Lawrence Kasdan
USABiography of Lawrence Kasdan
Lawrence Kasdan is an American director, screenwriter, and producer. He may not be as famous as other American filmmakers from the "baby boom" generation, who were born in the first decade after the war. However, before his directorial debut with "Body Heat" in 1981, a contemporary stylization of the film noir genre, Kasdan had already participated as one of the screenwriters in blockbuster films such as "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980), "Return of the Jedi" (1983, the second and third installments of the "Star Wars" series), and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981).
Early Career and Style
Kasdan, who also directed ironic films like "Silverado" (1985) and more serious westerns like "Wyatt Earp" (1994), was one of the first collaborators of the "Spielberg school" to realize the necessity of conveying certain immutable values in family and everyday life to the new generation of Americans. In films such as "The Big Chill" (1983), "The Accidental Tourist" (1988), "I Love You To Death" (1990), "Grand Canyon" (1991), and "French Kiss" (1995), for over a decade, the director has portrayed the life and problems of the "baby boomers" in the genre of psychological drama, tragicomedy, or romantic comedy, as they have now started celebrating their fiftieth birthdays one after another.
Creating a Homely Atmosphere
Kasdan strives to create a cozy, homely, and friendly atmosphere on set. It is not uncommon to see a calm and amiable Larry wearing a baseball cap with a very characteristic inscription on it: "Family means a lot."
Filmography
1. "The Big Chill" - 1983 (Drama)
2. "Silverado" - 1985 (Western)
3. "The Accidental Tourist" - 1988 (Drama)
4. "I Love You To Death" - 1990 (Genre not specified)
5. "Grand Canyon" - 1991 (Drama)
6. "Wyatt Earp" - 1994 (Western)
7. "French Kiss" - 1995 (Romantic Comedy)
8. "Mumford" - 1999 (Comedy)
9. "Dreamcatcher" - 2003 (Genre not specified)
