UH Manoa's Cinematic and Digital Arts Program Presents a Conversation with Director Bryan Singer

The director of X-Men and X2: X-Men United to speak at UH

The University of Hawai'i at Manoa's Cinematic and Digital Arts Program presents "A Conversation with Director Bryan Singer," hosted by the program's Founding Co-Director Chris Lee on Friday, May 9, at 6 p.m. in the Campus Center Ballroom at UH Manoa.

Singer is one of the film industry's most exciting and provocative talents. As a filmmaker, Singer's attention to character and emotional resonance make him the rare director who can turn a comic book into aan entertainment blockbuster that also makes the audience think.

In his early years, Singer began his career making 8mm short films. His work gained him admittance to the prestigious School of Visual Arts in New York City. He completed his undergraduate education at the University of Southern California receiving a degree in Critical Studies. After graduating, he directed the innovative industrial film "Lion's Den," which was an award-winning 25-minute film that earned Singer the opportunity to direct and produce "Public Access." "Public Access" was later honored with a coveted Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 1993.

Mainstream success and Hollywood's attention soon followed with the brilliant, Academy Award®-winning film, "The Usual Suspects," starring Kevin Spacey, which became an instant classic and won numerous critics awards while also taking home two Oscars, "Best Original Screenplay" and "Best Supporting Actor." He followed up with the dark and disturbing "Apt Pupil," and went on to launch his first blockbuster film and new franchise with the movie "X-Men" based on characters created by Marvel Comics. The movie grossed over $150 million in the United States alone and has set the stage for the highly anticipated sequel, "X2: X-Men United," opening on May 2, 2003.

The event will be hosted by Chris Lee, Founding Co-Director of the Cinematic and Digital Arts Program at UH Manoa, and will also include "X2: X-Men United" writers Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris. Kelly Hu, who stars in the movie as Lady Deathstrike and was born and raised in Hawai'i, will also join the panel. Original footage from the movie will be shown followed by a Q&A session with Singer, Hu and the writers.

The event is free and open to the public, and is sponsored by the Office of the Chancellor at UH Manoa, the Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Aloha Airlines and Apple Computers. For more information, contact Susan Grass at (808) 956-2501.