Biography
Who is Mike Figgis?
Early life and education
Mike Figgis was born in Carlisle, United Kingdom. He spent his early years living in Nairobi, Kenya, before moving back to the United Kingdom at age eight. His childhood continued in Newcastle upon Tyne.
He attended Kenton School during his school years. For his higher education, he studied music at Trent Park College, which was part of the University of London's Institute of Education. He eventually mastered harmony, composition, and counterpoint.
Musical and stage career
As a multi-instrumentalist, Mike joined the People Band in 1968. He played guitar and trumpet on their debut record, which was produced by Charlie Watts. He also served as the keyboardist for The Gas Board, the first band featuring Bryan Ferry.
During the 1970s, he was a core member of the People Show experimental theatre group. He directed multimedia stage productions for this group, such as Slow Fade in 1982. This work later became a Channel 4 teleplay titled The House in 1984.
Film and digital video work
His feature film debut arrived in 1988 with the thriller Stormy Monday. He later directed Internal Affairs in 1990 and Liebestraum in 1993. Mike Figgis received Academy Award nominations for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for his 1995 film Leaving Las Vegas.
He explored digital technology through the film Timecode in 2000, which used four cameras to shoot an uncut ensemble piece. Other film projects include Cold Creek Manor, One Night Stand, and the autobiographical film The Loss of Sexual Innocence. He also created the Fig Rig camera stabilization system.
In 2008, he helped create a public information film for Transport for London. This advertisement, titled A Little Thought From Each of Us, A Big Difference For Everyone, used a split-screen technique on a double-decker bus to show different scenarios.
Academic and professional roles
Since 2008, Mike Figgis has served as a professor of film studies at the European Graduate School in Switzerland. He teaches intensive summer seminars at this institution. He is also an Honorary Associate of the London Film School.
He was a founding patron for the online community Shooting People, which supports independent filmmakers in the United Kingdom. His various roles span acting, cinematography, screenwriting, and film production.
Birthday and age
Mike Figgis was born on February 28, 1948, which makes Mike 78 years old today. That birthday falls under the Pisces sign. Mike shares the date with 66 other famous people.
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