115-423: The Hotel Alexandria is a historic building constructed as a luxury hotel at the beginning of the 20th century in what was then the heart of downtown Los Angeles . As the business center of the city moved gradually westward, the hotel decayed and gradually devolved into a single-room occupancy (SRO) hotel housing long-term, low income residents and gained a reputation for crime and being unsafe. Revitalization of
230-430: A mystery that follows the events surrounding Nick Dunne (Affleck), who becomes the prime suspect in the sudden disappearance of his wife Amy (Pike). A critical and commercial success, the film earned $ 369 million worldwide against a $ 61 million budget, making it Fincher's highest-grossing work to date. Writing for Salon magazine, Andrew O'Hehir praises the "tremendous ensemble cast who mesh marvelously", adding, "All
345-520: A tripod . He said, "Handheld has a powerful psychological stranglehold. It means something specific and I don't want to cloud what's going on with too much meaning." He has experimented with the disembodied camera movement, notably in Panic Room , where the camera glides around the house to give the impression of surveillance by an unseen observer. One element of Fincher's visual style is the specific way in which he uses tilt , pan , and track in
460-488: A 2017 interview, Fincher explained his fascination of sinister themes: "There was always a house in any neighborhood that I ever lived in that all the kids on the street wondered, 'What are those people up to?' We sort of attach the sinister to the mundane in order to make things interesting... I think it's also because in order for something to be evil, it almost has to cloak itself as something else." Fincher once stated, "I think people are perverts. I've maintained that. That's
575-469: A 5.84 sq mi (15.1 km ) area. As of 2020, it contains over 500,000 jobs and has a population of roughly 85,000 residents, with an estimated daytime population of over 200,000 people prior to the COVID-19 pandemic . Downtown Los Angeles is divided into neighborhoods and districts, some overlapping. Most districts are named for the activities concentrated there now or historically, such as
690-601: A cost of $ 588-million. This new bridge replaced a 1932 viaduct of the same name which was demolished in 2016 due to a fact that it would collapse if there were a major earthquake, and alkali-silica reaction – colloquially known as “concrete cancer.” Pedestrian and bicycle access points link to other projects such as 12 acres of new park space below the viaduct. Shopping centers include FIGat7th , and The Bloc Los Angeles , an open-air shopping area. Others include Japanese Village Plaza in Little Tokyo , City National Plaza ,
805-407: A cult favorite and gained acknowledgement for its multilayered themes; the film has been the source of critical analysis from academics and film critics . In 2001, Fincher served as an executive producer for the first season of The Hire , a series of short films to promote BMW automobiles. The films were released on the internet in 2001. Next in 2002, Fincher returned to another feature film,
920-538: A documentary on the making of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid . It had never occurred to me that movies didn't take place in real time. I knew that they were fake, I knew that the people were acting, but it had never occurred to me that it could take [...] four months to make a movie! It showed the entire company with all these rental horses and moving trailers to shoot a scene on top of a train. They would hire somebody who looked like Robert Redford to jump onto
1035-418: A film's production. Icelandic film producer Sigurjón Sighvatsson , with whom Fincher has collaborated for decades, has said that "[Fincher] was always a rebel... always challenging the status quo". Known for his perfectionism and meticulous eye for detail, Fincher performs thorough research when casting actors to ensure their suitability for the part. His colleague Max Daly said, "He's really good at finding
1150-559: A great ease with who he is." Bob Stephenson , Michael Massee , Christopher John Fields, John Getz , Elias Koteas , Zach Grenier , Charles Dance , Rooney Mara , Jared Leto , Arliss Howard , and Richmond Arquette have also appeared in at least two of his films. Fight Club was scored by the Dust Brothers , who at that point had never scored a film. Describing their working relationship with Fincher, they said he "was not hanging over our shoulders telling us what to do" and that
1265-400: A gross of $ 51.7 million. Worldwide, Zodiac was a moderate success. Despite a campaign by Paramount Pictures , the film did not receive any Academy Award or Golden Globe nominations. In 2008, Fincher was attached to a film adaptation of the science-fiction novel, Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke , however, Fincher said the film is unlikely to go ahead due to problems with
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#17327798862681380-465: A major bus terminal in downtown Los Angeles at the intersection of Seventh and Alameda streets. Los Angeles World Airports operates a direct shuttle, LAX FlyAway Bus, every 30–60 minutes between Union Station and Los Angeles International Airport . Downtown Los Angeles is home to several public parks, plazas, gardens and other open space: Several future park proposals for the district make use of public-private partnerships between developers and
1495-494: A popcorn movie—there are no great, overriding implications. It's just about survival." Five years after Panic Room , Fincher returned on March 2, 2007, with Zodiac , a thriller based on Robert Graysmith 's books about the search for the Zodiac , a real life serial murderer who terrorized communities between the late 1960s and early 1970s. Fincher first learned of the project after being approached by producer Brad Fischer ; he
1610-463: A production designer for six films and Bob Wagner has served as an assistant director for six. Casting director Laray Mayfield has worked with Fincher for over 20 years. In a 2010 interview, Fincher said, "You don't have to love all of your co-collaborators, but you do have to respect them. And when you do, when you realize that people bring stuff to the table that's not necessarily your experience, but if you allow yourself to relate to it, it can enrich
1725-488: A scene is carried. Others have been critical, with R. Lee Ermey stating, "[Fincher] wants puppets. He doesn't want actors that are creative." Fincher prefers shooting with Red digital cameras, under natural or pre-existing light conditions rather than using elaborate lighting setups . Fincher is known to use computer-generated imagery , which is mostly unnoticeable to the viewer. He does not normally use hand-held cameras during filming, instead preferring cameras on
1840-427: A thriller titled Panic Room . The story follows a single mother and her daughter who hide in a safe room of their new home, during a home invasion by a trio. Starring Jodie Foster (who replaced Nicole Kidman ), Forest Whitaker , Kristen Stewart , Dwight Yoakam , and Jared Leto , it was theatrically released on March 29, 2002, after a month delay, to critical acclaim and commercial success. In North America,
1955-480: A whole. The median household income in 2008 dollars was $ 15,003, considered low for both the city and the county. The percentage of households earning $ 20,000 or less (57.4%) was the highest in Los Angeles County, followed by University Park (56.6%) and Chinatown (53.6%). The average household size of 1.6 people was relatively low. Renters occupied 93.4% of the housing units, and home or apartment owners
2070-489: Is accessible from various parts of the Los Angeles Basin. The cultural life has also made the area attractive to young tech employees. Two Bit Circus is the only amusement park located in the area. Anschutz Entertainment Group has its corporate headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. BYD Company , a Chinese technology firm, has its North American headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. The Last Bookstore
2185-515: Is achieved through production design, costumes, and filming locations—not necessarily through lighting used on set. Fincher also favors detailed and pronounced shadows, as well as using minimal light. When asked about his use of dim lighting, he said bright lights make the color of skin appear unnatural, and that the lights and colors in his films represent "the way the world looks to [him]". Fincher has explored themes of martyrdom , alienation , and dehumanization of modern culture. In addition to
2300-593: Is an independent bookstore founded in 2005 by Josh Spencer, that was called California’s largest new and used bookstore by Conde Nast Traveler in 2019. Cathay Bank has its headquarters in the Los Angeles Chinatown . David Fincher David Andrew Leo Fincher (born August 28, 1962) is an American film director. His films , most of which are psychological thrillers , have collectively grossed over $ 2.1 billion worldwide and have received numerous accolades , including three nominations for
2415-588: Is incredibly specific. He never settles. And there's a purity that shows in his work." When working with actors, Fincher is known to demand a grueling series of takes to capture a scene perfectly. For instance, the Zodiac cast members were required to do upwards of 70 takes for certain scenes, much to the displeasure of Jake Gyllenhaal. Rooney Mara had to endure 99 takes for a scene in The Social Network and said that Fincher enjoys challenging people. Gone Girl averaged 50 takes per scene. In one of
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#17327798862682530-528: Is located in downtown Los Angeles. DTLA is a node in the tech economy that extends beyond Silicon Beach . A venture capital firm counted 78 tech-oriented firms in DTLA in 2015. This included mobile apps, hardware, digital media and clean-tech companies plus co-working spaces, start-up incubators, and other related businesses. The Arts District has become a popular spot for companies seeking out something different from typical modern offices. The central location
2645-510: Is now called the Historic Core . By 1920, the city's private and municipal rail lines were the most far-flung and most comprehensive in the world in mileage, even besting that of New York City . By this time, a steady influx of residents and aggressive land developers had transformed the city into a large metropolitan area, with DTLA at its center. Rail lines connected four counties with over 1,100 miles (1,800 km) of track. During
2760-799: The Rolling Stone called the film "bold and haunting", despite the "struggle of nine writers" and "studio interference". The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects . Years later, Fincher publicly expressed his dismay and subsequently disowned the film. In the book Director's Cut: Picturing Hollywood in the 21st Century , Fincher blames the producers for their lack of trust in him. In an interview with The Guardian in 2009, he stated, "No one hated it more than me; to this day, no one hates it more than me." After this critical disappointment, Fincher eschewed reading film scripts or directing another project. He briefly retreated to directing commercials and music videos, including
2875-505: The 68th Golden Globe Awards . Critics including Roger Ebert, complimented the writing, describing the film as having "spellbinding dialogue. It makes an untellable story clear and fascinating". In 2011, Fincher followed the success of The Social Network with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo , a psychological thriller based on the novel by Swedish writer Stieg Larsson . Screenwriter Steven Zaillian spent three months analyzing
2990-661: The Academy Award for Best Director for the dramas The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), The Social Network (2010), and Mank (2020). In television, Fincher has served as an executive producer and director for the Netflix series House of Cards (2013–2018) and Mindhunter (2017–2019), winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for the pilot episode of
3105-646: The Academy Awards for Best Director . He has also received four Primetime Emmy Awards , two Grammy Awards , a BAFTA Award , and a Golden Globe Award . Fincher co-founded the production company Propaganda Films in 1986. He directed numerous music videos for the company, including Madonna 's " Express Yourself " in 1989 and " Vogue " in 1990, both of which won him the MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction . He received two Grammy Awards for Best Music Video for " Love Is Strong " (1994) by
3220-701: The Arts , Fashion , Banking , Theater , Toy , and Jewelry Districts. It is the hub for the city's urban rail transit system , as well as the Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink commuter rail system covering greater Southern California . Also located in downtown is the Civic Center , the administrative core of the city government . Historically, downtown held a dense concentration of banks , department stores , and movie palaces that drew residents and visitors of all socioeconomic classes, but after
3335-658: The BBC was critical of the ending, but praised the visuals—"Fincher does a marvelous job of turning ordinary city locations into frightening backdrops, where every corner turned is another step into the unknown". Upon The Game 's release in September 1997, the film received generally favorable reviews but performed moderately at the box office. The Game was later included in the Criterion Collection . In August 1997, Fincher agreed to direct Fight Club , based on
3450-549: The Fifth Street Store /Walker's, serving a variety of socioeconomic groups from across the city and suburbs. All but Coulter's would, in the 1920s–1950s, launch branches dotting shopping centers across a growing Southern California. Numerous specialty stores also flourished including those in the jewelry business which gave rise to the Downtown Jewelry District. Among these early jewelers included
3565-547: The Historic Core neighborhood. Despite its relative decentralization and comparatively new high-rises (until 1958, the city did not permit any structures taller than the 27-story City Hall building ), Los Angeles has one of the largest skylines in the United States , and its development has continued in recent years. The skyline has seen rapid growth due to improvements in seismic design standards, which has made certain building types highly earthquake-resistant. Many of
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3680-541: The Homer Laughlin Building , and the Los Angeles Mall . Downtown Los Angeles is flanked by Echo Park to the north and northwest, Chinatown to the northeast, Boyle Heights to the east, Vernon to the south, Historic South Central and University Park to the southwest, and Pico-Union and Westlake to the west. Downtown is bounded on the northeast by Cesar Chavez Avenue , on
3795-613: The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for the first episode. He also directed a music video for the first time since 2005, " Suit & Tie " by Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z , which won a Grammy Award for Best Music Video. In 2014, Fincher signed a deal with HBO for three television series - Utopia (an adaptation of the British series , to be written by Gillian Flynn ), Shakedown , and Videosyncrazy . In August 2015, budget disputes between him and
3910-569: The 1920s once-stately Victorian mansions on Bunker Hill were dilapidated, serving as rooming houses for 20,000 working-class Angelenos. The Broadway theaters saw much use as Spanish-language movie houses during this time, beginning with the conversion of the Million Dollar Theater in the 1950s to a Spanish-language theater. In the early 2000s, the neighborhood became popular with Artists and Creatives due to low rent, open loft space, and many vacancies. In mid-2013, downtown
4025-550: The 1950s the area began to experience an economic decline. Still, it remained an important center for various activities—government business in the Civic Center, banking on Bunker Hill , and retail and entertainment, especially for Hispanic Angelenos and immigrants, on Broadway . Since the early 2000s, downtown has experienced a renaissance of economic revitalization, including the Crypto.com Arena in downtown's south end, and
4140-404: The 1996 novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk . It was his second film with 20th Century Fox after the troubled production of Alien 3 . Starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton and Helena Bonham Carter , the film is about a nameless office worker suffering from insomnia, who meets a salesman, and together form an underground fighting club as a form of therapy. Fox struggled with the marketing of
4255-569: The 2010 film The Social Network , a biographical drama about Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg and his legal battles. The screenplay was written by Aaron Sorkin , who adapted it from the book The Accidental Billionaires . It stars Jesse Eisenberg as Zuckerberg, with a supporting cast of Andrew Garfield , Justin Timberlake , Armie Hammer and Max Minghella . Principal photography started in October 2009 in Cambridge, Massachusetts and
4370-483: The 5th Street side, that is no longer part of the hotel. It was built by local businessman William Chick, who owned the land, in conjunction with the main hotel in 1905. It mirrors the main hotel's design. Each floor offered guest rooms on a hallway that connected to the hallways of the Alexandria. When the wing's new owners came into conflict with the owners of the Alexandria in 1938, the Alexandria simply bricked up
4485-510: The Alexandria include A Midnight Romance (1919), Dreamgirls (2006), Water for Elephants (2011), Spider-Man 3 (2007), and Domino (2005). The video for Dwight Yoakam's 1987 hit song, "Little Sister", was filmed in one of the ballrooms. Downtown Los Angeles Downtown Los Angeles ( DTLA ) is the central business district of the city of Los Angeles . It is part of the Central Los Angeles region and covers
4600-731: The DTLA area. It was not a "census" but rather a comprehensive survey of Downtown LA consumers. An additional study by the Downtown Center Business Improvement District showed that by 2017 the population reached 67,324. In early 2020 the population was estimated to have exceeded 80,000 at the end of 2019. Downtown Los Angeles is the center of the region's growing rail transit system, with six commuter lines operated by Metrolink , as well as six urban rail transit lines and local and regional bus service operated by Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). Major Metro stations in
4715-663: The Laykin Diamond Company (later becoming Laykin et Cie ) and Harry Winston & Co., both of which found their beginnings in the Hotel Alexandria at Fifth and Spring streets. Following World War II , suburbanization , the development of the Los Angeles freeway network, and increased automobile ownership led to decreased investment downtown. Many corporate headquarters slowly dispersed to new suburbs or fell to mergers and acquisitions. As early as
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4830-506: The Outfield , and R&B singer Jermaine Stewart . Fincher's 1990 music video for " Freedom! '90 " was one of the most successful for George Michael . He directed Michael Jackson 's " Who Is It ", Aerosmith 's " Janie's Got A Gun " and Billy Idol 's " Cradle of Love ". For Madonna , he directed the videos for " Express Yourself ", " Oh Father ", " Bad Girl " and " Vogue ". The black-and-white video for "Vogue" took inspiration from
4945-732: The President's Men (1976), Taxi Driver (1976), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), and Zelig (1983). He suggested that his film Panic Room is a combination of Rear Window and Straw Dogs (1971). For Seven , Fincher and cinematographer Darius Khondji were inspired by films The French Connection (1971) and Klute (1971), as well as the work of photographer Robert Frank . He has cited graphic designer Saul Bass as an inspiration for his films' title sequences ; Bass designed many such sequences for prominent directors, including Hitchcock and Kubrick. Those are
5060-492: The Rolling Stones and " Suit & Tie " (2013) by Justin Timberlake featuring Jay-Z . He made his feature film debut with Alien 3 (1992) and gained his breakthrough with Seven (1995). He has since directed The Game (1997), Fight Club (1999), Panic Room (2002), Zodiac (2007), The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), Gone Girl (2014), and The Killer (2023). He received nominations for
5175-1310: The Temple of Doom (1984). In 1984, he left ILM to direct a television commercial for the American Cancer Society that depicted a fetus smoking a cigarette. This quickly brought Fincher to the attention of producers in Los Angeles, and he was soon given the opportunity to direct Rick Springfield 's 1985 documentary, The Beat of the Live Drum . Set on a directing career, Fincher co-founded production company Propaganda Films and started directing commercials and music videos. Other directors such as Michael Bay , Antoine Fuqua , Michel Gondry , Spike Jonze , Alex Proyas , Paul Rachman , Mark Romanek , Zack Snyder and Gore Verbinski also honed their skills at Propaganda Films before moving on to feature films. Fincher directed TV commercials for many companies including Levi's , Converse , Nike , Pepsi , Revlon , Sony , Coca-Cola and Chanel , although he loathed doing them. Starting in 1984, Fincher began his foray into music videos. He directed videos for various artists including singer-songwriters Rick Springfield, Don Henley , Martha Davis , Paula Abdul , rock band
5290-429: The adaptive reuse ordinance, leading to an increase in the residential population. With 28,878 residents in 2006, 39,537 in 2008, and over 60,000 in 2017, downtown Los Angeles is seeing new life and investment. Multiple Olympic and Paralympic events will be held in DTLA during the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics . After six years of construction, the new Sixth Street Viaduct opened on July 9, 2022 at
5405-408: The adjacent Alexandria Hotel. The hotel has played host to countless film shoots. Its ornate public rooms, marble staircases and decaying grandeur have made it a favorite of movies, music videos, television commercials and fashion shoots. In David Fincher 's Se7en (1995), it served as the residence of the killer, John Doe, for a lengthy chase sequence through much of the hotel. Other films shot in
5520-605: The area in the 21st century changed the rental practices and neighborhood safety. Due to its elegant design and the fact that its public rooms sat disused for decades, it has been the site of countless film shoots, and its iconic Palm Court ballroom is a protected Los Angeles landmark. As the area was revitalized in the first decade of the 21st century, the building found itself at the heart of this and has recently been remodeled as apartments. The building continues to advertise itself for movie locations and social events. The Hotel Alexandria, designed by architect John B. Parkinson of
5635-453: The award for Best Film Editing. In 2012, Fincher signed a first look deal with Regency Enterprises. In 2013, Fincher served as an executive producer for the Netflix television series House of Cards , a political thriller about a Congressman's quest for revenge, of which he also directed the first two episodes. The series received positive reviews, earning nine Primetime Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series . Fincher won
5750-467: The book Mind Hunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit , debuted on Netflix worldwide on October 13, 2017. He has expressed interest in eventually making a third season of Mindhunter , which was put on indefinite hold in 2020. In 2023, Fincher confirmed that Netflix will not be making a third season of Mindhunter , saying "I'm very proud of the first two seasons. But it's a very expensive show and, in
5865-668: The building was under construction, L.A. City Council removed the flat roof ordinance as of 2015. The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Central Health Center in downtown Los Angeles. The Southern California Liaison of the California Department of Education has its office in the Ronald Reagan State Building in downtown Los Angeles. The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Los Angeles Branch
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#17327798862685980-411: The camera movements. When a character is in motion or expressing emotions, the camera moves at the exact same speed and direction as their body. The movements are choreographed precisely between the actors and camera operators. The resulting effect helps the audience connect with the character to understand their feelings. Similarly, in his music videos, Fincher appreciated that the visuals should enhance
6095-590: The city of Los Angeles, including a public park at the proposed Nikkei Center development in Little Tokyo ; a 1-acre (4,000 m ) park at the Medallion development in the Historic Core; and a pocket park at the Wilshire Grand Hotel replacement project, currently under construction. Additionally, the city recently completed a new park located on the 400 block of South Spring Street in
6210-567: The congestion they could bring to the streets, and height limit ordinances were a common way of dealing with the problem. In 1911, the city passed an updated height limit ordinance, establishing a specific limit of 150 feet (46 m). Exceptions were granted for decorative towers such as those later built on the Eastern Columbia Building and United Artists Theatre, as well as the now-demolished Richfield Tower . The pattern of buildings in Los Angeles to feature flat rooftops
6325-517: The director for the science-fiction horror Alien 3 (1992), his film directorial debut. It was the third installment in the Alien franchise starring Sigourney Weaver . The film was released in May 1992 to a mixed reception from critics and was considered weaker than the preceding films. From the beginning, Alien 3 was hampered by studio intervention and several abandoned scripts. Peter Travers of
6440-568: The district include Union Station , Civic Center/Grand Park station , Pershing Square station , 7th Street/Metro Center station , Pico station , Little Tokyo/Arts District station , Historic Broadway station , and Grand Avenue Arts/Bunker Hill station . Amtrak operates intercity passenger train service on five routes through Los Angeles Union Station : the Coast Starlight , Pacific Surfliner , Southwest Chief , Sunset Limited , and Texas Eagle . Greyhound Lines operates
6555-593: The duo John Brancato and Michael Ferris . Fincher also hired Seven screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker to contribute and polish the script. Filmed on location in San Francisco, the story follows an investment banker, played by Michael Douglas , who receives an unusual gift from his younger brother ( Sean Penn ), where he becomes involved in a "game" that integrates with his everyday life, making him unable to differentiate between game and reality. Almar Haflidason of
6670-760: The duo worked with Fincher, he arranged for a remix of the Nine Inch Nails song " Closer " to play over the opening credits of Seven . Howard Shore composed the scores for Seven , The Game , and Panic Room . Darius Khondji and Jeff Cronenweth have served as cinematographers for Fincher's films. Khondji said, "Fincher deserves a lot of credit. It was his influence that pushed me to experiment and got me as far as I did." Fincher has hired sound designer Ren Klyce in all his films since 1995 and trusts him "implicitly". He has worked with film editor Angus Wall since 1988. Wall has worked on seven of his films, five of which as editor. Donald Graham Burt has served as
6785-675: The early part of the 20th century, banking institutions clustered around South Spring Street, forming the Spring Street Financial District . Sometimes referred to as the " Wall Street of the West ," the district held corporate headquarters for financial institutions including Bank of America , Farmers and Merchants Bank , the Crocker National Bank , California Bank & Trust, and International Savings & Exchange Bank. The Los Angeles Stock Exchange
6900-519: The east by the Los Angeles River , on the south by the Los Angeles city line with Vernon, on the southwest by East Washington Boulevard and on the west by the 110 Freeway or Beaudry Avenue, including the entire Four Level Interchange with the 101 Freeway . The neighborhood includes these districts: The 2000 U.S. census found that just 27,849 residents lived in the 5.84 square miles of downtown—or 4,770 people per square mile, among
7015-406: The episodes for Mindhunter , it was reported that a nine-minute scene took 11 hours to shoot. When asked about this method, Fincher said, "I hate earnestness in performance... usually by take 17 the earnestness is gone." He added that he wants a scene to be as natural and authentic as possible. Some actors appreciate this approach, arguing that the subtle adjustments have a big difference in the way
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#17327798862687130-521: The eyes of Netflix, we didn't attract enough of an audience to justify such an investment [for Season 3]." In June 2017, Jim Gianopulos of Paramount Pictures announced that a sequel to World War Z was "in advanced development" with Fincher and Brad Pitt. Producers Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner said that Fincher would begin directing it in June 2019. However, in February 2019, Paramount cancelled
7245-473: The film earned $ 96.4 million. In other countries, it grossed $ 100 million for a worldwide $ 196.4 million. Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle praised the filmmakers for their "fair degree of ingenuity... for 88 minutes of excitement" and the convincing performance given by Foster. Fincher acknowledged Panic Room for being more mainstream, describing the film, "It's supposed to be
7360-457: The film industry, Fincher was employed at John Korty 's studio as a production head. Gaining further experience, he became a visual effects producer, working on the animated Twice Upon a Time (1983) with George Lucas. He was hired by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) in 1983 as an assistant cameraman and matte photographer and worked on Return of the Jedi (1983) and Indiana Jones and
7475-454: The film received ten Academy Award nominations, winning two for Best Cinematography and Best Production Design . Fincher served as an executive producer on a series titled Voir (2021) for Netflix. In 2022, Fincher made his first foray in animation directing an episode for the third season of Love, Death & Robots . The episode is titled "Bad Travelling" and was written by Seven screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker. In February 2021, it
7590-510: The film was released one year later. The Social Network was also a commercial success, earning $ 224.9 million worldwide. At the 83rd Academy Awards , the film received eight nominations and won three awards; soundtrack composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross won for Best Original Score , and the other two awards were for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film Editing . The film received awards for Best Motion Picture – Drama , Best Director , Best Screenplay , and Best Original Score at
7705-481: The film, and were concerned that it would have a limited audience. Fight Club premiered on October 15, 1999, in the United States to a polarized response and modest box office success; the film grossed $ 100.9 million against a budget of $ 63 million. Initially, many critics thought the film was "a violent and dangerous express train of masochism and aggression." However, in following years, Fight Club became
7820-411: The films of the 1920s and 1930s and has been frequently cited as one of the best videos of all time. Between 1984 and 1993, Fincher was credited as a director for 53 music videos. He referred to the production of music videos as his own "film school", in which he learned how to work efficiently within a small budget and time frame. In 1990, 20th Century Fox hired Fincher to replace Vincent Ward as
7935-508: The firm of Parkinson & Bergstrom and constructed by developers Albert Bilicke (1861–1915) and Robert Arnold Rowan (1875–1918), opened on February 12, 1906 as an 8-story luxury hotel at the southwest corner of Spring and 5th Streets in downtown Los Angeles. Its popularity resulted in Parkinson & Bergstrom designing a twelve-story addition, which was built behind the original building in 1911. Bilicke died in 1915 when he went down with
8050-573: The former. He also executive produced and co-created the Netflix animated series Love, Death & Robots (2019–present) which received three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Short Form Animated Program . David Andrew Leo Fincher was born in Denver on August 28, 1962. His mother, Claire Mae (née Boettcher), was a mental health nurse from South Dakota who worked in drug addiction programs. His father, Howard Kelly "Jack" Fincher (1930–2003),
8165-429: The foundation of my career." Over the course of his career, Fincher has shown loyalty to many members of his cast and crew. As a music video director, he collaborated with Paula Abdul five times, as well as Madonna and Rick Springfield four times each. Once he made the transition to feature films, he cast Brad Pitt in three of them. He said of Pitt, "On-screen and off-screen, Brad's the ultimate guy... he has such
8280-473: The hallways on all seven floors at the end of their property, making the hotel rooms in the smaller wing completely inaccessible, as Chick had not constructed stairs or an elevator in his wing, relying on those in the main hotel. The retail spaces on the ground floor remained in use over the ensuing years, while the hotel rooms sat as largely untouched time capsules. The entire building was finally sold in 2012 for conversion to condos, with no connection anymore to
8395-431: The hotel in 1927, and it was sold again in 1930, before going bankrupt and closing in 1932. The hotel's gold leaf ceilings, furniture, chandeliers and other fittings were sold in 1934 to pay off debts. The hotel was sold again in 1937, to film producer Phil Goldstone , who renovated and reopened it. In 1946, following the end of WWII, Goldstone sold the hotel. In 1954, the new owners altered the original lobby by filling in
8510-484: The listening experience. He would cut around the vocals, and let the choreography finish before cutting the shot. Camera movements are synchronized to the beat of the music. Some regard Fincher as an auteur filmmaker, although he dislikes being associated with that term. Much of his work is influenced by classical film noir and neo noir genres. Fincher's visual style also includes using monochromatic and desaturated colors of blue, green, and yellow, representing
8625-431: The lowest densities for the city of Los Angeles but about average for the county. The Southern California Association of Governments estimates that downtown's daytime population is 207,440. The population increased to 34,811 by 2008, according to city estimates. By the end of 2019, the population of the district had grown to 85,000 residents, and 7,956 residential units were under construction. The median age for residents
8740-492: The mezzanine floor in order to house the Pacific Coast Merchandise Mart. The lobby below was given a "Mid-Century Modern French Provincial look, featuring square pillars, custom-made furniture and planters". It was later acquired by real estate developer S. Jon Kreedman in 1961, who renovated it in 1970 in a faux-Victorian style. The Palm Court, by the early 1970s, was in relatively good shape, and
8855-445: The moments where moviemaking is not like writing, and it's not like the theater, and it's not like performance art, and it's not like sculpting. It's truly its own discipline. There's nothing else like it in those moments where you go, wow, here's an intent that was probably never even thought of by the guy who wrote the book. And yet this person who may or may not have even read the source material has found this thing. That, for me, after
8970-532: The most complex and disturbing entry in the serial killer genre since Manhunter " and Roger Ebert opined that Seven is "one of the darkest and most merciless films ever made in the Hollywood mainstream." Following Seven , Fincher directed a music video for " 6th Avenue Heartache " by the Wallflowers and went on to direct his third feature film, the mystery thriller The Game (1997), written by
9085-471: The network halted production. Three years later, in 2018, Utopia was picked up by Amazon Studios , with Gillian Flynn as creator. Fincher directed Gone Girl (2014), an adaptation of Gillian Flynn's novel of the same name , starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike . He even met with Flynn to discuss his interest in the project before a director was selected. Set in Missouri , the story begins as
9200-498: The new owners of the hotel converted it permanently into an apartment building. Remodeling was conducted gradually, as short-term tenants moved out. The building today contains a mix of market rate and subsidized housing. The building was declared a historic place. Its elegant ballrooms are frequently rented for events, filming and weddings. From 2010 to 2014, its lobby featured The Gorbals, a restaurant run by Top Chef winner Ilan Hall . The Hotel Alexandria has an additional wing, on
9315-475: The new skyscrapers contain a housing or hotel component. Some current and upcoming examples of skyscraper construction include: The first height limit ordinance in Los Angeles was enacted following the completion of the 13-story Continental Building , located at the southeast corner of Fourth and Spring streets. The purpose of the height limit was to limit the density of the city. There was great hostility to skyscrapers in many cities in these years, mainly due to
9430-457: The nightlife, shopping and entertainment district of the city, with over a dozen theater and movie palaces built before 1932. Department stores, most that had grown from local dry goods businesses, moved from Spring and Main streets around Temple and 1st , to much larger stores along Broadway, including The Broadway , Hamburger's, which became May Co. , Robinson's , Bullock's , Coulter's , Desmond's , Silverwoods , Harris & Frank , and
9545-510: The novel, writing notes and deleting elements to achieve a suitable running time. Featuring Daniel Craig as journalist Mikael Blomkvist and Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander , it follows Blomkvist's investigation to solve what happened to a woman from a wealthy family who disappeared four decades ago. To maintain the novel's setting, the film was primarily shot in Sweden. The soundtrack, composed by collaborators Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross,
9660-585: The ocean liner RMS Lusitania . Rowan died not long after. Their widows, Gladys Huff Bilicke and Laura Schwarz Rowan, sold the hotel in 1919 to the builders of the nearby Ambassador Hotel , and the Alexandria was for a time part of the Ambassador Hotels System. The hotel was the most luxurious in Los Angeles for a number of years until the construction of the Biltmore Hotel three blocks west in 1923. The Ambassador Hotels System sold
9775-415: The one detail that was missed. He knows more than anybody." Producer Laura Ziskin said of him, "He's just scary smart, sort of smarter than everyone else in the room." He approaches editing like "intricate mathematical problems". Long-time collaborator Angus Wall said that editing Zodiac was like "putting together a Swiss watch ... all the pieces are so beautifully machined". He elaborated, "[Fincher]
9890-454: The only direction he gave was to make the music sound as great as the score from The Graduate (1967). Nine Inch Nails members Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross composed the music for The Social Network , The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo , Gone Girl , Mank , and The Killer . The musicians describe their working relationship as "collaborative, respectful, and inspiring" although quipped that it "hasn't gotten any easier". Many years before
10005-557: The previsualization, is the most exciting part of the whole. —Fincher on serendipity during filmmaking. Fincher's filmmaking process always begins with extensive research and preparation, although he has said the process is different every time: "I enjoy reading a script that you can see in your head, and then I enjoy the casting and I enjoy the rehearsal, and I enjoy all the meetings about what it should be, what it could be, what it might be." He has admitted to having autocratic tendencies and prefers to micromanage every aspect of
10120-435: The project. As of 2019, Fincher serves as an executive producer for Love, Death & Robots , an animated science-fiction web series for Netflix. In July 2019, Fincher signed on to direct Mank , a biopic about Citizen Kane screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz . Mank received a limited theatrical release on November 13, 2020, and was made available on Netflix on December 4. Gary Oldman portrayed Mankiewicz, and
10235-502: The region had "all the requisites for a large settlement". On September 4, 1781, Los Angeles was founded by a group of settlers who trekked north from present-day Mexico. Like most urban centers in the Spanish Empire , the town grew in a grid-like street pattern around a central plaza which faced the first church . The area passed to American control in 1847, and the small town grew to 11,000 by 1880, The business district
10350-513: The rest of my life. As a teenager, Fincher moved to Ashland, Oregon , where he attended Ashland High School . He directed plays and designed sets and lighting after school, was a non-union projectionist at Varsity Theatre, and worked as a production assistant at the KOBI news station in Medford . He supported himself by working as a busboy, dishwasher, and fry cook. While establishing himself in
10465-418: The rest. In 2000, there were 2,400 military veterans living downtown, or 9.7% of the population, considered a high rate for the city but average for the county overall. In 2010, census data concluded that 40,227 people lived in downtown Los Angeles. In 2013, a study by Downtown Center Business Improvement District showed that of the 52,400 people resided in downtown Los Angeles, the demographic breakdown
10580-527: The restoration and repurposing of historic buildings in the area. The Tongva village of Yaanga was located in what is now downtown Los Angeles, possibly near or underneath where the Bella Union Hotel was located (now Fletcher Bowron Square ). Father Juan Crespí , a Spanish Franciscan missionary charged with exploring sites for Catholic missions in California , noted in 1769 that
10695-638: The revised version, so New Line Cinema agreed to keep the original ending. Starring Brad Pitt , Morgan Freeman , Gwyneth Paltrow , R. Lee Ermey , and Kevin Spacey , it tells the story of two detectives who attempt to identify a serial killer who bases his murders on the Christian seven deadly sins . Seven was positively received by film critics and was one of the highest-earning films of 1995, grossing more than $ 320 million worldwide. Writing for Sight and Sound , John Wrathall said it "stands as
10810-689: The script. His next project was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), an adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald 's eponymous 1923 short story , about a man who is born as a seventy-year-old baby and ages in reverse. The romantic-drama marked Fincher's third collaboration with Brad Pitt, who stars opposite Cate Blanchett . The budget for the film was estimated to be $ 167 million, with very expensive visual effects utilized for Pitt's character. Filming started in November 2006 in New Orleans , taking advantage of Louisiana's film incentive. The film
10925-401: The second–most diverse neighborhood in Los Angeles, its diversity index being 0.743, outrated only by Mid-Wilshire . The ethnic breakdown in 2000 was Latinos , 36.7%; blacks , 22.3%; Asians , 21.3%; whites , 16.2%, and others, 3.5%. Mexico (44.7%) and Korea (17%) were the most common places of birth for the 41.9% of the residents who were born abroad, about the same ratio as in the city as
11040-503: The technical command of image, sound and production design for which Fincher is justly famous is here as well." Gone Girl garnered awards and nominations in a various categories ; Pike earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and Fincher received his third Golden Globe nomination for Best Director. Between 2016 and 2019, Fincher directed, produced and served as showrunner for another series, Mindhunter , starring Holt McCallany and Jonathan Groff . The series, based on
11155-445: The train. It never occurred to me that there were hours between each of these shots. The actual circus of it was invisible, as it should be, but in seeing that I became obsessed with the idea of "How?" It was the ultimate magic trick. The notion that 24 still photographs are shown in such quick succession that movement is imparted from it—wow! And I thought that there would never be anything that would be as interesting as that to do with
11270-459: The video for the song " Love Is Strong " by the Rolling Stones in 1994, which won the Grammy Award for Best Music Video . Shortly, Fincher decided to make a foray back into film. He read Andrew Kevin Walker 's original screenplay for Seven (1995), which had been revised by Jeremiah Chechik , the director attached to the project at one point. Fincher expressed no interest in directing
11385-492: The wider themes of good and evil, his characters are usually troubled, discontented, and flawed; they are often unable to socialize and suffer from loneliness. In Seven , Zodiac , and The Social Network , themes of pressure and obsession are explored, leading to the character's downfall. Quoting historian Frank Krutnik, the writer Piers McCarthy argues that "the protagonists of these films are not totally in control of their actions but are subject to darker, inner impulses". In
11500-408: The world that the characters are in. In The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo , Fincher uses heavy desaturation for certain scenes, and increases or decreases the effect based on the story or characters' emotions. Erik Messerschmidt , cinematographer for Mindhunter , explained the color palette: "The show has a desaturated green-yellow look... [it] helps give the show its period feel." He states the effect
11615-400: Was 39, considered old for the city and the county . Downtown Los Angeles is almost evenly balanced among the four major racial and ethnic groups— Asian Americans (23%), African Americans (22%), Latinos (25%) and non-Hispanic whites (26%)—according to an analysis of 2010 census data made by Loyola Marymount University researchers. A study of the 2000 census showed that downtown was
11730-432: Was 52.7% Caucasian, 20.1% Asian, 17.0% Latino, and 6.2% African-American; 52.9% female, 47.1% male; and 74.8% of residents were between the ages of 23–44. The median age for residents was 34. The median household income was $ 98,700. The median household size was 1.8. In terms of educational attainment, 80.1% of residents had completed at least 4 years of college. The study was a self-selecting sample of 8,841 respondents across
11845-628: Was also located on the corridor from 1929 until 1986 before moving into a new building across the Harbor (110) Freeway . Commercial growth brought with it hotel construction—during this time period several grand hotels, the Alexandria (1906), the Rosslyn (1911), and the Biltmore (1923), were erected—and also the need for venues to entertain the growing population of Los Angeles. Broadway became
11960-406: Was an author from Oklahoma who worked as a reporter and bureau chief for Life magazine . When Fincher was two years old, the family moved to San Anselmo, California , where he counted filmmaker George Lucas among his neighbors. He became fascinated with filmmaking at the age of eight and began making films on an 8mm camera . In a 2012 interview, he said: I was eight years old and I saw
12075-801: Was centered along Main Street between the Plaza and First Street. Land speculation increased in the 1880s, which saw the population of the city explode from 11,000 in 1880 to nearly 100,000 by 1896. Infrastructure enhancements and the laying of a street grid eventually brought development south of the Plaza: Victorian Downtown Los Angeles in the 1800s and 1890s along Main, Spring and Broadway south to Third Street – all of which were razed to make way for today's Civic Center . After 1900, larger buildings were constructed along Broadway and Spring from Third to Ninth streets in what
12190-501: Was declared as a city historic-cultural landmark on March 3, 1971. By this time, there had been a gradual westward movement of the entire downtown business district. The old heart of Los Angeles along Broadway was abandoned and a new downtown grew up west of the Biltmore along Figueroa. In the early 1980s, the hotel housed "Disco 500" on the first floor. The hotel's decline was becoming noticeable with low occupancy and shabby interiors. It
12305-548: Was described by A. O. Scott of The New York Times as, "unnerving and powerful". Upon the film's release in December, reviews were generally favorable, according to review aggregator Metacritic . Scott adds, "Mr. Fincher creates a persuasive ambience of political menace and moral despair". Philip French of The Guardian praises the "authentic, quirky detail" and faithful adaptation. The film received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Actress for Mara, and won
12420-449: Was gradually transformed into a single-room occupancy or SRO hotel, housing long-term low-income residents. Its location near Los Angeles's Skid Row meant that it had long since ceased to attract overnight guests. During this period the building became notorious for drug crime and its generally dangerous character. In 2005, as the area around the hotel was gradually transformed with the conversion of numerous buildings to expensive lofts,
12535-825: Was interested in working on an American adaptation of the popular Korean series Squid Game and was developing it alongside a Chinatown prequel miniseries that he co-wrote with the late Robert Towne . It was confirmed in October 2024 that he would develop and work on the Squid Game adaptation for 2025. Fincher did not attend film school. He has listed filmmakers George Roy Hill , Alfred Hitchcock , Stanley Kubrick , Alan J. Pakula , Ridley Scott , and Martin Scorsese as his major influences. His personal favorite films include Rear Window (1954), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Graduate (1967), Paper Moon (1973), American Graffiti (1973), Jaws (1975), All
12650-484: Was intrigued by the story due to his childhood personal experience. "The highway patrol had been following our school buses", he recalled. His father told him, "There's a serial killer who has killed four or five people... who's threatened to... shoot the children as they come off the bus." After extensive research on the case with fellow producers, Fincher formed a principal cast of Jake Gyllenhaal , Mark Ruffalo , Robert Downey Jr. , Anthony Edwards and Brian Cox . It
12765-788: Was noted as "a neighborhood with an increasingly hip and well-heeled residential population". Because of the downtown area's office market's migration west to Bunker Hill and the Financial District , many historic office buildings have been left intact, which is simply used for storage or remaining empty during recent decades. In 1999, the Los Angeles City Council passed an adaptive reuse ordinance , making it easier for developers to convert outmoded, vacant office and commercial buildings into renovated lofts and luxury apartment and condo complexes. As of early 2009, 14,561 residential units have been created under
12880-409: Was reported that Fincher would direct an adaptation of the graphic novel The Killer for Netflix, with Andrew Kevin Walker writing the screenplay and Michael Fassbender attached to star. It premiered at the 80th Venice International Film Festival . It began a limited theatrical release in October 2023 and was subsequently released on Netflix on 10 November. In 2024, it was reported that Fincher
12995-454: Was the first of Fincher's films to be shot in digital , with a Thomson Viper FilmStream HD camera . However, high-speed film cameras were used for particular murder scenes. Zodiac was well received, appearing in more than two hundred top ten lists (only No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood appeared in more). However, the film struggled at the United States box office, earning $ 33 million, but did better overseas with
13110-556: Was the result of a 1974 fire ordinance which required all tall buildings in the city to include rooftop helipads in response to the devastating 1974 Joelma Fire in Sao Paulo, Brazil , in which helicopters were used to effect rescues from the flat rooftop of the building. The Wilshire Grand Center was the first building granted an exception by the Los Angeles City Fire Department in 2014. However, as
13225-623: Was theatrically released on December 25, 2008, in the United States to a commercial success and warm reception. Writing for the USA Today , Claudia Puig praises the "graceful and poignant" tale despite it being "overlong and not as emotionally involving as it could be". The film received thirteen Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture , Best Director for Fincher, Best Actor for Pitt, and Best Supporting Actress for Taraji P. Henson , and won three, for Best Art Direction , Best Makeup , and Best Visual Effects . Fincher directed
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