Damien Chazelle Director, screenwriter Date of Birth: 19.01.1985 Country: USA

1. The Early Years of Damien Chazelle: From Drums to Film
2. Education and Early Career: From Harvard to Sundance
3. Breakthrough with "Whiplash" and Critical Acclaim
4. Ascending to Hollywood Stardom: "La La Land" and Beyond
5. Personal Life: Marriage and Relationships

The Early Years of Damien Chazelle: From Drums to Film

Born on January 19, 1985, in Providence, Rhode Island, Damien Sayer Chazelle inherited a passion for both music and filmmaking from his parents, Bernard Chazelle, a Princeton University computer science professor of French descent, and Celia Martin Chazelle, a history professor at the College of New Jersey. Chazelle's younger sister, Anna, went on to become a film and circus performer.

As a child, Chazelle took up jazz drumming and even became a jazz drummer for a period. His experiences during this time would later inspire the screenplay for his film "Whiplash." However, Chazelle realized he lacked musical talent and shifted his focus towards filmmaking.

Education and Early Career: From Harvard to Sundance

Following high school, Chazelle pursued a degree in Visual and Environmental Studies at Harvard University, where he honed his filmmaking skills. Graduating in 2007, he began to produce his early works. Chazelle's first short film, "Day and Night," debuted in 2008 as a cinematographer. His directorial debut, "Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench," premiered a year later. In this film, Chazelle acted as director, cinematographer, editor, co-producer, and screenwriter, while his Harvard roommate Justin Hurwitz composed the music.

Breakthrough with "Whiplash" and Critical Acclaim

Despite its low budget, "Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench" received critical acclaim, validating Chazelle's filmmaking path. Subsequent projects included "Maria My Love" (co-producer, 2011), "Whiplash" (writer and director, 2012), "The Grand Piano" (writer, 2012), and "The Last Exorcism Part II" (writer, 2013).

Originally an 18-minute short film, Chazelle's "Whiplash" failed to secure funding for a feature-length production. However, he submitted it to the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury Prize for Short Film and the Audience Award for U.S. Drama. This triumph led to the full-length version of "Whiplash" being released on January 16, 2014. J.K. Simmons, the only actor to reprise his role from the short film, won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, while Chazelle received the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Ascending to Hollywood Stardom: "La La Land" and Beyond

Undeterred by the lack of a Best Director Oscar for "Whiplash," Chazelle immersed himself in his next project, the thriller "10 Cloverfield Lane" (writer, 2016). He then embarked on his third feature-length directorial project, "La La Land," widely regarded as the best film of 2016. Starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, the musical garnered numerous accolades, including five BAFTA Awards (including Best Direction for Chazelle), seven Golden Globe Awards (including Best Director for Chazelle), and six Academy Awards (including Best Director for Chazelle).

Despite "La La Land" and "Whiplash" both failing to win Best Picture at the Oscars (an infamous awards mix-up occurred during the ceremony), Chazelle has cemented his status as a cinematic visionary. His upcoming project, "First Man," a biopic of astronaut Neil Armstrong (portrayed by Ryan Gosling), is set to release in 2018.

Personal Life: Marriage and Relationships

In 2010, Chazelle married actress Jasmine McGlade, whom he met at Harvard. They divorced in 2014, but remain friends; McGlade co-produced "La La Land" and previously assisted in the production of Chazelle's debut film. Chazelle has since been in a relationship with Olivia Hamilton, a Princeton University economics and finance graduate.