Neill Blomkamp facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Neill Blomkamp
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Blomkamp in 2009
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| Born | 17 September 1979 Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa
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| Years active | 1996–present |
| Spouse(s) | Terri Tatchell |
| Children | 1 |
Neill Blomkamp is a talented film director and screenwriter from South Africa and Canada. He is well-known for his exciting science fiction movies. These include District 9 (2009), Elysium (2013), and Chappie (2015). He also directed the sports drama Gran Turismo (2023).
Blomkamp's films often look very real, almost like documentaries. He uses a special camera style that makes you feel like you are right there in the action. His movies often explore big ideas like being afraid of people who are different (xenophobia) and how society can be divided. He also works a lot with actor Sharlto Copley.
Time magazine once named Blomkamp one of the 100 most influential people. Forbes magazine also listed him as one of the most powerful celebrities from Africa.
Contents
Early Life and Film School
Neill Blomkamp was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, on September 17, 1979. When he was 16, he met Sharlto Copley, who would later star in many of his films. Copley helped Blomkamp use computers to learn about 3D animation and design. In return, Blomkamp helped Copley with his own projects.
When Blomkamp was 18, his family moved to Vancouver, Canada. There, he went to the Vancouver Film School. This is where he learned more about making movies.
Starting a Film Career
Early Visual Effects Work
In the late 1990s, Neill Blomkamp began working in the film industry. He started as an artist who created visual effects and 3D animation. He worked on TV shows like Stargate SG-1 and Dark Angel. He also worked on movies like 3000 Miles to Graceland.
In 2003, he drew realistic future aircraft for Popular Science magazine. He also worked on "The Future of the Automobile" in 2004. Blomkamp created visual effects for different companies before directing his own projects.
Short Films and Big Opportunities
Blomkamp directed a series of live-action short films for the Halo video game in 2007. These shorts were called Landfall. He was then chosen to direct a full-length movie based on the Halo video game series. Famous director Peter Jackson was going to produce it.
Jackson noticed Blomkamp after seeing his short films and commercials. These shorts showed Blomkamp's unique style. He mixed everyday scenes with amazing computer-generated effects. Some of his notable shorts included Tetra Vaal, Alive in Joburg, Tempbot, and Yellow. Unfortunately, the Halo movie project did not happen.
Science Fiction Films
When the Halo film was cancelled, Peter Jackson decided to produce District 9 instead. This movie was based on Blomkamp's earlier short film, Alive in Joburg. Blomkamp directed District 9, and Sharlto Copley starred in it. Blomkamp also co-wrote the script with his wife, Terri Tatchell.
District 9 was released in August 2009. It was a huge success with critics and earned a lot of money worldwide. The film was even nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
After District 9, Blomkamp directed Elysium, which came out in 2013. Then, he started working on Chappie in April 2013. Chappie was based on his own short film, Tetra Vaal. This movie was released in March 2015.
District 9, Elysium, and Chappie are sometimes called a "trilogy" of films. They share a similar look and often explore social themes.
Other Projects and Short Films
In 2015, Blomkamp shared concept art for an Alien film he was thinking about. He planned to make a sequel with Sigourney Weaver returning as Ellen Ripley. However, this project was later cancelled in October 2015.
In 2017, Blomkamp started his own film company called Oats Studios. He began releasing a series of experimental short films called Oats Studios Volume 1. These films were available for free online. The idea was to see if people liked a certain theme enough to turn it into a full movie. One of the first shorts was an alien invasion film called Rakka.
Blomkamp was also set to direct a new RoboCop movie. This film would have been a direct sequel to the first RoboCop movie from 1987. However, in August 2019, Blomkamp announced he would no longer direct it. He decided to focus on a horror movie instead.
Recent Work
In December 2020, it was revealed that Blomkamp had secretly filmed a supernatural horror movie called Demonic. He shot this film in Canada during the summer of 2020.
In August 2021, news came out that a sequel to District 9 was being developed. In 2022, he directed the sports film Gran Turismo. This movie is based on the popular video game series and the true story of a teenage player who became a real racing driver.
Blomkamp is also reportedly working on adaptations of the science fiction novels Starship Troopers and Blindsight.
Video Games
In 2020, Blomkamp became a co-founder and Chief Creative Officer at Gunzilla Games. He started working on a game called OFF THE GRID, which went into early access in October 2024. His company also bought Game Informer magazine.
Personal Life
Neill Blomkamp is a Canadian citizen. He is married to screenwriter Terri Tatchell, who he has worked with on films like District 9.
Filmography
Feature Film Director
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | District 9 | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2013 | Elysium | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2015 | Chappie | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2021 | Demonic | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2023 | Gran Turismo | Yes | No | No |
Video Commercials Directed
| Year | Title | Brand |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Crab | Nike |
| 2004 | Alive with Technology | Citroën C4 |
| 2006 | Rain | Gatorade |
Short Films Directed
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Tetra Vaal | Yes | No | Also editor and producer |
| 2005 | Alive in Joburg | Yes | Uncredited | Also visual effects |
| 2006 | Tempbot | Yes | No | |
| Yellow | Yes | No | Also visual effects | |
| 2007 | Halo: Landfall | Yes | No | |
| 2016 | The Escape | Yes | Yes | |
| 2017 | Rakka | Yes | Yes | |
| Firebase | Yes | Yes | ||
| God: Serengeti | Yes | Yes | ||
| God: City | Yes | Yes | ||
| Cooking with Bill: Damasu 950 | Yes | No | Also producer | |
| Cooking with Bill: Sushi | Yes | Yes | ||
| Cooking with Bill: PrestoVeg | Yes | No | ||
| Cooking with Bill: Smoothie | Yes | No | ||
| Zygote | Yes | Yes | ||
| Kapture: Fluke | Yes | Yes | ||
| ADAM: The Mirror | Yes | Yes | ||
| Praetoria | Yes | Yes | ||
| Gdansk | Yes | Yes | ||
| Lima | Yes | Yes | ||
| 2022 | Off the Grid - Switcher Part 1 | Yes | No |
Other Film Roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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| 1998 | Stargate SG-1 | 3D animator | |
| First Wave | |||
| Mercy Point | |||
| 1999 | Aftershock: Earthquake in New York | Uncredited | |
| 2000 | Dark Angel | Lead animator | |
| 2001 | 3000 Miles to Graceland | Lead 3D animator | |
| 2008 | Crossing the Line | Additional director | |
| 2025 | Ash | Executive producer |
Awards and Recognition
Neill Blomkamp has received many awards and nominations for his work:
- In 2004, he was recognized at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival.
- He was named one of the top five directors to watch at the First Boards Awards in 2004.
- In 2005, he won a VES award for his visual effects in a Citroën commercial.
- He won the Grand Prix at Cannes Lions in 2008 for Halo: Combat.
- For District 9, he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay in 2009.
- Also in 2009, he won the Bradbury Award from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America for District 9.
- In 2010, District 9 was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture.
See also
In Spanish: Neill Blomkamp para niños
- Neill Blomkamp's unrealized projects
