George A. Romero

George Andrew Romero (born 4 February, 1940) is an American director, writer, editor, actor, and composer. He is best known for his horror movies with a zombie theme, which are known for providing a commentary on contemporary society.

Related Topics:
4 February - 1940 - American - Horror movies - Zombie

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He was born and grew up in New York City, and attended Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University. After graduation, he began shooting mostly short films and commercials. He and friends formed Image Ten Productions in the late 1960s and they all chipped in roughly $10,000 apiece to produce what became one of the most celebrated horror films of all time, which he had written together with John A. Russo: Night of the Living Dead (1968). The movie became a cult classic in the 1970s. Romero updated his original screenplay and was executive producer of the remake of Night of the Living Dead directed by Tom Savini for Columbia/Tristar in 1990.

Related Topics:
New York City - Pittsburgh's - Carnegie Mellon University - Image Ten Productions - 1960s - John A. Russo - Night of the Living Dead - 1968 - Cult classic - 1970s - Night of the Living Dead - Tom Savini - 1990

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Romero's next films were less popular: There's Always Vanilla (1971), The Crazies (1973), Season of the Witch (1973) and Martin (1976). Though not as acclaimed as Night of the Living Dead or some of his later work, these films had his signature social commentary while dealing with issues (usually horror-related) at the microscopic level. Like almost all of his films, they were shot in or around Romero's favorite city of Pittsburgh.

Related Topics:
There's Always Vanilla - 1971 - The Crazies - 1973 - Season of the Witch - Martin - 1976

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In 1978, Romero returned to the zombie genre with Dawn of the Dead (1978). Shot on a budget of just $1.5 million, the film earned over $40 million worldwide and was named one of the top cult films by Entertainment Weekly in 2003. Romero completed his "Dead Trilogy" in 1985 with the less-heralded Day of the Dead.

Related Topics:
1978 - Zombie - Dawn of the Dead - Cult film - Entertainment Weekly - 1985 - Day of the Dead

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Universal Studios produced and released a remake of Dawn of the Dead in 2004, in which Romero was not involved.

Related Topics:
Dawn of the Dead - 2004

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Romero, who still lives in Pittsburgh, recently completed a fourth "Dead" movie, Land of the Dead (formerly known as Dead Reckoning), in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with a $16 million production budget (the highest in Romero's career). Actors Dennis Hopper, Asia Argento and John Leguizamo star in the film. It was released on June 24, 2005.

Related Topics:
Land of the Dead - Toronto - Ontario - Canada - Dennis Hopper - Asia Argento - John Leguizamo

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Some critics have pointed out that much of Romero's work can be seen as providing a commentary on society. They view Night of the Living Dead as a film made as a reaction to the turbulent 1960s, Dawn of the Dead as a satire on consumerism, Day of the Dead as a study of the constant war between science and the military, and Land of the Dead as a distinguishing study of the upper and lower classes of society.

Related Topics:
1960s - Consumerism

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