Luc Besson is a French film director, writer and producer. He is the creator of EuropaCorp film company. He has been involved with over 50 films, spanning 26 years, as writer, director, and/or producer, including the Transporter series.
Dated Mawenn. She gave birth to their daughter, Shanna Besson , in 1993.
Has a daughter with ex-wife Anne Parillaud , Juliette Besson.
Placed under investigation on a charge of involuntary manslaughter 4 June 2002 by Paris prosecutor during inquiry into death of a cameraman hit by a car during 1999 filming of chase scene in Taxi 2 , which Besson produced.
Father, with Virginie Besson-Silla , of two daughters, Talia Besson (b. 1 August 2001), Satine Besson (b. May 2003) and one son, Mao Besson (b. 16 September 2005].
Often casts Gary Oldman (Leon, Le cinquime lment ) and they are very close friends. He produced Garys movie Nil by Mouth .
Has his look-alike puppet in the French show "Les guignols de linfo" (but it is rarely used).
Refuses to do interviews or audio commentaries for DVD releases. This is because he believes that they ruin the impact of the film.
President of the Official Competition jury at the 53rd Cannes International Film Festival in 2000.
Wanted to become a marine biologist as a child, but an accident at the age of 17 prevented him from being in water.
Has five children with three different women.
Grew up in Greece, Bulgaria, and former Yugoslavia, where his parents were diving instructors for Club Med.
Has written four Arthur childrens books, including "Arthur and the Minimoys". The series has sold more than 1 million copies in more than 30 countries. Besson later adapted the book series into films.
He always said, that he will retire as a director after he made 10 movies. This would make Arthur et les Minimoys his last one.
Lived in Bulgaria, at the Black Sea coast resort, where he spent 5 months with his parents who used to work in a sport center there, diving and exploring coastal caves. He was 9 years old then. Now as an adult he is afraid to visit that coast again not ruin his beautiful childhood memories.
Jean-Pierre Melville had a heavy influence on him. He made Lon after seeing Melvilles masterpiece Le samoura .
President of the Official Competition jury at the 32nd Moscow International Film Festival in 2010.
Two of his films have opened the Cannes International Film Festival: Le grand bleu and Le cinquime lment .
In 1977, Luc Besson was rejected by La Fmis, the national film school of France. Besson later told in interviews, that he was 18 years old, when he applied, and in a preliminary interview an administrator asked him which directors he most admired. Besson named Steven Spielberg , Martin Scorsese and Milos Forman , before the interviewer cut him off, saying: "Thats enough. I dont think you belong here".
I do think that kids today miss out on a lot of those guidelines.
