Roger Christian

Academy Award winner 'Roger Christian' (qv) has had an extensive film career. He won an Academy Award for set decoration on director 'George Lucas' (qv)'s _Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)_ (qv), which began a long collaboration between the filmmakers. Christian subsequently worked with Lucas on _Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)_ (qv) and was hand-picked by Lucas to direct the second unit on the recent _Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)_ (qv). It was through Lucas that Christian got his first opportunity to direct a film, the short feature entitled _Ángel negro (2000)_ (qv), which accompanied the UK release of _Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)_ (qv). Christian followed "Black Angel" with another short, _The Dollar Bottom (1981)_ (qv), which won the 1981 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. He followed that success with the thriller _The Sender (1998)_ (qv), which received much critical acclaim and a nomination for Best Film by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films.His directing credits include the 1994 Orion Pictures release _Nostradamus (1994/I)_, starring 'Julia Ormond' (qv) and 'F. Murray Abraham' (qv), the HBO premiere movie _The Final Cut (1995)_ (qv), _Underworld (1996)_ (qv) starring 'Annabella Sciorra' (qv) and _Masterminds (1997)_ (qv) starring 'Patrick Stewart' (qv). Christian has also directed numerous high profile commercials, including worldwide campaigns for SEGA, Taco Bell, Jeep, Lancia, Fiat and Chrysler/Dodge, among others. Christian's work as an art director and production designer was highly regarded. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his art direction on 'Ridley Scott' (qv)'s _Alien (1979)_ (qv). His other art direction credits include _Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979)_ (qv), 'Ken Russell' (qv)'s _Mahler (1974)_ (qv) and 'Peter Hall' (qv)'s _Akenfield (1974)_ (qv). Roger also directed _Battlefield Earth (2000)_ (qv), with 'John Travolta' (qv) and 'Forest Whitaker' (qv).'Roger Christian' (qv) recently wrapped production on _Bandido (2004)_ (qv), starring 'Angie Everhart' (qv), for Fries Film Group. Written by 'Carlos Gallardo' (qv), who also wrote El Mariachi, Bandidos continues the saga of the stylish Mexican thief who remains nameless. The same character was also portrayed by Antonio Banderas in Desperado (a remake of El Mariachi). In Bandidos, 'Carlos Gallardo' (qv) reprises the starring role as the most infamous thief in Mexico.::Fries Film Group