Wes Craven
Born	August 2, 1939 (1939-08-02) (age 68) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Occupation	Film director and producer
Spouse	Iya Labunka
Website	Official Site

Wesley Earl Craven (born August 2, 1939 in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American film director and writer best known as the creator of many horror films, including the famed Nightmare on Elm Street series featuring the redoubtable Freddy Krueger character.

Biography

Early life

Born in Cleveland, Ohio to devoutly Baptist parents Paul Craven and Caroline Miller, Craven later earned an undergraduate degree in writing and psychology from Wheaton College in Illinois, and a masters degree in writing seminars from Johns Hopkins University. Prior to landing his first job in the film industry as a sound editor for a post-production company in New York, Craven briefly taught English at Westminster College and was a humanities professor at Clarkson University. With now ex-wife Bonnie Chapin, he is the father of Jonathan and Jessica Craven.

Directing and writing career

Craven's works tend to share a common exploration of the nature of reality. A Nightmare on Elm Street, for example, dealt with the consequences of dreams in real life. Wes Craven's New Nightmare "brushes against" (but doesn't quite break) the fourth wall by having actress Heather Langenkamp play herself as she is haunted by the villain of the film in which she once starred. At one point in the film, we see on Wes Craven's word processor a script he has written, which includes the exact conversation he just had with Heather â€" as if the script is being written as the action is unfolding. The Serpent and the Rainbow portrays a man who cannot distinguish between nightmarish visions and reality. In Scream, the characters frequently reference horror films similar to their situations, and at one point Billy Loomis tells his girlfriend that life is just a big movie. This concept was emphasized in the sequels, as copycat stalkers reenact the events of a new film about the Woodsboro killings occurring in Scream. Craven was also set to direct Beetlejuice but dropped out to co-write and executive produce the third outing for Freddy Kruger. He says that he got the idea for "the" Elm Street by living next to a graveyard on Elm Street in his home town of Wheaton, Illinois.

Awards and Nominations

During his career, Wes Craven won eight awards and received three nominations. He did well in the box office, since he was known for his thriller films. For the "Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA", he was nominated an award for 'Best Director' in 1997 for his hit film: Scream.

For the "Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival", he won a 'Critic's Award' in 1985, for his hit horror film: "A Nightmare on Elm Street".

In 1992, "Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film" gave him the "Pegasus Audience Award" for the thriller: "The People Under the Stairs". For "Fantasporto", he won and was nominated for the 'International Fantasy Film Award' for 'Best Screenplay' and 'Best Film' for "New Nightmare", the final "A Nightmare on Elm Street" movie. He was also nominated for 'Best Film' for the movie: "Shocker" in 1990.

The "Gérardmer Film Festival" granted him the 'Grand Prize' in '97, for the movie: "Scream".

In 1977, he won the 'Prize of the International Critics' Jury' in the "Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival" for his film: "The Hills Have Eyes".

Completing his 'Nightmare' Trilogy

Though there have been seven different Nightmare on Elm Street films (eight if one includes the crossover Freddy vs Jason), only two have been directed by Craven himself. He has said in several interviews and discussions that he only considers his two films to be accurate depictions of his creation. For years it has been rumored that he would make one more film, essentially completing his trilogy. Rumors about the film vary considerably, from a prequel that would take place before the events in the first film, to a direct sequel to 1994's New Nightmare, to the possibility that Craven might write and direct the next "Freddy vs..." film.[citation needed]He was an uncredited executive producer of the "Freddy Vs Jason" movie of 2003.

Filmography

Director

Producer

External links

• Official Site
• Wes Craven at the Internet Movie Database
• Wes Craven at the Open Directory Project
• Wes Craven interview