Research For a Creative Media Production - Michael Fassbender Bio Documentary

To cover this Unit I will be researching an actor for a possible production of a documentary of thier rise to stardom ala the Bio Channel ( http://www.biography.com/videos ) Like this Natalie Portman video below.

Natalie Portman - Mini Bio - Natalie Portman Videos - Biography.com

Basically these videos give a very basic overview of the early beginnings and rise to stardom of a different star every week, The person I have chosen is one of the biggest stars of the 2011/12 period Michael Fassbender (also a client at my apprenticeship).

The Research methods I will use will mainly be internet based research using search engines such as google and bing as well as using past newspaper articles and interviews to ascertain where he came from and provide a factual timeline of his rise to be the darling of todays media. (also as this is not yet an episode on the Bio Channel I garentee there will be one made within a few weeks).

Research websites I will use to get the information I need:

And various interviews like the one above to ascertain his rise to popularity in 2011/12.

The Irish and German born Michael Fassbender learned his craft at both St Brendans (The Sem) and The Drama Centre, North London. After Appearing in many british and american films he has last year starred in no fewer than 4 releases over the past 5 months.

Although his first popular role was a small part as a reoccurring soldier Sgt. Burton 'Pat' Christenson
 in Steven Spielberg's WW2 drama series "Band Of Brothers". (2001)







After a period of featuring as bit part characters in either drama series such as Holby City and starring as Guy Fawkes in "Gunpoweder Treason and Plot" the  next notable series he took part in was as part of Sky's 10 part drama series "Hex" as Azazel, A lovestruck leader of the biblical Nephilim, fallen angels. (2004)

The Cast of Sky Ones's Hex, starring paedophile Michael Fassbender as Kiddy the Fiddler "Fiddles"

This arguably made way for his first big movie role in 2006 as part of the adaption of Frank Miller's Swords and Sandals Graphic Novel, 300 as Stellios.

Fassbender as "Stellios"

This movie as mentioned on previous college-mate Edun mentioned that this was the film (directed by action enthusiast and comic book fan Zac Snyder coming off the back of the Dawn of the Dead Remake he made earlier in '04 ) was a huge success that spawned hundreds of similar films using the style and similar disturbed fantasy setting as 300 giving all those involved, Fassbender, Gerard Butler a huge success.

2008 Off the back of this his first arguably "big" role he two years later would star in  a film that would finally get people singing his praises across the board, working with now widely recognised director Steve Mcqueen in his directoral debut "Hunger". The film with its lingering shots and meticulously planned monologues won both the director and members of the cast great praise for their dedication to their roles.
Michael Fassbender plays Hunger Striker Bobby Sands, taking this role to its limit he famously shed over 2 stone, using a crash 600-calorie-a-day diet.  


Follow this "Link" as he talks about the lengths he went to to give the performance what won him and Steve McQueen such exposure...

Some of the cast of "Inglorious Basterds" with director Quentin Tarantino.

Having been in such a critical success in Hunger, Michael Fassbender would team up for a role in well loved grind-house director Quentin Tarantino in his 2010 comeback WW2 film "Inglorious Basterds" Starring Hollywood heavyweight Brad Pitt and the soon-to-be oscar winner Christoph Waltz as Hans Landa.



I shall stop here as I feel I have demonstrated through using internet research techniques to begin writing a production piece, in this case a simple Bio documentary. Using the above internet research techniques I have found information I previously would have had no knowledge. I believe this post shows at least one way of researching an actors history with a view of making a production.