David Fincher
David Andrew Leo Fincher was born in Denver on the 28th of August 1962. His family moved to San Anselmo, California when he was two years old. He counted filmmaker George Lucas among his neighbors during those early years. At the age of eight, Fincher became fascinated with filmmaking and began making films on an 8mm camera. This childhood spark did not lead him to a traditional film school education. Instead, he found his training ground in the commercial world. As a teenager, he moved to Ashland, Oregon where he attended high school. He directed plays and designed sets after school hours. He worked as a non-union projectionist at Varsity Theatre. He also worked as a production assistant at the KOBI news station in Medford. To support himself financially, he took jobs as a busboy, dishwasher, and fry cook.
Fincher co-founded the production company Propaganda Films in 1986. The company employed numerous directors who would later become famous feature filmmakers. Michael Bay, Antoine Fuqua, Michel Gondry, Spike Jonze, Alex Proyas, Paul Rachman, Mark Romanek, Zack Snyder, and Gore Verbinski all honed their skills there before moving on to cinema. Between 1984 and 1993, Fincher was credited as a director for 53 music videos. He referred to this period as his own film school. He learned how to work efficiently within small budgets and tight time frames during these productions. His 1990 music video for Freedom! '90 by George Michael became one of the most successful videos of that era. Madonna's Vogue from 1990 won him the MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction. The black-and-white video drew inspiration from films of the 1920s and 1930s. It has been frequently cited as one of the best videos ever made. He also directed videos for Rick Springfield, Don Henley, Martha Davis, Paula Abdul, the Outfield, Jermaine Stewart, Aerosmith, Billy Idol, and the Rolling Stones.
In 1990, 20th Century Fox hired Fincher to replace Vincent Ward as the director for Alien 3. This project marked his feature film debut in 1992. The film starred Sigourney Weaver and served as the third installment in the Alien franchise. Studio intervention hampered the production from the very beginning. Several scripts were abandoned before filming began. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone called the film bold and haunting despite the struggle of nine writers. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects but was considered weaker than its predecessors. Years later, Fincher publicly expressed his dismay about the final product. He subsequently disowned the film entirely. In a 2009 interview with The Guardian, he stated that no one hated it more than him. He blamed the producers for their lack of trust in him during the process. After this critical disappointment, Fincher briefly retreated to directing commercials and music videos again. He decided to make a foray back into film only after reading Andrew Kevin Walker's original screenplay for Seven.
New Line Cinema agreed to keep the original ending when Fincher read Andrew Kevin Walker's script for Seven. The film starred Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, R. Lee Ermey, and Kevin Spacey. It tells the story of two detectives who attempt to identify a serial killer based on the Christian seven deadly sins. Seven was positively received by critics and grossed more than $320 million worldwide. Roger Ebert opined that the film is one of the darkest and most merciless films ever made in the Hollywood mainstream. John Wrathall wrote that it stands as the most complex entry in the serial killer genre since Manhunter. Following this success, Fincher directed Fight Club in August 1997. The film premiered on the 15th of October 1999, in the United States. It starred Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter. Fox struggled with marketing the film due to concerns about its limited audience. Fight Club grossed $100.9 million against a budget of $63 million. Initial responses were polarized with many critics calling it a violent express train of masochism. In following years, however, the film became a cult favorite. Academics and film critics have provided critical analysis of its multilayered themes.
Zodiac marked the first of Fincher's films to be shot in digital using a Thomson Viper FilmStream HD camera. High-speed film cameras were still used for particular murder scenes. Fincher performs thorough research when casting actors to ensure their suitability for the part. He demands a grueling series of takes to capture each scene perfectly. Zodiac cast members were required to do upwards of 70 takes for certain scenes. Rooney Mara endured 99 takes for a scene in The Social Network. Gone Girl averaged 50 takes per scene. One episode of Mindhunter took 11 hours to shoot a nine-minute scene. Fincher said he hates earnestness in performance because by take 17 that quality is usually gone. He wants scenes to feel natural and authentic rather than forced. He prefers shooting with Red digital cameras under natural or pre-existing light conditions. He does not normally use hand-held cameras during filming. Instead he prefers cameras on a tripod. He has experimented with disembodied camera movement notably in Panic Room where the camera glides around the house to give the impression of surveillance by an unseen observer.
In 2013, Fincher served as executive producer for the Netflix television series House of Cards. He directed the first two episodes of the political thriller about a Congressman's quest for revenge. The series received positive reviews and earned nine Primetime Emmy Award nominations. Fincher won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for the pilot episode. Between 2016 and 2019, he directed produced and served as showrunner for another series called Mindhunter. The series debuted on Netflix worldwide on the 13th of October 2017. It starred Holt McCallany and Jonathan Groff. In 2023, Fincher confirmed that Netflix would not be making a third season of Mindhunter. He stated that it was a very expensive show and they did not attract enough audience to justify such investment. As of 2019, Fincher serves as executive producer for Love Death & Robots. This animated science-fiction web series received three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Short Form Animated Program. He also signed a deal with HBO in 2014 for three television series before budget disputes halted production.
Over the course of his career, Fincher has shown loyalty to many members of his cast and crew. He cast Brad Pitt in three feature films including Seven Fight Club and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Bob Stephenson Michael Massee Christopher John Fields John Getz Elias Koteas Zach Grenier Charles Dance Rooney Mara Jared Leto Arliss Howard and Richmond Arquette have appeared in at least two of his films. Nine Inch Nails members Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross composed music for The Social Network The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Gone Girl Mank and The Killer. Darius Khondji and Jeff Cronenweth served as cinematographers for Fincher's films. Fincher hired sound designer Ren Klyce in all his films since 1995. He trusts him implicitly. He has worked with film editor Angus Wall since 1988. Wall has worked on seven of his films five of which as editor. Casting director Laray Mayfield has worked with Fincher for over 20 years. Donald Graham Burt served as production designer for six films while Bob Wagner served as assistant director for six.
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Common questions
When was David Fincher born and where did he grow up?
David Andrew Leo Fincher was born in Denver on the 28th of August 1962. His family moved to San Anselmo, California when he was two years old.
How many music videos did David Fincher direct between 1984 and 1993?
Between 1984 and 1993, Fincher was credited as a director for 53 music videos. He referred to this period as his own film school and learned how to work efficiently within small budgets and tight time frames during these productions.
Why does David Fincher disown the film Alien 3?
David Fincher publicly expressed his dismay about the final product of Alien 3 after studio intervention hampered the production from the very beginning. In a 2009 interview with The Guardian, he stated that no one hated it more than him because he blamed the producers for their lack of trust in him during the process.
What is the shooting style of David Fincher regarding camera movement and takes?
David Fincher prefers cameras on a tripod and does not normally use hand-held cameras during filming. He demands a grueling series of takes to capture each scene perfectly, requiring cast members to do upwards of 70 takes for certain scenes.
Which Netflix series did David Fincher create or executive produce starting in 2013?
In 2013, Fincher served as executive producer for the Netflix television series House of Cards and directed the first two episodes. Between 2016 and 2019, he directed produced and served as showrunner for another series called Mindhunter which debuted on Netflix worldwide on the 13th of October 2017.