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most renowned filmmaker of his era, Martin Scorsese
virtually defined the state of modern American cinema
during the 1970s and '80s. A consummate storyteller
and visual stylist who lived and breathed movies,
he won fame translating his passion and energy into
a brand of filmmaking that crackled with kinetic excitement.
Working well outside of the mainstream, Scorsese nevertheless
emerged in the 1970s as a towering figure throughout
the industry, achieving the kind of fame and universal
recognition typically reserved for more commercially
successful talents. A tireless supporter of film preservation,
Scorsese has worked to bridge the gap between cinema's
history and future like no other director. Channeling
the lessons of his inspirations -- primarily classic
Hollywood, the French New Wave, and the New York underground
movement of the early '60s -- into an extraordinarily
personal and singular vision, he has remained perennially
positioned at the vanguard of the medium, always pushing
the envelope of the film experience with an intensity
and courage unmatched by any of his contemporaries.
Scorsese
was born on November 17, 1942, in Flushing, NY.
The second child of Charles and Catherine Scorsese
-- both of whom frequently made cameo appearances
in their son's films -- he suffered from severe
asthma, and as a result was blocked from participating
in sports and other common childhood activities.
Consequently, Scorsese sought refuge in area movie
houses, quickly becoming obsessed with the cinema,
in particular the work of Michael Powell. Raised
in a devoutly Catholic environment, he initially
studied to become a priest. Ultimately, however,
Scorsese opted out of the clergy to enroll in film
school at New York University, helming his first
student effort, What's a Nice Girl Like You Doing
in a Place Like This?, a nine-minute short subject,
in 1963.
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