Sam Raimi

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Samuel M "Sam" Raimi[1] (born October 23, 1959) is an American film director, producer, writer and actor, famous for creating the cult horror comedy Evil Dead series, as well as directing the original Spider-Man trilogy (2002–07) and the 1990 superhero film Darkman; his most recent work is 2013's Disney fantasy film Oz the Great and Powerful. Raimi has produced several successful television series and is the founder of Renaissance Pictures. Recently, he worked as the producer of The Possession, and the 2013 remake of Evil Dead. He is currently working on a film adaption of the critically acclaimed video game The Last of Us.
He is the older brother of actor Ted Raimi and the younger brother of screenwriter Ivan Raimi. Sam also has a long history of collaboration with B-movie star Bruce Campbell.
==Early life ==
Raimi, the fourth of five children, was born in Royal Oak, Michigan, the son of Celia Barbara (Abrams) and Leonard Ronald Raimi, and grew up in Birmingham, Michigan.[2][3] He was raised in Conservative Judaism; his ancestors emigrated from Russia and Hungary.[4][5] Raimi graduated from Groves High School[6] and later went on to attendMichigan State University, where he majored in English but left after three semesters[citation needed] to film The Evil Dead.
== Career ==
=== Film ===
Raimi became fascinated with making films when his father brought a movie camera home one day and he began to make Super 8 movies with childhood friend Bruce Campbell. In college, he teamed up with his brother's roommateRobert Tapert and Campbell to shoot Within the Woods (1978), a 32-minute horror film which raised $375,000, as well as his debut feature film It's Murder!. Through family, friends, and a network of investors, Raimi was able to finance production of the highly successful horror film The Evil Dead (1981) which became a cult hit and effectively launched Raimi's career. He began work on his third film Crimewave (1985), intended as a live-action comic book—the film was not successful, due in part to unwanted studio intervention. Raimi returned to the horror genre with the seminal Evil Dead II (which added slapstick humor to the over the top horror, showcasing his love of the Three Stooges). With his brother Ivan Raimi (and crediting himself as Celia Abrams), Sam Raimi also wrote Easy Wheels (1989), a parody of the Outlaw biker film genre. A long-time comic book buff, he then attempted to adapt "The Shadow" into a movie, but was unable to secure the rights, so he created his own super-hero, Darkman (1990). The film was his first major studio picture, and was only moderately successful, but through it he was still able to secure funding for Evil Dead III, which was retitled Army of Darkness and turned away almost totally from horror in favor of fantasy and comedy elements. Army of Darkness, the final movie in the Evil Dead trilogy, was a box office flop, yet on video became a cult classic.
In the 1990s, Raimi moved into other genres, directing such films as the western The Quick and the Dead (starring Sharon Stone and Gene Hackman), the critically acclaimed crime thriller A Simple Plan (1998) (starring Bill Paxton and Billy Bob Thornton), and the romantic drama For Love of the Game (1999) (starring Kevin Costner). Raimi achieved great critical and commercial success with the blockbuster Spider-Man (2002), which was adapted from the comic book series of the same name. The movie has grossed over US$800 million worldwide, spawning two sequels: Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3, both directed by Raimi and both grossing roughly $800 million each. After the completion of the third Spider-Man film, he planned on producing two more sequels but could not find a satisfactory script. Prior to directing the Spider-Man films, Raimi lobbied to direct Batman Forever when Tim Burton was ousted from the director's chair, but was rejected in favor of Joel Schumacher, whose reputation at the time outshone Raimi's.
Raimi frequently collaborates with Joel and Ethan Coen, beginning when Joel was one of the editors of Evil Dead. The Coens co-wrote Crimewave and The Hudsucker Proxy with Raimi in the mid-1980s (though Hudsucker was not produced for almost a decade). Raimi made cameo appearances in Miller's Crossing, The Hudsucker Proxy, and with Joel Coen in Spies Like Us. The Coen brothers gave Raimi advice on shooting in snow for A Simple Plan, based on their experiences withFargo. He has also worked in front of the camera in The Stand as a dimwitted hitman, John Carpenter's Body Bags as a gas station attendant, and Indian Summer in what is perhaps his biggest role as a bumbling assistant to Alan Arkin. The film was written by his childhood friend writer-director Mike Binder and shot at the camp that they both attended when they were younger. Raimi also produced the entire The Grudge franchise. According to Entertainment Weekly, Raimi had expressed an interest in directing a film version of The Hobbit, the prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy.[7] In 2008, Guillermo del Toro was selected as the director, with Peter Jackson as the executive producer. Raimi may direct By Any Means Necessary, the next film based on the "Jack Ryan" CIA character created by Tom Clancy forParamount Pictures. Disney also approached him to direct W.I.T.C.H.: The Movie, based on the popular comic.
Blizzard Entertainment announced on July 22, 2009 that Sam Raimi will be directing a Warcraft film.[8] However at Comic-Con International 2012, it was revealed that he would not be the one directing the World of Warcraft adaptation.[9]
On September 23, 2009, he became the producer for the British supernatural thriller Refuge, which is directed by Corin Hardy and published by Mandate Pictures.[10]He will produce the remake of the Danish thriller The Substitute, which will be directed by Scott Dickerson under his new Label Spooky Pictures.[11] Raimi produced with his company Ghost House Pictures the British thriller flick Burst 3D, which is directed by Neil Marshall.[12]
Raimi in Los Angeles, March 2013Raimi directed Oz the Great and Powerful, which was released on March 8, 2013 by Walt Disney Pictures.[13] He said he would not be directing the planned sequel.[14][15]
On December 11, 2006, the website SuperHero Hype reported that director Sam Raimi and Michael Uslan would co-produce a new film version of The Shadow for Columbia Pictures. On October 16, 2007, Raimi stated that: "I don't have any news on 'The Shadow' at this time, except that the company that I have with Josh Donen, my producing partner, we've got the rights to 'The Shadow.' I love the character very much and we're trying to work on a story that'll do justice to the character." On January 29, 2010, it was reported that Sam Raimi was searching for a new project after it was announced that the Spider-Man movie franchise would be rebooted without him. The Shadow was said to be at the top of his list. On Thursday, August 5, 2010, it was reported that Quentin Tarantino – who was attached as a co-writer for the script – was attached to direct as well. However, Tarantino denied this rumor, reportedly saying "That's totally made up."[16]
Raimi, along with Bruce Campbell and Rob Tapert, produced the remake of Raimi's The Evil Dead. First-time feature filmmaker Fede Alvarez wrote and directed, and Diablo Cody was also brought in to revise/rewrite the script.[17] Sam Raimi confirmed plans to write Evil Dead 4 with his brother; it was later specified that this film would be Army of Darkness 2.[18]Alvarez revealed that Raimi will be directing the sequel to Army of Darkness.[19] In an interview with Erin Darling, Bruce Campbell announced that Army of Darkness 2 is not happening, saying "It's all internet b.s. There's no reality whatsoever. These random comments slip out of either my mouth, or Sam Raimi's mouth, next thing you know, we're making a sequel."[20]
=== Television ===
In addition to film, Raimi has worked in television, producing such series as Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and its spin-off Xena: Warrior Princess, both featuring his younger brother Ted Raimi and long-time friend Bruce Campbell, American Gothic, Cleopatra 2525, M.A.N.T.I.S., 13: Fear Is Real, Young Hercules, and Jack of All Trades. In 2008, Raimi executive produced a syndicated TV series called Legend of the Seeker, based on Terry Goodkind's best-selling The Sword of Truth fantasy series. He is also the executive producer of Starz original television series Spartacus: Blood and Sand and Spartacus: Gods of the Arena,[21]Spartacus: Vengeance and Spartacus: War of the Damned. He directed the pilot episode of Ash vs Evil Dead for Starz.[22]
==Recurring trademarks, motifs, and partners[edit]==
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Raimi's brother Ted Raimi and his friend Bruce Campbell often appear in on-screen roles in his film and television projects, although some of the appearances are just cameos. The trio have been working together since their college days. Both Ted and Bruce have appeared in all three Evil Dead and Spider-Man movies, as well as Hercules: the Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess, which Sam produced. In the Evil Dead films, Campbell plays the recurring lead part of Ash, while Ted played various small parts in each film.
In the Spider-Man films Ted played the featured role of Daily Bugle advertising manager Ted Hoffman, while Bruce Campbell played different roles in each Spider-Man film. In Hercules and Xena, Ted and Bruce played the recurring roles of Joxer and Autolycus respectively. Raimi occasionally appears on-screen in his movies, usually in similar fashion to the cameos made by his idol Alfred Hitchcock: In Spider-Man in the wrestling scene as a silhouette behind a projection screen; in Spider-Man 2 as a passing student whose bookbag hits Peter Parker in the back of the head; as a hitchhiking fisherman accompanied by Robert Tapert in The Evil Dead. Raimi also wears a suit with white shirt and tie on-set in another homage to Hitchcock. An adept fan will also notice Raimi's recurring usage of soda crackers as a back prop.
Raimi often works with film editor Bob Murawski, a fellow Michigan State University alumnus. Among Raimi's films edited by Murawski include the Spider-Man movies,The Gift, and Army of Darkness. Raimi also frequently collaborates with composer Joseph LoDuca, another acquaintance from Michigan who has provided the scores to most of his films.
Raimi has included his old car from his college days, a 1973 yellow Oldsmobile Delta 88 automobile (nicknamed "The Classic"), in every film including The Quick and the Dead ("Somewhere...somewhere hidden. Only I know. I'll never tell"). At Comic-con 2005 Bruce Campbell revealed that a special covered wagon frame had covered the Oldsmobile to maintain the motif of the film. The yellow Oldsmobile also appeared in Drag Me to Hell, driven by the elderly gypsy woman. A bottle ofMaker's Mark also appears regularly in his movies. The Classic does not appear in the final cut of For Love of the Game, however. The scene in which it appeared was removed during the editing process.
Other Raimi visual trademarks include:
*A distinctive camera shot where the camera follows a moving object (such as an arrow or a bullet) at high speed creating a first-person point-of-view from the object itself;
*A rapid dolly shot to bring a far-off object suddenly into the center of the frame or to pull back from the main focal object to show what is happening around the perimeter (sometimes called "push-pull");
*Montage sequences with overlapping close-up shots to establish a set of similar actions over elapsing time.
*Extreme closeups using a wide angle lens.
In the Making The Amazing documentary on the Spider-Man 2 DVD, both Tobey Maguire and Bruce Campbell humorously describe Raimi's penchant for "abusing" actors. To obtain detailed closeups of a character getting hit by debris Raimi stands off-camera throwing items, swinging tree branches, etc., at the actor at the center of the shot. Scenes from the documentary show that Raimi is the one throwing popcorn at Peter Parker during the walk to the wrestling ring in Spider-Man and tossing gold coins around during the bank robbery scene in Spider-Man 2.
In many of Raimi's movies the camera itself is part of the action onscreen. One of Raimi's most famous sequences involves a point-of-view shot of actor Bruce Campbell being chased through a cabin by an unseen evil force.
==Personal life ==
Raimi has been married since 1993 to Gillian Dania Greene, daughter of actor Lorne Greene. They have five children, three of whom (daughter Emma Rose and sons Lorne and Henry) appeared as extras in Drag Me to Hell, and in Spider-Man 3 during the movie's final battle.[citation needed]
In 2007, Rolling Stone reported Raimi had donated $9,999 to the Republican Party (the maximum legal amount allowed for individuals and groups).[citation needed]
==Filmography ==
===As director ===
Year 	Title 	Notes
1977 	It's Murder! 	Also writer and cinematographer
1978 	Clockwork (short film) 	Also writer
Within the Woods (short film)	Also writer and executive producer 	
1981 	The Evil Dead 	rowspan="3" Also writer
1985 	Crimewave 	
1987 	Evil Dead II 	
1990 	Darkman 	Also writer and executive producer
1992 	Army of Darkness 	Also writer and editor (as "R.O.C. Sandstorm")
1995 	The Quick and the Dead 	Also writer
1998 	A Simple Plan 	
1999 	For Love of the Game 	
2000 	The Gift 	
2002 	Spider-Man 	
2004 	Spider-Man 2 	
2007 	Spider-Man 3 	Also writer
2009 	Drag Me to Hell 	Also writer
2013 	Oz the Great and Powerful 	
2014 	Rake (2 episodes) 	Also executive producer
2015 	Ash vs Evil Dead (Episode: "El Jefe") 	rowspan="3" Also writer and executive producer
2022 	Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness	
===As actor ===
Year 	Film 	Role 	Notes
1977 	It's Murder! 	N/A 	
1978 	Attack of the Helping Hand 	Milk Man 	Short film
1981 	The Evil Dead 	Hitchhiker 	Uncredited
1982 	Cleveland Smith: Bounty Hunter	Nazi 	Short film
1983 	Hefty's 	Cook No. 2 	
1985 	Spies Like Us 	Drive-in guard No. 2 	
1987 	Thou Shalt Not Kill... Except 	Cult leader 	
1988 	Maniac Cop 	News Reporter 	
1989 	Intruder 	Randy 	
1990 	Miller's Crossing 	Snickering Gunman 	
Maniac Cop 2 	Newscaster 	 	
1992 	Innocent Blood 	Roma Meats Man 	
rowspan="3" 1993 	Body Bags 	Dead Bill 	TV movie
Journey to the Center of the Earth	Collins 	TV movie 	
Indian Summer 	Stick Coder 	 	
rowspan="3" 1994 	The Hudsucker Proxy 	Hudsucker Brainstormer 	
The Flintstones 	Cliff Look-A-Like 	 	
The Stand 	Bobby Terry 	TV miniseries: 1 episode	
1997 	The Shining 	Howie Langston 	TV miniseries: 1 episode
2004 	Spider-Man 2 	University Student 	Unseen cameo; revealed in Bloopers
2013 	3 Geezers! 	Sam 	
===As producer ===
Year 	Film/Series 	Director 	Notes
1978 	Within the Woods 	Sam Raimi 	Movie
1981 	The Evil Dead 	Sam Raimi 	Movie
1989 	Easy Wheels 	David O'Malley 	Movie
The Dead Next Door 	J.R. Bookwalter 	Movie 	
1991 	Lunatics: A Love Story 	Josh Becker 	Movie
1993 	Hard Target 	John Woo 	Movie
rowspan="6" 1994 	Timecop 	Peter Hyams 	Movie
M.A.N.T.I.S. 	Eric Laneuville 	Movie 	
Hercules and the Lost Kingdom 	Harley Cokeliss 	Movie 	
Hercules and the Circle of Fire 	Doug Lefler 	Movie 	
Hercules in the Underworld 	Bill L. Norton 	Movie 	
Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur	Josh Becker 	Movie 	
1994–1997 	M.A.N.T.I.S. 	Various 	TV series
1995 	Darkman II: The Return of Durant 	Bradford May 	Movie
1995–1996 	American Gothic 	Various 	TV series
1995–1999 	Hercules: The Legendary Journeys 	Various 	TV series
1995–2001 	Xena: Warrior Princess 	Various 	TV series
1996 	Darkman III: Die Darkman Die 	Bradford May 	Movie
1997 	Spy Game 	Various 	TV series
1998 	Hercules and Xena – The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus	Lynne Naylor 	Animated movie
Young Hercules 	T.J. Scott 	Movie 	
1998–1999 	Young Hercules 	Various 	TV series
2000–2001 	Jack of All Trades 	Various 	TV series
2000–2001 	Cleopatra 2525 	Various 	TV series
2002 	Xena: Warrior Princess – A Friend in Need 	Robert G. Tapert 	Movie
2004 	The Grudge 	Takashi Shimizu 	Movie
2005 	Boogeyman 	Stephen T. Kay 	Movie
2006 	The Grudge 2 	Takashi Shimizu 	Movie
rowspan="3" 2007 	The Messengers 	The Pang Brothers 	Movie
30 Days of Night 	David Slade 	Movie 	
Rise: Blood Hunter 	Sebastian Gutierrez 	Movie 	
2008 	Legend of the Seeker 	Various 	TV series
rowspan="4" 2009 	The Grudge 3 	Toby Wilkins 	Movie
13: Fear Is Real 	Various 	TV series 	
Armored 	Nimród Antal 	Movie 	
Drag Me to Hell 	Sam Raimi 	Movie 	
2010 	Zombie Roadkill 	Various 	TV series
Spartacus: Blood and Sand 	Various 	TV series 	
2011 	Spartacus: Gods of the Arena 	Various 	TV series
Priest 	Scott Stewart 	Movie 	
2012 	The Possession 	Ole Bornedal 	Movie
Spartacus: Vengeance 	Various 	TV Series 	
2013 	Evil Dead 	Fede Alvarez 	Movie
Spartacus: War of the Damned 	Various 	TV Series 	
2015 	Poltergeist 	Gil Kenan 	Movie
2015 	1 Chisper 	Jaume Collet-Serra 	Movie
2015-present 	Ash vs Evil Dead 	Various 	TV Series
2016 	Ash vs Evil Dead season 2 	Various 	TV Series
2017 	The Last of Us 	Neil Druckmann also writer	movie
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