Age: 65
male
Todd Haynes (/heɪnz/; born January 2, 1961; Los Angeles) is an American filmmaker. His films span four decades with themes examining the personalities of well-known musicians, dysfunctional and dystopian societies, and blurred gender roles. Haynes first gained public attention with his controversial short film Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story (1987), which chronicles singer Karen Carpenter's life and death, using Barbie dolls as actors. Superstar became a cult classic. Haynes's feature directorial debut, Poison (1991), a provocative exploration of AIDS-era queer perceptions and subversions, established him as a figure of a new transgressive cinema. Poison won the Sundance Film Festival's Grand Jury Prize and is regarded as a seminal work of New Queer Cinema. Haynes received further acclaim for his second feature film, Safe (1995), a symbolic portrait of a housewife who develops multiple chemical sensitivity. Safe was later voted the best film of the 1990s by The Village Voice Film Poll. His next feature, Velvet Goldmine (1998), is a tribute to the 1970s glam rock era. The film received the Special Jury Prize for Best Artistic Contribution at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. Haynes gained acclaim and a measure of mainstream success with Far from Heaven (2002) earning his first Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. He continued to direct critically lauded films such as I'm Not There (2007), Carol (2015), Wonderstruck (2017) and Dark Waters (2019). He directed his first feature-length documentary, The Velvet Underground (2021). Haynes directed and co-wrote the HBO mini-series Mildred Pierce (2011) for which he was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards.
Todd Haynes
Director
for Director in Raw Power: The Dave Alexander Story
Suggested by kamsismith
Set against the electrifying backdrop of the 1960s Detroit rock scene, Raw Power: The Dave Alexander Story chronicles the meteoric rise and tragic fall of David Michael Alexander, the unsung architect of proto-punk and original bassist of The Stooges. From his humble beginnings in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to the chaos of fame alongside Iggy Pop, Ron, and Scott Asheton, this biopic dives into the tumultuous world of a revolutionary band that redefined rock and roll. Dave was not just a bassist—he was the heart of The Stooges’ early sound, crafting raw, unforgettable grooves that became the foundation of punk. Through never-before-seen insights, Raw Power explores his genius, his struggles with addiction, and his untimely departure from the band. It’s a story of friendship, betrayal, redemption, and the weight of being a pioneer in a world unprepared for your brilliance. Featuring an iconic soundtrack and intimate performances, Raw Power paints a poignant portrait of a man who lived fast, loved deeply, and left a lasting legacy. His induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010, long after his death, is a testament to the enduring influence of his music. This is the story of a legend who never sought the spotlight but left a shadow over an entire genre—a story of raw talent, raw pain, and raw power.
