Jan de Bont
Dutch-born cinematographer and director Jan de Bont has made his mark in Hollywood with action films such as Die Hard (1988), The Hunt for Red October, Speed, and Lara Croft Tomb Raider, The Cradle of Life (2003). He was born in the Netherlands in 1942, one of seventeen children. De Bont was always interested in film and went to the National Film Academy in Amsterdam where he began making documentaries and short films. His early work includes Paranoia (1967) and Turkish Delight (1973) which was nominated for an Oscar. During the 1980s de Bont did the cinematography for Cujo and All the Right Moves, and directed photography for Jewel of the Nile and Ruthless People. His style includes the use of handheld cameras and the creation of a feeling of constant motion for the audience. His action approach continues with the 2008 film Stopping Power, starring John Cusack.
