C2.1: Biographies

George Lucas
By Jan

George Walton Lucas Jr. was born in 1944 in Modesto, California, USA. By 1973, six years after graduating from the University of Southern California, he had already founded his own company, Lucasfilm, and produced the extremely successful film “American Graffiti”. But his breakthrough came in 1977 with the first Star Wars movie “A New Hope”. Although the production of the film was complicated and troubled, the film became a cultural phenomenon, as did the other parts of the trilogy Lucas wrote and directed after the success of “A New Hope”.

Together with Steven Spielberg he produced the iconic Indiana Jones trilogy.

From 1999 to 2005 Lucas returned to directing and produced another trilogy of Star Wars films, forming the sequels to the already existing movies. In 2012 Lucas sold his company and all rights to Star Wars to Disney, handing over his leading position to Kathleen Kennedy. Since 2014 he has been working as a creative consultant for Disney and supports therefore the production of the new Star Wars trilogy, the sequel of the original trilogy.

George Lucas has four children, one of them from his wife, Mellody Hobson, one from his former relationship with Marcia Lou Griffin and the two others he adopted after his first relationship while a single parent.

Besides Star Wars and Indiana Jones, Lucas has produced several other films, although they never became as popular as his blockbuster series. He has also won a lot of awards and has been nominated for even more, for example the Academy Award or the Golden Globe Award.

Lucas is an iconic producer, director and writer with an endless power of imagination and creativity, which he has used to create some of the best existing films and to influence the movie industry in a way no one else ever has.


Haruki Murakami
By Borja

Haruki Murakami is a Japanese novelist, short story writer and translator. He was born on January 12 of 1949 in Kyoto, during the so called post-World War II baby boom. He grew up as an only child in Kobe, his parents were both teachers of Japanese literature. Some years later he moved to Tokyo, starting his drama classes at the Waseda University, meeting Yoko, now his wife. Shortly after finishing his studies he opened a coffee house and Jazz bar called Peter Cat, which he ran with Yoko for seven years (1974 – 1981). Considered a significant figure in postmodern literature, his works are characterized by elements of surrealism and nihilism. Themes like loneliness and alienation are recurrent in his works.

He says that it was, watching a baseball game when suddenly he realized that he could write a novel. It was in 1978 at the age of 29. That game was between the Yakult Swallows and the Hiroshima Carp and all happened when the American, Dave Hilton took the bat and hit a double.

His first novel, Hear of the Wind, was awarded with the Gunzou Literature Prize for budding writers in 1979. Encouraged for this success he wrote two sequels, Pintball, 1973 in 1980 and A Wild Sheep Chase in 1982, the latter being a critical success. These three books form the Trilogy of the Rat. It was in 1985 and 1987, with the publication of Hard-Boiled Winderland and the End of the World and Norwegian Woo that he achieved major recognition throughout Japan, selling millions of copies among the young Japanese.

The social climate in Japan and his growing fame in the late 80’s, made him move for several years to Europe. In 1991 he moved to the United States. During this time, while teaching at Princeton University and later in Tufts University, he wrote one of his most ambitious novels, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, using a more socially conscious style than his previous work.

He returned to Japan in 1995, after the earthquake of Kobe and the gas attack of AUM Shinrikyo.  The two deadly events was an inspiration for his work, and a result he wrote his first two nonfiction books, Underground (1997) and After the Quake (2000).

Murakami has never stopped writing and since 2000 he has published several novels; Kafka on the Shore (2002), After Dark (2004),1Q84 (2009-2010), Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage (2013) and Killing Commendatore (2017), as well as several short stories volumes; Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman (2009) and Men Without Women (2017).

He is the recipient of several awards like Franz Kafka Prize, the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award and the Jerusalem Prize. Murakami is considered by many to be one of the world's best contemporary writers.

Biography of Blake Lively
By Kristin

Blake Ellender Lively is a famous American actress. She was born on the 25th of August, 1987 in the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Although she is American, she is of English, Irish and German descent. She grew up with an older brother, two half-sisters and a half-brother from her mother’s previous marriage. All of her family members are or have been part in the entertainment industry.

Her career started with a movie called ‘The Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants’ as one of the four lead characters in 2005. For her outstanding performance in that movie, she was nominated for a Teen Choice Award for ‘Choice Movie Breakout – Female’. She then co-starred in ‘Accepted’ as well as in ‘Simon Says’ with multiple mini-roles. In 2007 she earned another award, the ‘Breakthrough Award’ of Hollywood Life.

In September 2007 her career really kicked off when she played one of the two female leading roles in the well-known CW series Gossip Girl. Lively first wanted to turn down the role because of college, which she then was able to do part-time alongside filming. She played in the teen drama series until it ended in 2012 with a total of 121 episodes. Since then she has appeared in many other movies like ‘The Private Lives of Pippa Lee’, ‘Prince of Thieves, ‘Savages’ and many others.

In 2012 Lively married Ryan Reynolds who co-starred in the movie ‘Green Lantern’. They now have two daughters together, aged 2 and 4. Besides from making movies she was also named the face of L’Oreal in 2013 and she played in several music videos and without taking a break after her second pregnancy. Lively is now to be seen in ‘All I see is you’ and in ‘A Simple Favor’.


Rihanna
By Azucena

Born in Bridgetown, Barbados, on February the 20^th 1988, Robyn Rihanna Fenty – best known as Rihanna - is a singer, songwriter, movie producer and businesswoman who recently launched her cosmetic company Fenty Beauty.

Even though her childhood wasn’t as happy as any kid would want – because of her father’s addiction to illicit drugs and her parents’ frequent fights - Rihanna started singing at age of 7 and managed to go to school in Barbados, with her two younger brothers born of Monica Fenty and Ronald Fenty.

As a teenager in 2005, when her classmates and she went to an audition, Rihanna’s sparkle, beautiful voice and appearance really impressed producer Evan Rogers. Less than a year later, Rihanna moved out to America with Rogers and his wife. In 2006 she started doing movies (Bring it on) and lending her voice in 2015 to animated movies.

By the age of 30, she had already earned 9 Grammy Awards, 12 Billboard Music Awards, 12 American Music Awards, and 8 People's Choice Awards, among others.

In September of the present year, she was appointed to be an Ambassador by the government of  Barbados.

J K Rowling
By Jennyfer

Joanne Rowling was born on 31st July 1965 at Yate, in England, and grew up surrounded by books with her father Peter, her mother Anne and her sister Dianne. Joanne called Jo, wanted to be a writer from an early age and wrote her first book at 6 years old. She left the family home at 18 to study at Exeter University before going to live in Paris for one year as a student. After finishing her degree, she moved to London and worked for several companies.

Joanne conceived the idea of Harry Potter in 1990 (8 years before the first publication) when she was sitting on a delayed train from Manchester to London. After that, she began to plan all seven books and write extensive notes for the series. Taking all that with her, she moved to Portugal to teach English and to meet Jorge Arantes, before to marry him in 1992.

In 1993, her daughter Jessica was born. And when her marriage ended (due to her husband’s violence and alcoholism), she returned to the United Kingdom. At this moment in her life, Joanne was unemployed and her situation was very complicated. Nevertheless, she continued to write and to believe in her future as a writer.

Having completed all of books, she sent the first three chapters of the first book to some literary agents, without success. Finally, one of them contacted her to see the rest of the first book. For her, it was the new hope. After a few months, the first book was published in June 1997, under the name J. K. Rowling (with a K for Kathleen, her grandmother). After 1998, the book was translated and published in a lot of countries. Six others followed and completed the series, and each knew a success.

In 2001, the adaptation movie of the first book was released by Warner Bros, and followed by the six others (in seven films because the last one is in two parts). Joanne continued to write and to publish books, some of which were adapted for the cinema. Next, she wrote her biography and collaborated for turning a movie about her life, her story and the birth of Harry Potter.

Rowling has received many honors and awards throughout her career, and has founded an association for abused women.

Today, she is living in Edinburgh with her husband (Neil Murray) and her children (David & Mackenzie).

Sherlock Holmes

By Marina

Sherlock Holmes is a figure invented by Arthur Conan Doyle and features in 56 narrations and 4 novels. He is a consultant detective with exceptional talents, solving crimes purely through observation and logical deductive reasoning. He is one of the most famous detectives in world literature.

In the novels there are only a few hints of Sherlock’s past, but his fictional companion Watson has written some lines about it.

Childhood: It is believed that he was born on January the 6^th, 1854. He had an older brother, Mycroft Holmes and also a sister is mentioned.

Holmes was at university but it’s unknown which. At one point he remarks that he was never a sociable man and spent the most time in his room, working at his own little thinking methods, seldom communing with people of his age. He did fencing and boxing.

In his first years in London Holmes rented rooms in Montague Street and waited for cases. But as this was rare at the beginning of his career, he studied all kinds of sciences in his ample leisure time, which came in handy in subsequent years. Holmes was also quick in learning languages and loved playing the violin.

Watson believes that Holmes isn’t able to feel love and Holmes himself said he never loved another person. He also has a weakness for Drugs. During his investigations he smokes tobacco and when he has nothing to do, takes morphine or cocaine.

Holmes had his professional breakthrough with the case The Musgrave-ritual. Mr. Musgrave was on the same College as Holmes and asks Holmes for his advice when two employees suddenly disappear. After solving this case he became popular with an excellent reputation and many people reported cases to him of which he chose the ones he wanted to solve. He moved to 221 b Baker Street and got his flatmate and professional partner John H. Watson.

This 19th Century fictional detective is a prototype of the analytic-rational thinker of our scientific age, and will for sure thrill (or enthuse) many more generations in the future.

James Brown

By Adrien

The Godfather of Soul was born the 3^rd May 1933, in Barnwell, South Carolina. When very young, James lived with his aunt, as his mother had left the poor family for another man. James’s youth was though. He started as a cotton picker, shoe shiner and occasional gospel singer in Augusta. Unfortunately, at sixteen he got arrested for delinquency and languished in jail for three years.

After this, he joined Bobby Byrd who took him in his Rhythm and Blues band, The Famous Flames. He achieved his very first success in 1956, singing Please Please Please with Little Richard’s style. Later, in 1963, their manager got fed up with the unconventional shows of James Brown and the Flames. Although he wanted to cancel the show and the recording of their last album, the R&B group did not bend, and completed this album with their own funds, a first at this time. The album was a tremendous success which granted James Brown lot of notoriety and enough credibility to go his own way.

In the late 1960’s, Brown hired jazz musicians whom he asked to play in R&B style. Year after year, he sharpened his style from Jazz basis to proper Soul and Funk. This was the beginning of Soul golden age with the release of It’s A Man’s World in 1966. Brown introduced screams, break downs, fixed the singing on the music and added sensuality to the lyrics. He was also famous for his incredible dancing skills that are still amazing today. 

By 1970, the whole band had left James Brown for other opportunities, which allowed him to re-build a band with Bobby Byrd, a great idea which leaded to JB’s biggest hits like Get Up and It’s Too Funky In Here. In the 1980’s, he was becoming old fashioned. He mostly invited his friends in order to make great shows with the old and younger generation.

The 25^th December 2006, he died of a complicated pneumonia. He was 73.  

Today, he is still considered as the King of Soul and a major Funk reference. He was an inspiration for many great artists, among them: Miles Davis, Prince, Paul McCartney, and Michael Jackson.

Beyonce - Queen B
By Amanda

　

Beyonce Giselle Knowles-Carter was born in Houston, Texas, on the 4th of september 1981. She grew up with her father (Matthew Knowles), her mother (Tina Knowles) and her younger sister Solange Knowles. She is a singer, songwriter and an actress. She started to sing at a very young age. Auditioned for girl song groups when she was eight years old.

She first captured audiences'eyes as a front artist in a R&B group, Destiny's Child, that was formed in 1990. As the group got more successful Beyonce started her own solo career. 2003, she released her first solo album, "Dangerously in Love". The album was a big hit and her solo career started to bloom. The album was number one on the U.S. Billboard and she won five Grammy Awards.

In addition to her music career she started to appear in different movies, such as "Carmen: A Hip Hopera" (2001), "The Pink Panther"(2006), "Obsessed"(2006) and "Epic" (2013).

In 2008 she married Jay-Z, a Hip Hop artist. They have three children together, Blue Ivy (2012), Sir and Rumi (2017).

Beyonce has sold over a hundred million records worldwide. She has been recieved 22 awards and been nominated 63 times. She is a huge icon and a world famous artist.

Beyonce, known as Queen B, is my favourite artist. I love her music and she inspires me. She is an amazing singer, dancer and person. She calls herself a "modern-day feminist". Her songs are for everybody and there is a song for every mood. When I am sad,I listen to Beyonce. If I am happy I listen to Beyonce. And if I don't know how I feel, I listen to Beyonce.

She's a singer, songwriter, actress, filmmaker, a wife and a mom of three. She's QUEEN B.

Christoph Waltz

By Felix

Christoph Waltz was born on the 4th October 1956 in Vienna, Austria. Having a lot of actors in his family, Christoph decided to study acting at the Max Reinhardt Seminar in Vienna. 

In the late 1970s, Waltz went to New York City, where he studied method acting. Returning to Austria, he performed on stage at the Schauspielhaus Zürich, Vienna’s Burgtheater and the Salzburg Festival.

From the 1980s to 2000 he made a name for himself in television acting, mostly in Germany and Britain. Starring in Quentin Tarantino’s film “Inglourious Basterds” in 2009, Waltz received many critics and awards, like a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. 

Quentin Tarantino said about Christoph Waltz: “It’s true that if I couldn’t have found someone as good as Christoph I might not have made Inglourious Basterds.” 

In the year 2012, Christoph Waltz played the German bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz in another Quentin Tarantino movie called “Django Unchained”. Tarantino wrote the role especially for Christoph Waltz, which gave him his second Academy Award for Supporting Actor.

Moving on, he played the villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in “Spectre”, the latest film of the James Bond franchise.

Today Christoph Waltz lives with his wife Judith Holste in London, Berlin and Los Angeles and is working on new film projects.

Anne frank

By Nele

Annelies Marie Frank was born in Frankfurt, a city in Germany, on the 12th June 1929 - the eve of dramatic changes in the German society.

The Franks were a typical upper middle-class German-Jewish, Anne had a sister named Margot. Her Mother was Edith Frank and her father was Otto Frank, a lieutenant in the German army during World War one, who later became a businessman in Germany and the Netherlands (he was the only one who would survive the concentration camps).

During the late 1920s and the early 1930s the virulently anti-Semitic National German Socialist Workers Party (Nazi Party) led by Adolph Hitler became Germany's leading political force. In 1933 Adolf Hitler became Germany’s leading political force and the anti-Semitism started and the Frank family had to flee and moved to the Netherlands. There Anne experienced a relatively happy and normal childhood.

In October 1940 the Nazis started anti-Jewish measures in the Netherlands. Jews had to wear a yellow star at all times and were excluded from many aspects of life. Jews had to go to separate schools, were not allowed to own businesses and much besides. In 1942 Margot was forced go to a work camp in Germany. At that was the point, the family decided to go into hiding. They went into an empty space back of Otto Frank’s company building (Secret Annex), accompanied by other families. These families spend two years in the Secret Annex; they never went outside and always had to be quiet.

When Anne turned 13 she began a diary. She addressed her daily writings to her imaginary friend Kitty. She wrote about her deep feelings, her dreams, and her fears in those years in seclusion. After her death in Auschwitz, her book was published in 67 languages, as well as screen and stage adaptations.

Walt Disney
By Adaeze

Childhood:  

Walter Elias Disney was born in Chicago on the 5th December 1901. The young Walt Disney developed an interest in art and took lessons at the Kansas City Institute and later at the Chicago Art Institute, where he became the cartoonist for the school magazine. Disney dropped out of school and tried to join the army when America joined the First World War, but was rejected for being too young. In late 1918, Walt was able to join the Red Cross and was sent to France to drive an ambulance.

Early career:  

Disney moved back to Kansas City in 1919 and got a series of jobs before he found employment in the area of his greatest interests – the film industry. He worked for the Kansas City film Ad Company where he gained the opportunity the use his talent as a cartoonist and began his first work in a relatively new field of animation.

On October 16, 1923 Walt and his brother Roy founded the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio (officially changed to The Walt Disney Company in 1986) and in 1928 Disney created the character Mickey Mouse, giving his own voice to the character.

Achievements:    

Disney received his first Academy Award for the Best Short Subject: Cartoons for the three coloured ‘Flowers and Trees’ and a special Academy Award for Mickey Mouse in 1932. In 1933, he developed his most successful cartoon of all time, ‘The Three Little Pigs’ with the famous song Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf.

In 1924, Walt Disney began his most ambitious project. He wanted to make a full length animated film of ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.’ Many expected it to be a failure. But by using new techniques of filming, the production was met with great acclaim. The project took almost three years to complete. The film came out in 1937, after Disney had run out of money. However, its strong critical reception made it the most successful film of 1938, earning $8 million on its first release.



George R.R. Martin 
By Patrick

George R.R. Martin was born on September 20, 1948 in a quite poor area in Bayonne, New Jersey. His childhood was not easy - due to their precarious financial situation, he and his family had to move from a house belonging to Martin's great-grandmother to a housing project near the Bayonne docks. Despite having very little money, his mother always wanted George to have a good education, so he attended Mary Jane Donohoe School and later Marist High School. 

George was always a big comic book fan and soon started to write his own books, selling them to his schoolmates. In time he became a very good comic book author, winning different prices including the Alley Award for best fan fiction for his story “Powerman vs. The Blue Barrier”. Not only was he good at writing books, but he also managed to get his Bachelor of Science in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, graduating with summa cum laude. 

As a young author, it was hard for Martin to make a living, so besides his writing, he participated in chess tournaments, winning a few of them. Even though being very good at chess, he realized that it wasn’t profitable anymore, so started to concentrate more on writing. His first popular books were Sandking (1979) and the novella Nightflyers (1980), which was also released as a movie in 1987. The fact that his books were adapted into movies was very important for him because he said: “Movies saved my career, and everything I have written since exists in large part because of it”. 

In 1989 he made a big step forward in his career when he was hired as a writer-producer on the fantasy series Beauty and the Beast, becoming the show’s co-supervising producer. 

But the reason Martin is one of the worlds most famous authors is that he created the world of Game of Thrones. The popular TV series is based on his five books, called “A Song of Ice and Fire”. The books were released between 1996 and 2011 and every single one was a bestseller. The fourth book of his franchise “A Feast of Crowns” became the New York Times No. 1 Bestseller and also achieved No. 1 ranking on the Wall Street Journal bestseller list. Additionally “A Feast of Crowns” was nominated for the Quill Award and the British Fantasy Award. Hence, it’s not a miracle that the TV show “Game of Thrones” is seen as one of the most successful  and significant TV shows ever produced. 

Nowadays, George R.R. Martin is seen as one of the best science fiction and fantasy authors and is also included in the annual Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world.

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