Michael Rymer

MICHAEL RYMER

Australian born and raised, Rymer crossed the ocean to attended the University of Southern California to study film in 1981. During his studies he made several short films for which he was awarded the Warner Communications Scholarship for Directing, and he directed one of the advanced senior projects, The Cut, a documentary about a hairdressing salon.

In 1986, Rymer turned to stage and enrolled in an intensive two-year Stanislavsky-based training program in acting. While training, he wrote and directed two plays: Darkness at Noon and Ensenada, and worked as a script assessor for three studios.

After completing his first short film, Deep Sleep, in the late '80s, he was commissioned by a number of other Australian-based studios to write a number of other screenplays including Never Surrender, Mommy's Little Monster and Electric Dreaming.

Rymer went on to write the feature length film, Angel Baby, which he also directed. Released in 1995, the film that centred around two schizophrenics who meet during therapy and fall passionately in love, earned oodles of awards around the world and in Australia including Australian Film Institute Awards for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, the Australian Writers Guild Award for Best Original Screenplay, and the Australian Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director and Best Screenplay.

He then returned to the U.S. to direct his next screenplay, Allie & Me, released two years later. Although it received little attention, his next film, In Too Deep, did not fail to gain notice. Starring such big names as Omar Epps, LL Cool J and Nia Long, the cop film received a number of awards, mixed reaction from critics, and box office numbers that more than doubled their small budget.

In 2001 he filmed The Queen of the Damned, which marked the first time Rymer had ever directed a film he didn't write.

Filmogrpahy (director):

The Queen of the Damned (2002)
Perfume (2001)
In Too Deep (1999)
Allie & Me (1997)
Angel Baby (1995)

Filmography (writer):

Perfume (2001)
Allie & Me (1997)
Angel Baby (1995)
Dead Sleep (1990)