Abel Ferrara

2/5

Biography

Born in the Bronx, Ferrara started making amateur films on Super 8 in his teens before making his debut with violent exploitation films such as 'Driller Killer' and 'Ms.45'. Good reviews for the latter helped create his cult reputation, leading to larger budgets, studio funding and 'name' actors , but he still likes taking his camera out onto the meanest streets of New York, as the ultra-cheap, highly controversial 'Bad Lieutenant' demonstrates.

  • Primary profession
  • Director·actor·writer
  • Country
  • United States
  • Nationality
  • American
  • Gender
  • Male
  • Birth date
  • 19 July 1951
  • Place of birth
  • New York City
  • Knows language
  • English language

Movies

Books

Trivia

Grew up in Peekskill, New York.

Has two adopted daughters.

Went to high school with Nicholas St. John , who has written many of his films.

Visited Sarajevo Film Festival (Bosnia, 8/2006)

Is a close friend of fellow director Michael Mann. Ferrara directed episodes for Manns TV shows "Miami Vice" and "Crime Story" . Ferrara also makes private screenings of his films to Mann who, in exchange, gives him tips and advices on editing.

Is of Irish and Italian descent.

(March 2006) He visited Argentina for to promote his film Mary in Mar del Plata International Film Festival.

Converted to Buddhism in 2007.

Moved to Rome, Italy after the September 11 attacks and has lived there since.

Quotes

No one can stop me from talking about my movie.

The last day of your life is still going to be a day.

Most filmmaking is about shaking hands and just starting.

Listen, anybody who has a film festival has the right to show what they,want.

I was born in the Bronx, and then my father moved us to the country at,an early age.

I live with a bunch of yuppies and models.

The more you get into any religion, it becomes the same. It really,becomes how you treat other people and how you get outside yourself.

The secret is not to make a film that causes something like Virginia,Tech to happen. The secret is to make a film that stops it happening.

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