Biography: Quentin Tarantino

 

Quentin Tarantino was born in Knoxville, Tennessee on March 27th 1963, the son of aspiring actor Tony Tarantino who left the family before his son’s birth leaving him as the only child to his mother Connie McHugh. She only remained married briefly to his father, leaving Los Angeles and headed back to Knoxville where her parents lived. In 1966 they returned to Los Angeles.

At the age of 14, Tarantino wrote one of his earliest works, a screenplay called Captain Peachfuzz and the Anchovy Bandit, based off of Smokey and the Bandit. His mother, though, was of little support, ridiculing his writing when he was young. As a result he vowed to never share his wealth with her. 

At 15, Tarantino was caught shoplifting the Novel The Switch leaving him grounded by his mother. Allowing to leave only to attend the Torrance Community Theater where he played in such plays as Romeo and Juliet and Two Plus Two Makes Sex. Dropping out of High School that same year. 

In the early 90s Tarantino dated comedians Margaret Sho and Kathy Griffin. Moving on to Mira Sorvino from 95 to 98. Attending with her to the 68th Oscars ceremony where she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. In March of 98 they separated, Sorvino going to say "[They] still love each other very much" but had reached a "mutual" decision to go their separate ways."

On June 30th, 2017 Tarantino became engaged to Daniella Pick, an Israeli singer who was the daughter of the musician Zvika Pick. They met in 2009 when he visited Israel to promote his movie Inglourious Basterds. In 2020 their first son was born in Israel, their second child, a girl, was born in July 2022.

Quentin Tarantino, though, hasn’t always had the best interactions with people in the entertainment industry. Oftentimes being hostile and difficult with journalists. After selling his script Natural Born Killers which ended up being rewritten giving Tarantino only story credit, Tarantino went on to disown the film leading up to the publication of a Tell All book titled Killer Instinct written by Jane Hamsher. He went on being called a “one trick pony” and becoming “famous for being famous” which led to a physical assault of Murphy in the AGO restaurant in California in October of 1997. Murphy went on to file a $5 million lawsuit against Tarantino which ended in the judge only ordering Tarantino to pay Murphy $450.

While filming Crimson Tide, Tarantino got into a feud with actor Denzel Washington over what was called "Tarantino's racist dialogue added to the script". A feud that Washington would later apologize, telling Tarantino that he “buried the hatchet.”

In 2009 Tarantino had a feud with David Letterman. A few years before appearing on his show, Letterman interviewed a former “unnamed” girlfriend of Tarantino. Letterman joking about the relationship, questioning why a "glorious movie star" would date a "little squirrelly guy" A few days later, Tarantino phoned Letterman screaming angrily, "I’m going to beat you to death! I’m going to kill you! I’m coming to New York, and I'm gonna beat the crap out of you! How can you say that about me?!" After amusing Tarantino by offering to pay for his flight and to choose the method of fighting, Tarantino chose “bats”. However, afterwards nothing became of it. Upon reappearing on the Late Show to promote his new film Letterman approached him in the make up room and demanded an apology. Tarantino, at first refused but after some urging from his publicist, Tarantino conceded and apologized. 

While promoting Django Unchained in the UK back in 2013, Tarantino was asked  if there was a link between the movie violence and real life violence. He informed the interviewer, Krishnan Guru-Muthy, that he was "shutting [his] butt down". Tarantino further defied the journalist, saying: "I refuse your question. I'm not your slave and you're not my master. You can't make me dance to your tune. I'm not a monkey."

The works of Tarantino have not been without its controversies. On the topic of gun violence he has stated that he does not believe that violence in film inspires real acts of violence. In 2012 NRA Chief Executive Wayne LaPierre accused him of being insensitive to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. In an interview with Terry Gross he went on to express “annoyance” at the suggestion of a connection between the two, saying "I think it's disrespectful to [the] memory of those who died to talk about movies ... Obviously the issue is gun control and mental health."

It is of common knowledge how Tarantino portrays his characters in his films. Being both real and dark, he isn’t shy about using words and slang that could offend people. In 1997, Spike Lee questioned the racial slurs Tarantino used in his films, particularly in Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown. In a Variety interview, Lee went on to say: "I'm not against the word ... And some people speak that way, but Quentin is infatuated with that word... I want Quentin to know that all African Americans do not think that word is trendy or slick." Tarantino went on to reply:

“As a writer, I demand the right to write any character in the world that I want to write. I demand the right to be them, I demand the right to think them and I demand the right to tell the truth as I see they are, all right? And to say that I can't do that because I'm white, but the Hughes brothers can do that because they're black, that is racist. That is the heart of racism, all right. And I do not accept that ... That is how a segment of the black community that lives in Compton, lives in Inglewood, where Jackie Brown takes place, that lives in Carson, that is how they talk. I'm telling the truth. It would not be questioned if I was black, and I resent the question because I'm white. I have the right to tell the truth. I do not have the right to lie”

Samuel L. Jackson, who appeared in both of those films, defended Tarantino. Jackson went on to say "I don't think the word is offensive in the context of this film ... Black artists think they are the only ones allowed to use the word. Well, that's bull. Jackie Brown is a wonderful homage to black exploitation films. This is a good film, and Spike hasn't made one of those in a few years."

There was also controversy in Django Unchained with its use of racial slurs and depictions of slavery. Reviewers, however, defended the use of the language by pointing out the historic context of the film and its descriptions of racial slurs and slavery in America. In an interview with Vibe Lee went on to say that he would not watch the film. "All I'm going to say is that it's disrespectful to my ancestors. That's just me ... I'm not speaking on behalf of anybody else." He later said "American slavery was not a Sergio Leone spaghetti western. It was a holocaust. My ancestors are slaves. Stolen from Africa. I will honor them.”

With the rallying behind police brutality these past few years Tarantino has not kept his opinions to himself. Speaking at an event in October 2015 in New York he made a speech saying  "I'm a human being with a conscience ... And when I see murder I cannot stand by. And I have to call the murdered the murdered and I have to call the murderers the murderers." In response to his comments, police unions across the US called for a boycott of his upcoming film The Hateful Eight. In response Patrick J. Lynch, the union president of the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York said "It's no surprise that someone who makes a living glorifying crime and violence is a cop-hater, too. The police officers that Quentin Tarantino calls 'murderers' aren't living in one of his depraved big screen fantasies — they're risking and sometimes sacrificing their lives to protect communities from real crime and mayhem." Charlie Beck, the Los Angeles Police Department Chief said that Tarantino "doesn't understand the nature of the violence. Mr. Tarantino lives in a fantasy world. That’s how he makes his living. His movies are extremely violent, but he doesn't understand violence. … Unfortunately, he mistakes lawful use of force for murder, and it's not.”

Tarantino went on to say "All cops are not murderers ... I never said that. I never even implied that." In an interview with Chris Hayes he said "Just because I was at an anti-police brutality protest doesn’t mean I'm anti-police." Then clarifying his comments at the protest "We were at a rally where unarmed people – mostly black and brown – who have been shot and killed or beaten or strangled by the police, and I was obviously referring to the people in those types of situations. I was referring to Eric Garner, I was referring to Sam DuBose, I was referring to Antonio Guzman Lopez, I was referring to Tamir Rice ... In those cases in particular that we're talking about, I actually do believe that they were murder."

Quentin Tarantino has had an interesting career. Both in and out of the public eye he has entertained us from the 90s all the way to today. Very few directors are of his caliber. In fact, most don’t even come close. He is in a class all of his own.

Biography: Christina Ricci

 

Christina Ricci was born in 1980 to a family in Santa Monica, California. Her mother being a Ford Agency model during the 1960s who later turned to being a Real Estate agent. Her father worked many different jobs. Everything from a gym teacher to a lawyer. She is the youngest of four children.

At the age of eight, Ricci was in a school production of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” during which a local theater critic took notice. Ricci wasn’t the original pick for the role but devised a plan to get it anyways. She taunted her rival for the role so much so that the young man literally punched her. An act that cost him the part and gave the role over to Ricci. Upon talking about it, Ricci said: "I've always been a really ambitious person. I guess that's the first time it really reared its ugly head" Not long after that she was on “Saturday Night Live” playing a role in several spoof commercials. The role in these landed her an SAG-AFTRA card.

In 1990, Ricci hit the big screen in the movie “Mermaids” as the youngest daughter to Cher’s character. A young woman named Kate. She also worked alongside Cher and Winona Ryder in Cher’s music video for “The Shoop Shoop Song” which was featured on the movie’s soundtrack. Following this, in 1991 she played Wednesday Addams in the “Addams Family” movie. Then in 1993 she reprised her role in the sequel “Addams Family Values”. Both of which being commercial successes. Ricci’s performance being highlighted by critics.

Up next, in 1995, she was the lead role in “Casper” a live adaptation of the cartoon. Also, in 1995, she starred in “Gold Diggers: The Secret of Bear Mountain” and then in the coming of age drama “Now and Then”. A film gaining a cult following since its release. In 1997, Ricci had a lead role in “That Darn Cat” which received moderate success in theaters.

Later that year she shifted into more adult roles. Her portrayal of Wendy Hood in, “The Ice Storm” a troubled and sexually curious young lady. The role was originally cast to Natalie Portman who ended up pulling out. Then in 1998s “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” had her first collaboration with actor Johnny Depp. Also, in 1998 she starred in three independent films. For these roles she gained critical acclaim and was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress.

Ricci starred again with actor Johnny Depp in TIm Burton’s “Sleepy Hollow” a film that was a commercial and critical success, awarding her a Saturn Award. Ricci then appeared as the guest host on “Saturday Night Live” during which she accidentally pouches actress Ana Gasteyer in the face.

She then went on to play roles in “200 Cigarettes” in 1999 and “Bless the Child” and “The Man Who Cried” both in 1999 as well. This one being her third time working with Johnny Depp. In 2003 she took the role in a British horror film “The Gathering” where she performed as a young girl wandering through Europe. Then, in “Monster” (also from 2003) she starred opposite Charlize Theron. Speaking of the part she said that it posed a challenge as it "goes completely against who I am [as a person]" and described the filming experience as "dark and depressing"

Ricci (in 2005) was in Beck’s album Guero where she provided vocals for the song “Hell Yes”. In 2006 she played opposite Samuel L Jackson in the drama “Black Snake Moan” which was well received. In 2009 she guest starred in Three episodes of TNT’s “Saving Grace”. Also in 2009 she made her Broadway Theater debut as Mandy in “TIme Stands Still”, her first public performance being in September of 2010.

In “Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star” (2011) she played a kindhearted waitress. The film was written by Adam Sandler. The movie being generally hated by critics. In Variety, Andrew Barker called it "one of the most astonishingly unfunny films of this or any other year", but commended Ricci, who he felt gave her role "more than it deserves"

In 2018 she played in “Distorted” alongside John Cusack as a woman suffering from bipolar disorder. While the film received mixed reviews from critics Ricci’s performance was noted as a highlight. Then in 2022 she was back with the Addams Family. This time as Marilyn Thornhill.

Christina Ricci suffered both with anxiety and anorexia. To add to that her relationship with James Heerdegen, who she had met while working on the series “Pan Am” in 2012 was abusive and after almost seven years of marriage she filed for divorce. In the filing Ricci stated that she was subjected to "severe physical and emotional abuse" by Heerdegen and that "many of these acts of abuse" took place in front of their son. The Los Angeles Police Department had even been called to the home they shared back in June of 2020. Ricci was granted a domestic violence restraining order against her former husband. In April of 2021 she was granted full custody of their son.

In August of 2021 she announced that her and her boyfriend, hairstylist Mark Hampton were expecting her second child. Two months later she announced her marriage to him, announcing their first daughter together in December of 2021.

Christina Ricci  also is a national spokesperson for RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network). She also later announced that she would no longer wear fur products after backlash from PETA who named Ricci on their Worst Dressed List.

Christina Ricci has quite the history with cinema. An actress worth her weight in gold with a talent that most people can only dream of. What is she going to do next? I can only dream but what I can promise is that whatever it is her performance will be breathtaking.

Biography: Christoph Waltz

 

The year was 2009 and Quentin Taratino had a problem. In his upcoming film “Inglourious Basterds” Nazi officer SS-Standartenführer Hans Landa, also known as “The Jew Hunter” was a character that that Tarantino said might have been a part that was “un-playable". The character being clever, courteous, multilingual and yet self serving, cunning, implacable and murderous. A character that was going to be difficult to fill. Christoph Waltz, however, seemed perfect for the role. HIs past full of talent and experiences that molded him to the man he was and the man he is today.

Waltz was born on October 4 1956 in Vienna. The son of a German set designer and an Austrian costume designer. He was born into a family of theatrical heritage. His maternal grandmother was the silent film actress Maria Mayen and his step-grandfather, Emmerich Reimers, and his great-grandfather, Georg Reimers, were both stage actors who also appeared in silent films. Waltz maternal grandfather, Rudolf von Urban was a psychiatrist who was a student of Sigmund Freud.

Waltz’s father died when he was seven and his mother later married composer and conductor  Alexander Steinbrecher who was previously married to the mother of director Michael Haneke who, as a result shared the same stepfather as Waltz.

As a youth, Waltz had a passion for opera. Having seen his first opera around the age of ten, he would attend the opera at least twice a week. In his early years, however, he had no interest in theater and instead wanted to be an opera singer. After graduation from Theresianum, a private school in Vienna he studied acting at the renowned Max Reinhardt Seminar while also studying singing and opera at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. But, after coming to the conclusion that his voice was not good enough for a career in opera he decided to focus on acting.  In the late 1970s, he spent time in New York City where he trained with Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler. He also studied script interpretation and credits his analytical approach to Addler’s teaching.

On returning to Europe, Waltz worked as a stage actor making his debut at the Schauspielhaus
In Zürich. He also performed in Vienna, Salzburg, Cologne and Hamburg. From 1980 to 2000 he was a prolific television actor before making his directorial debut in 2000 with the German television production Wenn man sich traut. In 1990 he appeared in the British TV series “The Gravy Train.” The show a story of both intrigue and misdeeds set in the offices of the European Union in Brussels.

In 2009 Waltz was in Tarantino’s work “Inglourious Basterds” which earned him the Best Actor Award along with receiving acclaim from both the public and critics. He won Best Supporting Actor from the New York Film Critics Circle, the Boston Society of Film Critics, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and for Best Supporting Actor at the 67th Golden Globe Awards and the 16th Screen Actors Guild Awards in January of 2010. The following month he won the BAFTA for best supporting actor as well as winning Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Tarantino went on to say "I think that Landa is one of the best characters I've ever written and ever will write, and Christoph played it to a tee. It's true that if I couldn't have found someone as good as Christoph I might not have made Inglourious Basterds"

In 2011s “The Green Hornet” Waltz played gangster Benjamin Chudnofsky and that same year he starred in “Water for Elephants” as well as Roman Polanski work “Carnage.” Then in 2012 Waltz joined Quentin Tarantino again as King Schultz, a German Bounty Hunter in “Django Unchained” a role specifically written by Tarantino for Waltz. During which, in a training accident, he injured his pelvis. His role, though, once again gaining him acclaim, winning him another Golden Globe, the BAFTA as well as ultimately the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

In 2013, at the Cannes Film Festival he was selected as a member of the main competition jury. Also in that same year he directed a production for the opera “Der Rosenkavalier” at the Vlaamse Opera in Antwerp and then in Ghent in early 2014. He was then selected as a jury member for the 64th Berlin International Film Festival.

Starring in Tim Burton’s film “Big Eyes” which opened in december of 2014, he played Walter Keane. He also appeared as Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the 24th James Bond film: “Spectre.”  In July of 2016 he was villain Captain Leon Rom, a corrupt Belgian captain in “The Legend of Tarzan”.

In 2017 he directed the production of the opera “Falstaff” again at the Vlaamse Opera in Antwerp and then in Ghent in early 2018. In the film adaptation of of the novel “The Nazi and the Barber” he played the leading role. Describing the role of mass murderer Max Schulz as a “juicy role.”

In 2019 Waltz both starred and made his directorial film debut in the crime film Georgetown, a film about a man suspected of murdering his wife. The film premiering in 2019s Tribeca Film Festival and later released to cinemas on May 14 2021.

Waltz, with his former wife, Jacqueline (née Rauch),  lived in London with their four children. Their marriage lasted 17 years. He then went on to marry his second wife, German costume designer Judith Holste with whom they share a daughter.

Waltz speaks German, English and French in “Django Unchained” and also Italian in “Inglourious Basterds.” In 2010 Waltz received Austrian citizenship thus holding citizenships in both Austria and Germany. After being asked whether he felt Viennese he responded: "I was born in Vienna, grew up in Vienna, went to school in Vienna, graduated in Vienna, studied in Vienna, started acting in Vienna – and there would be a few further Viennese links. How much more Austrian do you want it?"

Christoph Waltz has a very colorful and interesting history. Coming from a heritage of theater his future was written in stone and he was destined for greatness. You don’t find too many actors of his talent and caliber. Cristoph Waltz is really a man in a league of his own.

Biography: Jenna Ortega

 Jenna Ortega was born to a family of both Mexican and Puerto Rican descent In September of 2002. Having become interested in acting at the age of six she, with the help of her mother and agents was able to make her acting debut in a 2012 episode “Baby Bug” on “Rob”. Following this was an appearance on “CSI: NY” in the episode “Unspoken” as Aimee Moore. Soon to follow was her film debut in “Iron Man 3” as the Vice President's Daughter. She made her Horror debut in “Insidious: Chapter 2” as Annie.

In 2014 on the series “Rake” she was cast as Zoe Leon. Then from 2014 to 2019 she played the younger version of Jane in the series “Jane the Virgin”. Then, in 2014 she starred as Mary Ann in the film “The LittleRascals Save the Day.” Then in 2015, she was cast as Darcy in the Netflix series “Richie Rich”. Also, in the same year she played as Anne Chapa in the film After Words

From 2016 to 2018 she starred in Disney Channel sitcom “Stuck in the Middle” as Harley Diaz. Her performance in that role won her an Imagen Award as well as having her being nominated for two others. The same year she joined the cast of Disney’s “Elena of Avalor”. The show was well received and she shared another Imagen Award with the cast as well as another nomination in 2019. In 2017 she starred in Jacob Sartorius “Chapstick” as Sartorius’ love interest which gained significant media coverage.

In 2018 she starred in the film “Saving Flora” as Dawn, a film that received positive reviews from critics, praising Ortega for her performance. At the Southampton International Film Festival she received a nomination for Best Lead Actress for her role. In the Netflix thriller “You”  she played Ellie Alves, a character both smart and meddling who likes to act older than she actually is. Commenting on her role with co-stars Penn Badgley and Victoria Pedretti she said: "I wish I had gotten to shoot with Victoria more, because I think she's really talented. ... Penn is such an eloquent speaker, so well-thought and so respectful and so kind, and just such a pleasure to work with." In 2019 she played Phoebe in Netflix's horror film “The Babysitter: Killer Queen”  In an interview with Cosmopolitan she said that she was "incredibly nervous" when they began filming, saying that "because it was a sequel, all of the other cast members already knew each other ... I went on the set panicking because I didn't know what I was doing.” The film, being released in September of 2020, received mixed reviews.

In 2020 Ortega voiced Brooklyn in Netflix's “Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous” the series receiving mixed reviews, although Ortega was praised for her performance. Then in 2020 she announced that she would be having her writing debut with the book “It’s All Love” which was released in March of 2021.

“The Fallout” a high school drama film which was released in March of 2021, had Ortega as the lead role of Vada. It received positive reviews from critics. Her performance being praised with several critics calling it her “breakout” film role.  The Holllywood Reporter wrote: “...Ortega's beautifully nuanced turn understands the nothing-to-look-at-here façade and the chinks in the armor." Decider similarly wrote praising her performance as "raw without going overboard. What could have been cliches along Vada's character path become earnest and real thanks to her commitment to the performance and a thorough understanding of its emotional beats." Variety magazine described Vada as her breakthrough role, writing that "Ortega in particular seems to have found her voice."

In the 2020 film “Scream” Ortega was cast as Tara Carpenter. In that role she stated "I don't even think there are words in the English language to correctly express how happy, excited and nervous I am for this journey." She stated  that working with co-stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette "You never know what to expect when you're meeting people of that standard, but they truly were just the most down-to-earth, sweetest people.”

Ortega starred in “Studio 666” a film led by the “Foo Fighters” which was released in February 2022 and the horror film “X” which was later released in March. “X” earned critical praise, with Screen Rant writing: "Ortega, alongside her role-swapping co-star Mia Goth, is in rare form here, with the pair's performances as two horrified wannabe pornstars turned survivalists as shocking as they are compelling.”

Ortega’s performance in “Wednesday” a Netflix original comedy/horror series earned her a nomination for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress- Television Series Musical or Comedy. Calling this role a “new chapter” in her career. She went on to say that she underwent "the most physical transformation I've ever done; I cut my hair, and it's black, and mannerism-wise, speaking cadence-wise, expression-wise" Then calling the production of Season One of “Wednesday” "the most overwhelming job" she ever had. Mentioning the constant state of confusion and stress over the direction of the series and character. Her performance, however, was widely praised. Ortega will star next in Paramount+ film “Finestkind” alongside Tommy Lee Jones, Ben Foster, and Toby Wallace and will return in the role of Rara Carpenter in “ScreamVI”

Ortega has used her platforms to support issues such as immigration and the politics involving them. Having also  been a huge supporter of “Pride over Prejudice” a pro LGBT campaign that promotes acceptance over hate. An organization she has backed since the age of 13. Also being pro-immigration and anti-discrimination, she said in an interview from Teen Vogue: "It's important to embrace your culture today because there are so many different ethnicities in America. At the end of the day, you are you. You've got to stay true to yourself, and you can't change yourself in order to fit in or to make someone else feel comfortable.”

In 2016 she organized a meet and greet for fans to help raise money for a young girl with cancer. At the Radio Disney Music Awards, Ortega wore a jacket with the words "I Do Care And U Should Too" in response to first lady Melania Trump. In 2020 Ortega was named brand ambassador for Neutrogena. On this, Ortega told “jHola!” "I could not be more ecstatic. I say it over and over, but it really is such a surreal feeling, especially with such an iconic brand, that I have looked up to for such a long time." The following year she announced on Instagram that she was partnering up with Neutrogena for their “For People with Skin” campaign. A campaign that advocates skin health to customers of all races, ages, ethnicity, skin needs or income.

In 2022, Ortega revealed that she almost quit acting to be a soccer player. Saying that she played in all attacking positions and in come cases as a midfielder. As a girl she took part in the American Youth Soccer Organization, a youth soccer program.

Her influences in acting started with the performance of actress Dakoto Fanning in 2004s film “Man of Fire” saying that "After watching Dakota, who obviously was so talented from such a young age, I decided that I wanted to be the Puerto Rican version of her." She also went on to say that Denzel Washington was "the coolest man I had ever seen in my life." She also cites actress Gina Rodriguez, who she worked with in “Jane the Virgin” as one of her major influences.

The Hollywood Reporter, in 2022 dubbed her the “Next Big Thing” and in 2020 PopSugar’s “20 under 20” listed her as number one.  Following her role in the Horror genre 2022 she was crowned a scream queen and “Inverse” observed that she expanded the titles definition, having been both the “red herring and the Final Girl, even within the same movie”.

Jenna Ortega has a huge career ahead of her and I know that all of us can’t wait to see how she grows and where she goes. Our adventure with her is just beginning.