1993)

… aka Breakaway (1993) (Philippines: English title) [en]

12.Reservoir Dogs (1992) (also background radio dialogue)

13.Past Midnight (1992) (TV) (uncredited)

Filmography as: Actor, Writer, Producer, Director, Notable TV guest appearances

Producer filmography

(2000s) (1990s)

1.From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman’s Daughter (2000) (V) (executive)

2.From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money (1999) (V) (executive)

3.God Said ‘Ha!’ (1998) (executive)

4.From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) (executive)

5.Curdled (1996) (executive)

6.Four Rooms (1995) (executive)

7.Killing Zoe (1994) (executive)

8.Past Midnight (1992) (TV) (associate)

Filmography as: Actor, Writer, Producer, Director, Notable TV guest appearances

Director filmography

(2000s) (1990s)

1.40 Lashes (2000)

2.Jackie Brown (1997)

3.Four Rooms (1995) (segment “Man from Hollywood, The”)

4.Pulp Fiction (1994)

5.”ER” (1994) TV Series (episode “Motherhood (1995)”)

… aka “Emergency Room” (1994) (original title)

The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother’s keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee. -Jules-, Pulp Fiction.