Out Spotlight L

Today's Out Spotlight is Roland Emmerich.

Roland Emmerich (born November 10, 1955) is a German film director, writer, and producer, and created some of the biggest blockbusters in Hollywood history. He's worked with Will Smith, Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger, and oh yes two guys you may have heard of Jake Gyllenhaal and Austin Nichols. Roland is a part of a small group of Hollywood players who are gay and out.

Born in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, in a middle class family, Roland decided not to go into the family business of garden machinery. As a teenager, he pursued painting and sculpting, but after watching the Irwin Allen productions of the early 1970s and Star Wars, he decided to turn his attention to filmmaking. He attended the Munich Film and Television School 1977 to 1981 studying production design but finding himself an accidental director, taking his thesis and turning into a full scale movie. The Noah's Ark Principle, went on to open the 1984 Berlin Film Festival. The feature became a huge success and was sold to more than 20 countries.

Hoping to tap into the American market, Emmerich began directing English-language supernatural fantasy features in his native Germany. Eventually, his science-fiction film Moon 44, went straight to video in the United States and featured Dean Devlin who subsequently switched jobs to become Emmerich's writing and producing partner once Emmerich set up shop in Hollywood.

Emmerich founded Centropolis Film Productions in 1985 with his sister Ute Emmerich, and later renamed it Centropolis Entertainment. Centropolis has recently teamed up with Mythic Entertainment and Electric Entertainment to foray into the online computer game market.

Catching the attention of producer Mario Kassar, he was invited to America to direct Isobar. Dean and Roland rewrite the script for Isobar but when Kassar want to use the initial screenplay Roland dropped out of the production Kassar then abandoned the project altogether.

Instead, Roland was hired to replace director Andrew Davis for the action movie Universal Soldier with Jean Claude Van Daam. After Universal Soldier his next project was the science-fiction film Stargate, an unexpected success that spawned the television shows Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis.

But Roland really hit his blockbuster stride with Independence Day. The alien invasion feature became the first film to gross $100 million in less than a week and went on to become one of the most successful films of all time. When you soar so high there are the lows and , the much-hyped Godzilla didn't fare well with the box office or the critics. Roland took a change of pace after Godzilla directing the American Revolutionary War movie The Patriot with Mel Gibson and Heath. After The Patriot Roland returned to his bread and butter and directed the visual effects-disaster spectacular - The Day After Tomorrow. Roland has gone on to make the prehistoric 10,000 B.C. and his newest 2012, a disaster movie with political implications coming out July 10,2009. 2012 has been dubbed by some The Day after Tomorrow 5 years later. (Funny, I picture a completely different story than what Roland is making ; ) )

"While Hollywood has embraced Roland Emmerich's action-packed, effect-laden style of epic story-telling, the director is less than enamored with its lifeblood, the film industry.

'I don't really like the movie business, I have to say. It's a very cold, brutal business. It's not a cozy living. But, on the other hand, I really like making movies," he says.

'I'm constantly torn between, should I keep going or not. And then I always want to make another movie and then I have to deal with it. But every time I come into a situation, I'm always talking about early retirement, which makes all my friends laugh out loud.'"

Roland not only talks the talk but walks the walk about many causes he feels passionately about.

In 2006, he pledged $150,000 to the Legacy Project, a campaign dedicated to gay and lesbian film preservation. Making the donation of behalf of Outfest, it was the largest gift in the festival's history.

“These images [from gay and lesbian films] have saved countless lives and shaped the LGBT communities we know today. The independent gay and lesbian films of the last 30 years have had no one to save, restore and protect them until now. I'm proud to play a part in launching the Legacy Project and encourage everyone to help save these precious, affirming images.” (Outfest Press Release, Jan. 23, 2006)

In 2007, on behalf of the LGBT community, he held a fundraiser at his Los Angeles home for Democratic Party presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Roland's also been in favor of the campaign for stunt performers to receive recognition at the Academy Awards, and has worked to raise awareness over the issue of global warming.

Along with several other celebrities, he is a producer of The 1 Second Film, a non-profit project intended to raise money for women's rights in the developing world. (And you can be too, check out the link below.)

One thing you might not know, Roland sister Ute is married to some who is familiar in reality television in the U.S. Ute is married to furniture maker and carpenter Faber Deware, from the popular home decorating show "Trading Spaces" on The Learning Channel. (TLC)



"There's not really much destruction in New York besides the weather and it's a natural force so it's not like any destruction. But LA gets leveled (laughs). That's my comment to Hollywood. "

"In every movie I say: How can I slip something in?"

Roland Emmerich - Accidental Director
Check out the video of his home and beautiful garden. You might see something familiar.


The Outfest Legacy Project


Fundraiser for Hillary Clinton on behalf of the LGTB community

Powerful Gay Men in Hollywood

1 Second Film
"The film's animation only lasts one second, but the credits will last over an hour! A feature-length making of documentary will play during the credits. Our goal is to build a platform for global collaboration starting with the World's Biggest Shortest Film. To take part, simply donate $1 or more to add your name to our producer credits. Then create your profile, connect with our crew, and collaborate more. It's all for a great cause; support the arts and share a moment with the world!"

Centropolis Films