Joshua Sinclair est un scénariste, acteur, producteur et réalisateur américain né le
7 mai 1942 à
New York,
New York (États-Unis).
Biographie
Joshua Sinclair is an eclectic personality. A medical doctor specializing in tropical diseases, he has worked in India with Mother Teresa (Calcutta) and Sister Rosa (Bombay), as well as in various parts of Africa. He is also a professor in comparative theology. Since his acquired professions are obviously "non-profit", he has made a living as a best-selling novelist and a film and television writer, actor, producer and director.
His production of _Schöner Gigolo, armer Gigolo (1979)_ (Just A Gigolo) was Marlene Dietrich's last movie. It was also the first time since WWII that she worked with an all-German crew (albeit in Paris' SFP Studios). The experience of working again with a German crew delighted her and made her cry with tears of joy and remembrance.
Professor in Comparative Theology
In 2002, for his work as the creator and writer of the Shaka Zulu Trilogy and for his work against Apartheid, he received a commendation from the United States Senate (Dianne Feinstein) and from the US House of Representatives (Diane Watson). Also for his work on Shaka Zulu and against Apartheid, he received commendations in 2000 from Kweisi Mfume of the NAACP and Mangosuthu Buthelezi (Prime Minister of the Zulu Nation).
Author's note on the "Shaka Zulu" Trilogy: Contrary to what some may think, he did not write the series based on the writings of Francis George Farewell. His trilogy was based on his own novel Shaka Zulu (1985). In this novel, he literally used all the oral tradition he garnered from the Zulu people (having lived there for many, many months) and refined it, adding an international transcultural flavor to the story. In the final product, almost 50% of all the facts are not history, but the fruit of his imagimation honed by a great understanding and love for the Zulus. In that respect one can say that Shaka is factually a "true story" inasmuch as it was the truth he felt while he was writing it. Indeed, when he was awarded a commendation by the Zulu Prime Minister Buthelezi, he mentioned how exciting it was for the future of South Africa that the story of Shaka should be conceived and created by a non-Zulu and non-South African. Having been a member of the ANC (when it was still outlawed), he felt that during the filming of Shaka some sort of control should be exercised on the South African Apartheid production (contrary to what many think, Shaka was almost entirely financed and produced by SABC). So he sued the Apartheid government and received a restraining order in Vienna. According to this order, every page of the script had to be signed by all parties (in and out of South Africa). This guaranteed that the script that was shot was indeed the script he had conceived. It was important to him that no propaganda could be added to the piece that could not be used to further the goal of Apartheid. His story of Shaka must be told with the best interests of Africa and the Africans in mind. If not, it would just be another way of raping this proud and wonderful land.
Education
University of Virginia, Charlottesvile, Virginia, PhD Theology Johns Hopkins Univertsity, Baltimore, Maryland, Doctor of Medicine Grant University, Bombay, India, Specialisation in Tropical Medicine Actors Studio, New York, 1990 Gregorianum, Rome, Italy, PhD in Theology Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, London, England, Diploma in Directing & Acting Cinecitta' , Rome, Italy, Diploma in Filmmaking University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany, Magister in Theology University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria, Diploma in European History London School of Economics, London, England, Extra Courses in Linguistics and Anthropology
Filmographie
comme scénariste
comme acteur
- 1970 : Le Jardin des Finzi-Contini (Il Giardino dei Finzi-Contini)
- 1971 : Forza 'G'
- 1971 : La Lunga spiaggia fredda
- 1971 : Lady Frankenstein, cette obsédée sexuelle (La Figlia di Frankenstein) : John
- 1972 : L'Assassinat de Trotsky (The Assassination of Trotsky) : Sam
- 1973 : L'Ère des Medicis (L'Età di Cosimo de Medici) (TV) : Branduardi
- 1974 : Descartes (Cartesius) (TV) : Brandaccio
- 1976 : Keoma : Sam Shannon
- 1976 : Big Racket (Il Grande racket) : Rudy, Gang Leader
- 1976 : Le Messie (Il Messia) : Guardia Romana
- 1977 : Action immédiate (La Via della droga) : Gianni, the boss
- 1977 : Une poignée de salopards (Quel maledetto treno blindato) : Marshall
- 1977 : La Proie de l'autostop (Autostop rosso sangue) : Oaks
- 1981 : La Mort au large (L'Ultimo squalo) : Mayor Wells
- 1982 : Les Guerriers du Bronx (1990: I guerrieri del Bronx) : Ice
- 1985 : John and Yoko: A Love Story (TV) : George Martin
- 1987 : Hangmen : Phillipe Fosterlan
- 1988 : Judgment in Berlin : Alan Sherman
- 2001 : Shaka Zulu: The Citadel (TV) : Father Aaron
comme producteur
comme réalisateur
comme réalisateur théâtral
"Turando" - Director/La Scala, Milan // "Three Sisters" - Director/National Theater, London // "The Passion Play" - Director/National Theater // "A Long Days Journey Into Night" - Director/New York Ensemble // "A Streetcar Named Desire" - Director/New York Ensemble // "Romeo and Juliet" - Director/Odeon Theater // "Who Killed Kowalski?" - Writer; Director; Co-Producer/New York Ensemble //
Récompenses et nominations
Récompenses
Nominations
United Nations Anti-Apartheid Congress, Commedation for work against Apafrtheid, 1987 Premiere of Shaka Zulu: Egyptian Theater, Commedation: Sen. Feinstein, US Senate, 2002 Premiere of Shaka Zulu: Egyptian Theater, NAACP Award for Excellence, 2000 Premiere of Shaka Zulu: Egyptian Theater, Congressional Commendation from Diane Watson, 2002 Premiere of Shaka Zulu: Egyptian Theater, Commendation from County of Los Angeles, 2002 Opening of Shaka Zulu The Citadel, Commedation from Zulu MP Mangosuthu Buthelezi, 2002 Actors Against Apartheid , United Nations Commendation , 1987 Shanghai Film Festival, Best Feature Film (JUMP), 2007, Runner-up Academy Awards, Best Foreign Film (THE GARDEN OF THE FINZI CONTINI), 1972 Image Award, Outstanding Motion Picture (CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY), 1996 Cambridge University, Commendation for Series of Lectures on Theology, 2003 Vatican, Rome, Papal Commendation for Ministry in India, 1994 Vatican, Rome, Papal "Placet" for Screenplay on Fatima, 1999
Anecdotes
Liens externes