John Sayles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Sayles
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Sayles in March 2008
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John Thomas Sayles
September 28, 1950 |
| Education | Williams College |
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| Years active | 1971–present |
John Thomas Sayles (born September 28, 1950) is an American independent film director, writer, editor, and actor. He is also a novelist. He is well-known for writing and directing movies like The Brother from Another Planet (1984), Matewan (1987), Eight Men Out (1988), and Lone Star (1996).
Sayles was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay twice. This was for his films Passion Fish and Lone Star. His first movie, Return of the Secaucus 7 (1980), and Matewan are kept safe in the United States National Film Registry. This means they are considered important parts of American film history.
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Early Life and Education
John Sayles was born in Schenectady, New York, on September 28, 1950. His mother, Mary, was a teacher, and his father, Donald, was a school administrator. Both of his parents were Catholic and had Irish family roots.
Sayles went to Williams College. There he met friends and future co-workers like Gordon Clapp and David Strathairn. He also met his longtime partner, Maggie Renzi, there. In 1972, he earned a degree in psychology.
Starting His Career
After college, Sayles moved to Boston. He worked many different jobs while writing short stories for The Atlantic magazine. His first novel, The Pride of the ..., was published in 1975.
Sayles started his film career working with Roger Corman. Corman was a famous producer known for making movies quickly and on a small budget. Sayles became known as a very talented writer for Corman's company, New World Pictures.
First Film: Return of the Secaucus 7
In 1979, John Sayles used $30,000 he earned from writing scripts to make his first movie. This film was called Return of the Secaucus 7. To save money, he filmed it in one large house. The story took place over just three days to limit costume changes. He also cast his friends in the movie because it was about people his own age.
The film was highly praised by critics. In 1997, it was chosen for the National Film Registry. This means it is preserved by the Library of Congress as a culturally important film.
Making More Movies
In 1983, Sayles received a special award called a MacArthur Fellowship. He used the money to make his science fiction film, The Brother from Another Planet. This movie is about an alien who looks like a human and lands in New York City. He finds a home in Harlem while being chased by other aliens.
Sayles has often paid for his own films by writing scripts for other movies. These include action and horror films like Piranha and Alligator. He also helped rewrite scripts for big movies like Apollo 13.
One of his early scripts, called Night Skies, even inspired the famous movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Later, the director of E.T., Steven Spielberg, asked Sayles to write a script for a Jurassic Park film.
He has written and directed many of his own well-known films. These include Lone Star, Passion Fish, and Matewan.
Working with Others
Maggie Renzi has been John Sayles's partner and co-worker for a long time. She has produced most of his films since Lianna. They met when they were students at Williams College.
Sayles often works with the same group of actors. Some of these actors are Chris Cooper, David Strathairn, and Gordon Clapp. They have appeared in many of his movies.
In 2009, it was announced that Sayles was writing a TV series for HBO. It was going to be about the early life of Anthony Kiedis, the singer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
In 2010, Sayles started filming his movie Amigo in the Philippines. This historical drama tells a story during the Philippine–American War. His novel A Moment in the Sun, released in 2011, is also set during this time.
Awards and Recognition
- 1983: He received a MacArthur Fellowship. This award is given to talented people in many different fields.
- 1990: He won an Edgar Award for his TV script for the show Shannon's Deal.
- 1997: His film Return of the Secaucus 7 was added to the National Film Registry.
- 2023: His film Matewan was also added to the National Film Registry.
Sayles has also received other honors, like the Eugene V. Debs Award and the John Steinbeck Award. In 1999, he was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Writers Guild of America.
Filmography
Film Director and Writer
John Sayles has directed and written many films. Here are some of them:
- 1980: Return of the Secaucus 7
- 1983: Lianna
- 1983: Baby It's You
- 1984: The Brother from Another Planet
- 1987: Matewan
- 1988: Eight Men Out
- 1991: City of Hope
- 1992: Passion Fish
- 1994: The Secret of Roan Inish
- 1996: Lone Star
- 1997: Men with Guns
- 1999: Limbo
- 2002: Sunshine State
- 2003: Casa de los babys
- 2004: Silver City
- 2007: Honeydripper
- 2010: Amigo
- 2013: Go for Sisters
Acting Roles
John Sayles has also acted in some films, including his own:
- 1978: Piranha as a Soldier
- 1980: Return of the Secaucus 7 as Howie
- 1984: The Brother from Another Planet as Man in Black #2
- 1987: Matewan as Hardshell Preacher
- 1992: Malcolm X as an FBI Agent
- 1993: Matinee as Bob
Television Work
- 1989: Shannon's Deal (television series; he created and wrote the pilot)
- 2018: The Alienist (television series)
Music Videos Directed
John Sayles directed several music videos for Bruce Springsteen:
- "Born in the U.S.A."
- "I'm on Fire"
- "Glory Days"
Images for kids
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Sayles in March 2008
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Sayles at the Miami Book Fair International, 2011
See also
In Spanish: John Sayles para niños
- Night Skies – for a more complete history of how the proposed Close Encounters of the Third Kind sequel became the E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial story
