Stanley was born in 1928 in New York City. He had an above average IQ but struggled in school because of poor attendance. When his father bought him a camera, Stanley developed a lifelong interest in photography. A neighbor had a darkroom, and that furthered Stanley’s passion in capturing images.
In high school, Stanley’s only interest was in photography. His attendance was poor and he barely graduated. His hopes of going to college were non-existent. However, he was able to turn his photography interests into a job with Look magazine.
Stanley was quiet and didn’t relate to others. He was getting known for using photographs for storytelling. His reputation as a photographer grew, and he got to know entertainers. When he photographed film screenings, he became interested in film making. He started making short films. Few were commercial successes.
It was a chess game with a Hollywood producer that led to Stanley’s full-length film career. But what was important was that he was getting While Stanley wanted to be the Director and Cinematographer, the union would not allow him to do both jobs. He chose to be a Director.
From that moment, Stanley Kubrick became one of Hollywood’s all-time renowned Directors. His film credits include such classics as:
- The Shining ● Full Metal Jacket ● Dr. Strangelove
- A Clockwork Orange ● 2002: A Space Odyssey ● Lolita
- Spartacus ● Eyes Wide Shut ● Barry Lyndon
Stanley holds the Guinness World Record for most retakes of a scene (127). He was on the autism spectrum and had Asperger’s Syndrome. He never took a vacation. His lifestyle was very private. When he passed away at 70, his funeral was very private.
But might Stanley Kubrick’s different mind be the source of his film genius? When you look at his film legacy, you have to imagine why his films became so iconic. Was one contributing influence the way his mind functioned? Just imagine how the gift of a camera to a child with a different mind opened up the world for all of us.
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“The truth of a thing is the feel of it, not in the think of it.” – Stanley Kubrick