Every film director must start somewhere, andRoger Cormanhas launched many careers. He has been called “The Pope of Pop Cinema” and “The King of B Films.”
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He developed the secret formula that made films produced on time, on schedule, on budget, and with profit. It is the same formula that many independent producers and directors still use today.
Martin Scorsese
BeforeMartin Scorsesemade films likeGoodfellas,The Departed,Taxi Driver,orThe Wolf of Wall Street, he made gritty short films. Roger Corman allowed Martin Scorsese to make Boxcar Bertha, a (1972) filmstarringBarbara HersheyandDavid Carradine. It was a film made for riding off the popularity ofBonnie and Clyde.
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It is an interesting film to watch because it has the elements of a Martin Scorsese film but doesn’t entirely feel like a Martin Scorsese film. He took what he learned makingBoxcar Berthaand applied it to his next movieMean Streets!
Dov S-S Simens
Dov S-S Simensis now more known as a film instructor than a director or producer. His most famous film was probablyMicrowave Massacre. A film thatAmerica Horror Story: 1984gave a shout-out to with scenes in the series. The story goes thatRoger Corman handed a napkin and gave Dov S-S Simens a budget. He asked Dov how he would spend the money. Dov wrote his answer down on the napkin, and Roger Corman hired him.
He knew Dov knew what he was talking about and became a mentor to Dov. Dov became known as the king of B films and as a world-famous film instructor. You may have never heard of Dov,but you have heard of his students,Will Smith,Quentin Tarantino,Guy Ritchie,Queen Latifah,and many others.
Ron Howard
Sure,Ron Howardwas already known as Opie Taylor and Richie Cunningham, but he wasn’t known as a director. Ron Howard got the directing itch, and it was Roger Corman gave him a shot at directing his first feature film.
Howard not only directed but stared inGrand Theft Auto. A comedy road film made in 1972 cashing in on the popularity ofSmokey and the Bandit. This was one of Corman’s strategies for success. Don’t be first; watch what is successful and hot, and then make it cheaper and cash in on its success.
Francis Ford Coppola
BeforeFrancis Ford Coppolawas known forThe Outsiders,The Conversation,andThe Godfatherfilms, he made a horror film calledDementia 13. It was a film that cashed in on the success ofPsycho. There’s the pattern again! The film was shot in less than two weeks for an extremely low budget for the time.
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Coppola would make some of the most well-known and respected films ever made for both audiences and critics alike. An interesting side noteNicolas CageisFrancis Ford Coppola’snephew, andSofia Coppolais his daughter. A talented creative family.
BeforeJoe DantedirectedThe Howling(1981) andGremlins(1984), he got his start directing a low-budget film for Roger Corman. Dantewould later make a second film for Roger Corman -Piranha.Piranhawas trying to cash in on the popularity ofJaws.
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There’s the pattern again! And the pattern worked!Piranhawas a major hit compared to the under $1,000,000 budget.Gremlinshas been Dante’s most successful film and the film he is most known for.Gremlinswas originally written as a horror film, but it was toned down to reach a wider audience.
Peter Bogdanovich
BeforePeter Bogdanovichwent on to make movies likeThe Last Picture Show(1971)andPaper Moon(1973),Roger Corman hired him to direct his first feature film,Targets(1968).Targetswas a film about an insane Vietnam vet who kills his family and then goes on a shooting spree.
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Peter Bogdanovich datedDorothy Stratten. She was a playmate, a Playboy playmate who was on her way to becoming a movie star. Unfortunately, she was brutally murdered by her husband, who committed suicide after murdering her. Peter Bogdanovich was a brilliant director but lived a life full of abuse, addiction, and tragedy. Like all of us, he had his own inner demons to battle.
James Cameron
James Cameronbecame known as one of the most successful directors of all time for directing hit films likeAliens,Terminator,andTitanic,however, he was hired by Roger Corman to directPiranha 2: The Spawning. James Cameron has come a long way from his early days with Corman and is now one of the wealthiest film directors in the world.
Although Cameron was fired from directingPiranha 2: The Spawning. He used the skills he learned by working with Corman on his next film Terminator. Terminator became a massive hit. Two of Cameron’s films, Titanic and Avatar, are two of the highest-grossing films ever made.
