1. Todd Field
February 24th, 1964
By Amanda Barbee

2. William Todd Field was born in Pomona, California to a family of poultry farmers. At the age of 2, his
family moved to Oregon where he grew up. After finishing high school in Portland, Todd Field, a talented
musician and actor, decided to travel out to New York wanting to submerse himself in acting. He started
working with Ark Theatre Company. Field’s received his Master in Fine Arts from AFI Conservatory. He
married Serena Rathbun in 1986. (They are still married and have two children, Alida and Henry Field.)
He shortly after landed himself a role in Woody Allen’s Radio Days (1987).

3. In 1993, Field landed yet another role, this time
along side Ashley Judd in Ruby in Paradise.
His most popular role would be Eyes Wide Shut,
starring along side Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise
in 1999. He is Nick Nightengale:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9Kg58kq8iE

4. Directing
In 2001, Field’s directed his first film. It was a success. In
The Bedroom is an intense and emotional film about a
lobster man who finds himself falling for an older woman
who is in the process of a divorce. Without spoiling the
movie, it’s a wonderfully filmed movie that depicts true and
moving emotions. It’s almost dark and compelling. The
photography in the film is quite breath taking. A truly well
done movie that was awarded appropriately with a two
Academy Award nominations and a Golden Globe
nomination.
One of my favorite shots is watching him go up the stairs
in the mirror, heres a clip from the movie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1G5HwXEw9M

5. Next, Field co wrote and directed Little Children in 2006.
Although nominated for three Academy Awards and three
Golden Globe’s, I feel although again beautiful
photography, the story falls short of compelling. I do
however like the way he portrays their lives. Reminds me of
American Beauty. A wife and mother feels bored in her
suburbia life as does a husband and father of a different
family. These two find they have common ground and
begin to have an affair. It’s a reshaped novel by Perrotta.
But in both of Field’s movies there is wonderful lighting
and as pictured, great shots.
Movie Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiJLJd7cH1c

6. Todd field is versitale in Hollywood. He is an actor, musician, writer and
director. Talented in all areas, I might add. He finds a way to make films
emotional, realistic as well as formalistic and powerfully moving with his
camera work. I accidently submitted Todd Field’s name (long story). But after
familiarizing myself with his work and taking the time to really appreciate it
after all we’ve learned in this class, I 100% recommend watching his films and
if you haven’t already seen Eye’s Wide Shut or Radio Days, those as well.
Sources:
Imdb.com
Rottentomatoes.com
Wikipedia.com
YouTube.com