Editing Alex Proyas

{{short description|Australian film director}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2012}}
{{Infobox person
| name        = Alex Proyas
| image       = Alex Proyas at SDCC 2011 (5967418430).jpg
| caption     = Proyas in 2011
| birth_date   = {{Birth date and age|1963|9|23|df=yes}}
| birth_place  = [[Alexandria]], [[United Arab Republic]]
| birth_name   = Alexander Proyas
| spouse = Catherine Linsley
| occupation = {{hlist|Film director|producer|screenwriter}}
| years_active = 1980–present
}}

'''Alexander Proyas''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|r|ɔɪ|ə|s}} {{respell|PROY|əs}}; born 23 September 1963) is an Australian film director. He is known for directing the films ''[[The Crow (1994 film)|The Crow]]'' (1994), ''[[Dark City (1998 film)|Dark City]]'' (1998), ''[[I, Robot (film)|I, Robot]]'' (2004) and ''[[Knowing (film)|Knowing]]'' (2009).

==Early life==
Alexander Proyas was born in [[Alexandria]] (then in the [[United Arab Republic]] and now in [[Egypt]]) on 23 September 1963, the son of a Greek Cypriot mother and a father from Egypt whose Greek ancestors had moved to Egypt many generations ago.<ref name="looking">{{Cite web|last=Kapetopoulos|first=Fotis|date=2020-02-17|title=Alex Proyas: Looking for a new country in filmmaking|url=https://neoskosmos.com/en/158445/alex-proyas-looking-for-a-new-country-in-filmmaking/|access-date=2020-08-30|website=Neos Kosmos|language=en}}</ref>

When he was three years old, the family moved to Australia, where he grew up in the Sydney suburb of [[Waterloo, New South Wales|Waterloo]].<ref name="KL">{{cite book  | last =Lancaster  | first =Kurt  |author2=Thomas J. Mikotowicz  | title =Performing the Force: Essays on Immersion into Science-Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Environments  | publisher =[[McFarland & Company]]  | year =2001  | pages =61  | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=p_y8MBIuJ1AC&pg=PA61  | isbn =978-0-7864-0895-5 }}</ref> He grew up on a [[housing estate]] where the main tenants were fellow immigrants and [[Indigenous Australians]], with whom he felt a kinship because they were all often subjected to racism by [[European Australians|white Australians]].<ref name="looking" />

At age 17, he joined the [[Australian Film, Television and Radio School]] and began directing music videos shortly after.<ref name="KL" />

He later moved to [[Los Angeles]] to further his career, working on MTV music videos and TV commercials.<ref name="KL" /><ref name="ic">{{cite web|url=http://indie-cinema.com/2021/08/interview-alex-proyas/|work=Indie Cinema Magazine|title=Interview with Alex Proyas|author=Diana Ringo|date=25 August 2021}}</ref>

==Career==
Proyas' first feature film was the [[independent film|independent]] [[Science fiction film|science fiction]] [[Thriller film|thriller]] ''[[Spirits of the Air, Gremlins of the Clouds]]'', which was nominated for two [[Australian Film Institute]] awards in 1988, for [[costume design]] and [[production designer|production design]]<ref>{{cite web  | title =Awards for Spirits of the Air, Gremlins of the Clouds  | publisher =[[IMDb]]  | url =https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098373/awards  | access-date =28 December 2007 }}</ref> and which won a Special Prize at the 1990 [[Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yubarifanta.com/index_pc.php?ct=archive.php&langue=21002 |title=Yubari International Fantastic Adventure Film Festival '90 |website=yubarifanta.com |access-date=19 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040407040236/http://yubarifanta.com/index_pc.php?ct=archive.php&langue=21002 |archive-date=7 April 2004 }}</ref>

Next, Proyas directed the 1994 [[Superhero film|superhero]] [[fantasy film|fantasy]] thriller ''[[The Crow (1994 film)|The Crow]]'' starring [[Brandon Lee]]. Lee was killed in an accident during filming, only eight days before the completion of the film on 31 March 1993. After Lee's death, Proyas and his producers decided to complete the film, partially rewriting the script and using a stunt double and special effects to film the remaining scenes.<ref>{{Cite news  | last =Ascher-Walsh  | first =Rebecca  | title =How Crow Flew  | newspaper =[[Entertainment Weekly]]  | date =13 May 1994  | url = https://ew.com/article/1994/05/13/crow-cast-deals-brandons-lee-death/  | access-date = 28 December 2007  }}</ref> ''The Crow'' was released in May 1994 and was a box office and critical success.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Crow (1994) |publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |url=http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/crow/ |access-date=28 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725234253/http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/crow/ |archive-date=25 July 2008 }}</ref>

Proyas then wrote, directed and produced the 1998 science fiction thriller ''[[Dark City (1998 film)|Dark City]]'', which received positive critical reception and won several awards<ref>{{cite web  | title =Awards for Dark City  | publisher =[[IMDb]]  | url =https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118929/awards  | access-date = 28 December 2007 }}</ref> but was a commercial disappointment. In 2004, he directed ''[[I, Robot (film)|I, Robot]]'' starring [[Will Smith]], a science fiction film suggested by<ref>{{cite web  | title =Full Cast and Crew for I, Robot  | publisher =[[IMDb]]  | url =https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0343818/fullcredits  | access-date = 28 December 2007 }}</ref> the [[Isaac Asimov]] short story compilation ''[[I, Robot]]'' and was a box office success despite mixed reviews.

Proyas' next film, the thriller ''[[Knowing (film)|Knowing]]'' starring [[Nicolas Cage]], began production in [[Melbourne]] in March 2008 and opened in North America in March 2009.<ref>{{Cite news  | last =Fleming  | first =Michael  | title =Cage to star in Proyas' 'Knowing'  | newspaper =[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]  | date =10 December 2007  | url = https://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/cage-to-star-in-proyas-knowing-2-1117977454/  | access-date = 28 December 2007  }}</ref>

Proyas directed ''[[Gods of Egypt (film)|Gods of Egypt]]'', starring [[Nikolaj Coster-Waldau]], and co-written by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless. The film was critically panned upon its release in 2016<ref>{{cite news|title=Alex Pyoyas' epic fantasy film project Gods of Egypt|url=http://geektyrant.com/news/2013/6/6/nikolaj-coster-waldau-joins-alex-proyas-gods-of-egypt.html|access-date=17 June 2013|newspaper=geektyrant.com}}</ref> and [[Box-office bomb|bombed at the box office]].

In 2019, Proyas founded a production company in Sydney called The Heretic Foundation.

In 2021, Proyas announced that he was developing a new video platform named VidiVerse for independent filmmakers as an alternative to [[YouTube]].<ref name="ic"/>

In 2024, Proyas began filming [[R.U.R. (film)|R.U.R.]] a musical adaptation of the [[R.U.R.|play of the same name]] by [[Karel Čapek]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Proyas |first=Alex |title=RUR day 1 |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DBo_nMBTuvL/ |website=Instagram}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=R.U.R |url=https://www.mojo.film/rur |website=MoJo Global Arts}}</ref>

===Unrealized projects===
{{main|Alex Proyas' unrealized projects}}

==Personal life==
Proyas has long been married to artist Catherine "Cathy" Linsley, who worked in the art department for his first feature film ''[[Spirits of the Air, Gremlins of the Clouds]]''. She has also worked in various capacities on short films and animations produced or written by Proyas. She was thanked in the credits of his film ''[[Knowing (film)|Knowing]]''.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0513158/ Cathy Linsley: Thanks (1 credit) 2009 Knowing (the producers wish to thank] from IMDb Accessed 30 April 2019</ref>

==Filmography==
===Feature film===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! Director
! Producer
! Writer
|-
| 1989
| ''[[Spirits of the Air, Gremlins of the Clouds]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 1994
| ''[[The Crow (1994 film)|The Crow]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|- 
| 1998
| ''[[Dark City (1998 film)|Dark City]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 2002
| ''[[Garage Days]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 2004
| ''[[I, Robot (film)|I, Robot]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Knowing (film)|Knowing]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| 2016
| ''[[Gods of Egypt (film)|Gods of Egypt]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| TBA
| ''[[R.U.R. (film)|R.U.R.]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|}

===Short film===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! Director
! Writer
! Notes
|-
|rowspan=2| 1980
| ''Neon'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| Co-directed with Salik Silverstein
|-
| ''Groping''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| Co-directed with Salik Silverstein; also cinematographer
|-
| 1981
| ''Strange Residues''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| Also editor
|-
| 1987
| ''Spineless''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| Also actor
|-
| 1994
| ''Book of Dreams: Welcome to Crateland''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Also cinematographer
|-
| 1995
| ''Book of Dreams: Dream 7 – Ruben's Dream''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 2019
| ''Phobos''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 2021
| ''Mask of the Evil Apparition''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Set in the ''Dark City'' cinematic universe
|}

===Music video===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! Artist
|-
| 1980
| "[[Ricky's Hand]]"
| [[Fad Gadget]]
|-
| 1983
| "Flicker"
| Fetus Productions
|-
| 1985
| "In Your Eyes"
| [[Dropbears]]
|-
|rowspan=2|1986
| "[[Kiss the Dirt (Falling Down the Mountain)|Kiss the Dirt]]"
| [[INXS]]
|-
| "[[Don't Dream It's Over]]"
| [[Crowded House]]
|-
|rowspan=2|1987
| "Holiday"
| [[The Other Ones (Australian-German band)|The Other Ones]]
|-
| "[[Rhythm of Love (Yes song)|Rhythm of Love]]"
| [[Yes (band)|Yes]]
|-
|rowspan=2|1988
| "[[Better Be Home Soon]]"
| Crowded House
|-
| "[[Magic Touch (Mike Oldfield song)|Magic Touch]]"
| [[Mike Oldfield]]
|-
|rowspan=3|1989
| "[[Bring Down the Moon]]"
| [[Boy Meets Girl (band)|Boy Meets Girl]]
|-
| "[[Nineteen Forever]]"
| [[Joe Jackson (musician)|Joe Jackson]]
|-
| "[[Songlines (Alphaville video)|Mysteries of Love]]"
| [[Alphaville (band)|Alphaville]]
|-
| 1994
| "[[When We Dance]]"
| [[Sting (musician)|Sting]]
|}

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Title
! Result
! Ref.
|-
|rowspan=2|1987
|rowspan=2|[[ARIA Music Awards]]
|rowspan=2|[[ARIA Award for Best Video|Best Video]]
| "[[Don't Dream It's Over]]"
| {{won}}
|rowspan=|<ref name="Video">ARIA Award previous winners. {{cite web|url=https://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/award/Best-Video?view=list|title=Winners by Award – Artisan Awards – Best Video |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA)|access-date= 12 December 2019 }}</ref> 
|-
| "[[Kiss the Dirt (Falling Down the Mountain)|Kiss the Dirt]]"
| {{nom}}
|-
|rowspan=2|1994
| [[Cannes Film Festival]]
| [[Short Film Palme d'Or]]
| ''Book of Dreams: Welcome to Crateland''
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| [[Saturn Awards]]
| [[Saturn Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| ''[[The Crow (1994 film)|The Crow]]''
| {{nom}}
|
|- 
|rowspan=6|1998
| [[Imagine Film Festival]]
| Silver Scream Award
|rowspan=6|''[[Dark City (1998 film)|Dark City]]''
| {{won}}
|
|-
| [[Bram Stoker Award]]
| [[Bram Stoker Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]]
| {{won}}
|
|-
| [[Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival]]
| Pegasus Audience Award
| {{won}}
| <ref>{{cite web  | title =Awards for Alex Proyas  | publisher =[[IMDb]]  | url =https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001639/awards  | access-date =28 December 2007}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=3|Saturn Awards
| [[Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film|Best Science Fiction Film]]
| {{won}}
|
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Writing|Best Writing]]
| {{nom}}
|
|-
|rowspan=2|2016
|rowspan=2|[[Golden Raspberry Awards]]
| [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture|Worst Picture]]
|rowspan=2|''[[Gods of Egypt (film)|Gods of Egypt]]''
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director|Worst Director]]
| {{nom}}
|
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|1639}}
*{{facebook|100010704046009}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090322054631/http://blogs.amctv.com/scifi-scanner/2009/03/alex-proyas-interview.php Alex Proyas Discusses ''Dark City'' Sequel at AMCtv.com]

{{Alex Proyas}}
{{Bram Stoker Award for Best Screenplay}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Proyas, Alex}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:ARIA Award winners]]
[[Category:Australian film directors]]
[[Category:Australian film producers]]
[[Category:Australian music video directors]]
[[Category:Australian screenwriters]]
[[Category:Australian people of Greek Cypriot descent]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Action film directors]]
[[Category:Australian science fiction film directors]]
[[Category:Television commercial directors]]
[[Category:Mass media people from Alexandria]]
[[Category:Writers from Sydney]]
[[Category:Egyptian emigrants to Australia]]
[[Category:Egyptian people of Greek descent]]