Russell Mulcahy | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1953-06-23)23 June 1953 (age 72) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Education | Corrimal High School |
| Occupation | |
Russell Mulcahy (/mʌlˈkæhi/mul-KA-hee;[1][2] born 23 June 1953) is an Australian director, writer, and producer.[3][4] He began his career directing music videos for artists likeElton John andDuran Duran, before making his feature directorial debut with the horror filmRazorback (1984). He achieved international prominence by directing the fantasy action filmHighlander (1986), which spawned amultimedia franchise.
Mulcahy's subsequent work includesHighlander's first sequelHighlander II: The Quickening (1991), the superhero filmThe Shadow (1994), the action-horror filmResident Evil: Extinction (2007), and theErrol Flynn biopicIn Like Flynn (2018). He was also a director and executive producer of the television seriesTeen Wolf (2011–17), and directed the film's2023 feature film spin-off.
Stylistically, Mulcahy's work is recognisable by the use offast cuts,tracking shots, glowing lights,neo-noir lighting, windblown drapery, and fans.
Mulcahy was born in Melbourne. He grew up inMangerton in theIllawarra region of New South Wales and attendedCorrimal High School.[5]
When he was 14 he received an 8mm camera and began making short films with his friends. After school he began working as a film editor for Australia'sSeven Network. He later said he "used to creep in there at 3am and make my own movies".[6] He also acted on stage and was unsure whether to focus on acting or directing. Two of his films won the City Film Festival Award for Best Independent Short Film and he won Best Short Film at the Sydney Film Festival for "Contrived Mind Flashes".[7]
He was approached by the producer of a Seven pop show and asked to film some original footage and compile a music video (then known as a "film clip") to accompany theHarry Nilsson hit "Everybody's Talkin'" (for which no original video was available).
Mulcahy soon found that he was in demand as a music video director, and made a number of successful film clips for bands from Australia and New Zealand, includingDragon,Hush andAC/DC, and the music video forthe Saints' "(I'm) Stranded" (1976).
Tony Hogarth from Wizard Records sent Mulcahy to England to do a video for a punk band in Birmingham. It was well received and Mulcahy decided to stay on in the country. He joined Jon Roseman Productions International and made successfulmusic videos for several noted British pop acts—his early UK credits includedCulture Club,the Human League,the Stranglers,XTC's "Making Plans for Nigel" (1979), theSex Pistols andPaul McCartney.
He directedthe Vapors' hit "Turning Japanese" (1980) and his landmark video forthe Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star" (1979) which became the first music video played onMTV in 1981.[8] Mulcahy recalled, "Nobody knew the impact that the video would have and how timely it was when we were shooting it. We went into the video with no concept of what it was going to do.... It was a one-day shoot. I just had this idea of it being set in a strange laboratory, with a girl coming down a tube on a wire."[7]
In 1978, he went to the United States (for Roseman) and directed videos for The Cryers andCandi Staton - where he first used the "jump cut" - under producer Paul Flattery. Other Mulcahy innovations included spot colour, body painting, glass matte shots and faux widescreen aspect ratio (first used on his Ultravox and Rod Stewart videos) which have all become standards for the genre.
Mulcahy was a friend ofRichard Branson and had done videos forVirgin Records. Branson had an idea for making a film about Derek and Clive and hired Mulcachy to shoot one of their albums over two nights. This becameDerek and Clive Get the Horn (1979), Mulcahy's first feature.[7]
For the next few years, Mulcahy focused on music videos, becoming one of the leading directors in the field. In 1980 he joined Lexi Godfrey, Scott Millaney,Brian Grant, andDavid Mallet to form the video company MGMM.[9] He had notable collaborations in particular withUltravox,Duran Duran (especially "Hungry Like the Wolf"),Kim Carnes,Icehouse,Spandau Ballet,Fleetwood Mac ("Gypsy") (1982),Billy Joel ("Allentown" & "Matter of Trust"),Bonnie Tyler (including "Total Eclipse of the Heart") (1983),the Motels,Rod Stewart ("Young Turks") (1981) andElton John.[10]
He has a cameo appearance in the video for "I'm Still Standing" (1983) by Elton John, that he also directed.[citation needed]
Mulcahy later recalled "When people were first asking me to do videos, there was never really a need or a request for a concept. They would just send me a cassette of the song. I'd listen to it with my eyes closed, come up with some ideas and write something down. We'd shoot the video the next day or two days later. It really was just grab what you can and do it."[7]
Warner Bros music chief Jo Berggman called Mulcahy's style "everything but the kitchen sink and more school of video. Russell's work is expensive by music video standards but look at what you get.Wizard of Oz,Singing in the Rain - I mean, name your favorite MGM musical, they're all there."[11]
Mulcahy worked with Duran Duran, directing the key early songs by the band which helped launch them internationally.[12] "We just hit it off," he said. "They were young and brave, as was I really."[7]
In 1982, Mulcahy said he had been approached to make a feature film about a movie palace byDavid Puttnam, who had success working with first time directors from TV commercials. However, the film was never made.[11]
Mulcahy's first dramatic feature was in Australia,Razorback (1984). The film was a box office disappointment but has become a cult favorite. He later said:
From my videos and continuing on through RAZORBACK and after, I've always made sure I have a group around me that are as important as me, and people whose expertise and talent I want and encourage. I want them to be part and parcel of the team and to be proud of their work. I guess there has to be a captain of the ship, but it only takes one crew member to screw everything up. You just encourage everyone to do their best and have fun. The more they feel part of it, and the more fun they have, the day goes faster, and the better the work is.[7]
Mulcahy went back to video clips working withCulture Club, Elton John, Berlin andthe Rolling Stones. His work for Duran Duran was particularly acclaimed, including the clip for "Wild Boys",Arena (An Absurd Notion) and theAs the Lights Go Down concert video.[13]
In 1985, Mulcahy directed thecult filmHighlander, starringChristopher Lambert andSean Connery, featuring music from Queen.[4] Mulcahy said "I loved the genre, I loved the action, and I loved the strange complexity of the intercutting timelines. What really grabbed me though was the sense of tragic, epic romance in the story."[14]
Mulcahy directed several Queen video clips for theHighlander soundtrack (including "A Kind of Magic") as well as works for Billy Joel, Kim Carnes,Kenny Loggins,Def Leppard, Elton John (including "I Don't Wanna Go on with You Like That") and Rod Stewart.
He later directed theHighlander sequel,Highlander II: The Quickening (1991), but disowned it after the completion-bond company interfered withproduction. He wanted to have his credit changed toAlan Smithee, but as he was not a member of theDirectors Guild of America, he had no way of forcing the film-guarantor company to change the credit. He eventually took the opportunity to restore his vision for the film, to a large extent, with the video release ofHighlander II: The Renegade Version.
Mulcahy began to focus on features, mostly action/thrillers, such asRicochet (1991) withDenzel Washington,Blue Ice (1992) withMichael Caine,The Real McCoy (1993) withKim Basinger,The Shadow (1994) with Alec Baldwin andSilent Trigger (1996) withDolph Lundgren.
He was hired byCarolco Pictures to directRambo III (1988), but was replaced with second-unit directorPeter MacDonald. The collaboration had started well but it became apparent that he had major creative differences with star/writerSylvester Stallone so Mulcahy left the project. "It was nobody's fault," said Mulcahy later. "Sly is a wonderful man, and we still remain friends."[14][15]
He continued to direct the occasional video clip for artists like Elton John and began to direct TV shows likeTales from the Crypt,Perversions of Science andThe Hunger. He directed the featuresTale of the Mummy (1998) andResurrection (1999), the latter withChristopher Lambert ofHighlander.
In the 21st century, Mulcahy's work was increasingly on the small screen:On the Beach (2000), filmed in Australia based on the novel byNeville Shute;The Lost Battalion (2001), withRick Schroder; and1st to Die (2003); he also did episodes ofQueer as Folk,The Young Lions,Jeremiah andSkin.
He returned to features with the AustralianSwimming Upstream (2003) but mostly directed TV movies, including3: The Dale Earnhardt Story (2004),Mysterious Island (2005),The Curse of King Tut's Tomb (2006),The Sitter (2007),Crash and Burn (2007),The Scorpion King: Rise of a Warrior (2008), andPrayers for Bobby (2009).
He directed the featuresResident Evil: Extinction (2007) andGive 'em Hell Malone (2009).
Mulcahy was a key director on theTeen Wolf TV series throughout its run and also directed episodes ofEye Candy andThe Lizzie Borden Chronicles.[14] He returned to features withIn Like Flynn (2018).
Mulcahy isgay. He lives inWest Hollywood, California, with his partner, David Guzman.
As director
As writer
TV series
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1991–1996 | Tales from the Crypt | 4 episodes |
| 1997 | Perversions of Science | 2 episodes |
| 1997–2000 | The Hunger | 6 episodes |
| 2000 | Queer as Folk | 5 episodes[4] |
| 2002 | Jeremiah | Episode "The Long Road, Part One" |
| Young Lions | Episodes "The Navy: Part 1 and Part 2" | |
| 2003 | First to Die | Miniseries |
| 2003–2004 | Skin | Episode "Pilot" |
| 2011–2017 | Teen Wolf | 40 episodes; also executive producer |
| 2015 | The Lizzie Borden Chronicles | 2 episodes |
| 2020 | 13 Reasons Why | Episodes "College Tour" and "Winter Break" |
TV movies
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Nuts, Bolts and Bedroom Springs | ||
| 1991 | Highlander II: The Quickening | Shield Control Technician | Uncredited |
| 2011 | Teen Wolf | Pool Owner | Episode "Wolf Moon" (Uncredited) |
