Zack Snyder

Mini Bio 

• Zachary Edward "Zack" Snyder (born March 1, 1966) is an American film director, film producer, and screenwriter, best known for action and science fiction films. Snyder made his feature film debut with the 2004 remake Dawn of the Dead and has gone on to be known for his comic book movies and superhero films, including 300 (2007), Watchmen (2009), Man of Steel (2013) and its upcoming sequel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). Snyder is the co-founder of Cruel and Unusual Films, a production company he established in 2004, alongside his wife Deborah Snyder and producing partner Wesley Coller.

Spouse 

• Deborah Snyder (25 September 2004 - present) ( 2 children)
• Denise Michelle Weber (? - ?) ( divorced) ( 4 children)

Trade Mark 

• Flamboyant visual style using a combination of dynamic compositions, highly-saturated color schemes and visual effects.
• Often speeds-up and slows-down motion during action sequences in movies like 300 (2006), Watchmen (2009) and Justice League (2017)
• Slow motion shots of a fist punching a cheek
• Movies have very high body counts, sometimes accompanied with widespread metropolitan destruction (Watchmen, Man of Steel). '300' alone has an estimated body count of 585.
• Films generally deal with the tragic nature of heroism.
• His movies often have stunning visual effects with frequent use of slow motion.
• Often works with cinematographer Larry Fong
• Use of slightly darker, toned down colors
• Many of his films are Comic Book adaptations
• Use of pop music and covers of famous songs (Dawn Of The Dead, Watchmen, Sucker Punch)
• His films often have narration
• Extreme attention to detail in recreating comic book panels
• Uses wide shots and puts an emphasis on cinematography in action sequences
• Heavy emphasis on visual storytelling with important plot points and backstory often conveyed without dialogue
• Often casts Carla Gugino
• Dynamic visually striking opening scenes and credit sequences
• Relationships between parents and children (Both positive and negative) are often a major theme in his films
• Heavily stylized yet brutal fight scenes
• His films often have female characters who suffer at the hands of male authority figures
• References to classic works of art
• Many of his films have a rotating shot where the camera shows a character surveying their surroundings
• Often uses religious symbolism in his films.

Trivia 

• Turned down a chance to direct S.W.A.T. (2003) because it wouldn't be rated R.
• Attended Art Center College of Design at Pasadena, California.
• Studied visual art at Heatherlys School of Fine Art in Chelsea, London.
• Directed a commercial for Subaru WRX. He used it in his debut, Dawn of the Dead (2004), as the commercial before the "Special Report" on TV.
• 2007 - Ranked #25 on EW's The 50 Smartest People in Hollywood.
• Was interested in directing X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) but later turned it down, because he was too busy working on Watchmen (2009).
• Dubbed "The Wizard" by journalist/filmmaker Chad Clinton Freeman.
• He has two children with line producer Kirsten Elin.
• Was 37 years old when he directed his first feature length film.
• He is a very big fan of the Superman series Smallville (2001) and has included references to it in his Superman film Man of Steel (2013).
• In 2001 Zack meet Joshua Henry Jones and became good friends.
• Was considered to direct X-Men: The Last Stand (2006).
• He was considered to direct Green Lantern (2011).
• In an interview with IGN, he named Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977), A Clockwork Orange (1971) and RoboCop (1987) as three of his favorite movies.
• Widely considered to be one of the most polarizing directors of his generation.
• Most of his films are released in March.
• Has eight children. Four from his marriage to Denise Weber, Two from his relationship with Kirsten Elin and two that he adopted with his current wife Deborah.
• Emily Browning said that working with him on Sucker Punch (2011) convinced her not to walk away from her acting career.
• James Cameron is a big fan of his work and has named him as an inspiration.
• Daughter Autumn Snyder committed suicide in March 2017. She was 20.
• He is a trained painter.
• Half of his children are adopted.
• He has said that his favorite film is Excalibur (1981).
• He has said that his favorite films are Excalibur (1981), The Road Warrior (1981), A Clockwork Orange (1971), Blue Velvet (1986), Robocop (1987), Brazil (1985) and he has also named The Searchers (1956) and Hope And Glory (1987) as other favorites.
• Father of 8 children. Four, Olivia, Willow, Autumn, and Eli, with his first wife Denis Weber; Ezekiel and Jett Elin from his relationship with Kirsten Elin; and Willow and Autumn, which he adopted with Deborah Snyder from China.
• He and and his wife producer Deborah Snyder stepped down from finishing Justice League (2017), after the suicide of his daughter Autumn in March 2017. They tried to remain on the film as a way to work through the difficult family situation, but decided after two months to step away from the project to spend time with their family. Joss Whedon took over as director, managing additional scenes that need to be included in the final cut as well as re-shoots.
• He is Dyslexic.
• He is no relation to DC Comics writer Scott Snyder.

Personal Quotes

• It's difficult to find a movie that feels true to itself. You feel the hand of Hollywood, the moviemaking by committee, on everything.
• [on Man of Steel (2013)] I think it's drawing on all mythology; comic book, religion, ancient, philosophical.
• [on the Superman character] All the movies I've made, I've made with a slight bit of irony. Not even a slight bit. A fair amount. But the ironic part of [ 'Man of Steel'] is that it's not ironic. You know what I mean? No tongue in cheek, no winking at the camera, no apologies. It's Superman. He deserves that. In my mind, we really had to act as if no films had been made. It's like we just found this comic book lying on the ground under a bed, and we were like, This would be a cool movie.
• [For me] Superman is this adopted son, this immigrant story, this guy trying to find his place in the world. What's his purpose, what is he supposed to do, how is he supposed to be?
• [promoting Watchmen (2009) and before he was hired for Man of Steel (2013)] In this world, if Superman really existed, he'd grab all the world leaders together in a room and say, 'Behave or I'll kill you.'
• [on presenting his male protagonists with superhuman physiques] I have always been influenced by the fantasy art of Frank Frazetta and obsessed with the potential of humanity's physicality.
• [on taking a break from Justice League (2017) because of his daughter's suicide] Here's the thing, I never planned to make this public. I thought it would just be in the family, a private matter, our private sorrow that we would deal with. When it became obvious that I need to take break, I knew there would be narratives created on the internet. They'll do what they do. The truth ...I'm past caring about that kind of thing now. [May 2017]
• [on directing director Justice league] The demands of this job are pretty intense. It is all-consuming, he told the publication. "I've decided to take a step back from the movie to be with my family, be with my kids, who really need me. They are all having a hard time. I'm having a hard time. [May 2017]
• [on stepping down as director on Justice league after his daughter's death] I want the movie to be amazing and I'm a fan, but that all pales pretty quickly in comparison," he said. "I know the fans are going to be worried about the movie, but there are seven other kids that need me. In the end, it's just a movie. It's a great movie. But it's just a movie. [May 2017]