A success story from architecture to director: Who is Catherine Hardwicke?

Her full name is Helen Catherine Hardwicke, she was born on October 21, 1955, in Harlingen, Texas. She was born the daughter of her mother, Jamee Elberta Bennett, and her father, John Benjamin Hardwicke. She has a brother named Jack and a sister named Irene Hardwicke Olivieri, who is an artist. Growing up in McAllen, on the US-Mexico border, Hardwicke described it as "wild".

Talking about her childhood life, Hardwicke said, "I had a great childhood and I'm dying to make a movie about it." After graduating from McAllen High School in her hometown, Hardwicke attended the University of Texas at Austin. Here she studied architecture and successfully graduated she. Her projects as an architect included designing a solar-powered townhouse project, built around a man-made lake on a 20-acre estate with waterfalls and swimming pools. Property belonged to Hardwicke's father.

Feeling constrained, Hardwicke moved to Los Angeles to study at UCLA film school to explore her creative and diverse talents. She shot her first short film for her brother Jack, who married Nicolette Cullen. During this period in the 1980s, Hardwicke directed the award-winning short film "Puppy Does the Gumbo" and won the Nissan Focus Award.

Hardwicke became a production designer, working with film directors such as Cameron Crowe, Richard Linklater and David O. Russell. Influenced by these directors, she gained experience in their techniques. She talked to some of them about her dream of becoming a filmmaker, and she got advice and tips from them. She was able to talk and improve her techniques while working with such famous film directors. Her career, which began as a production designer, has been crucial and beneficial in shaping her continuing career as a director. During her time with these directors, she was able to give her a sense of direction and help in many ways. In addition to her time with directors, Hardwicke continued to work on her own projects such as screenplays and short films. She has even taken on acting lessons to become a better director.

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Hardwicke performed in "Tombstone"(1993), "Tank Girl"(1995), "2 Days in the Valley"(1996), "The Newton Boys"(1998), "Three Kings"(1999) and "Antitrust" (2001) worked as a production designer on many films such as. In 2000, she served as production designer on "Vanilla Sky" (2001), with director and screenwriter Cameron Crowe and actor and producer Tom Cruise.

Hardwicke's debut as a director was a screenplay she co-developed with Nikki Reed, reflecting some of Reed's youthful experiences. Hardwicke had known Reed since she was five, as she was in a relationship with Reed's father. Afterwards, she continued to stay close with Reed even though the relationship ended.

During their time together, Reed revealed to Hardwicke that she was interested in the teen drama film "Thirteen" and acting. The duo completed the script in six days over the Christmas break. Evan Rachel Wood was signed to star in the movie with Reed. The film addressed the challenges faced by contemporary youth. Reed and Hardwicke wrote the script from the perspective of 13-year-old Tracy, who just started middle school. The movie received great acclaim and praise with its actors. The film earned Hardwicke the 2003 directing award.

Her next production was "Lords of Dogtown" (2005), based on a true story. The film was about young Stacy Peralta, Tony Alva and Jay Adams, who revolutionized the skateboarding world. It was also based on Stacy Peralta's documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys, with which Hardwicke collaborated. As Hardwicke lives in Venice Beach and is well acquainted with the Z-Boys documentary, she also drew on her personal experience while directing the film. The movie shows that people started to empty the pools due to the drought that started in California. This led a group of surfers to create a new sport, skateboarding. Children started to do this new sport in empty swimming pools and their lives changed thanks to this sport. The film detailed Hardwicke's theme of youth anxiety and youth rebellion. The movie was acclaimed for everything.

In 2006, Hardwicke considered taking on the biblical drama film "The Nativity Story" (2006). She was initially reluctant to take on the project but changed her mind after doing some research. New Zealand actress Keisha Castle-Hughes starred as the lead actress.

By 2008, Hardwicke had achieved international commercial success, directing the film adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's bestselling novel Twilight. Based on Meyer's four books, the first film in the series tells the story of a young girl named Bella Swan, whose parents separate and live with her father for years. A teenage girl living in a small town in Washington has her life changed completely when she falls in love with a teenage vampire. The movie and the leading actors who played it attracted the attention of people all over the world. Especially in Korea, the success of the movie spawned many fan sites, art and marketing products, and even themed cafes.

Hardwicke shot the movie in 44 days and on a budget of $37 million. Due to the lead actress Kristen Stewart's underage, she was able to work limited hours a day. But Hardwicke felt that Stewart was perfect for the role of Bella, so she tried to overcome this ordeal.

It was more difficult for Hardwicke to choose the character of Edward Cullen. For this role, Robert Pattinson was unique, with a broad interest in art, literature and music. The film's big success made her the most commercially successful female film director. But contrary to the film's success, Hardwicke did not become a known filmmaker in the professional world. And in that regard, Hardwicke said she found herself in an unfair position.

In 2008, the publishing company announced that she would not direct "New Moon," the sequel to the Twilight franchise, amid rumors of a difficult relationship with Hardwicke. Hardwicke went on to direct "Red Riding Hood" for the company. She was also awarded the Women in Film Dorothy Arzner Directors Award in 2009.

Her next film, "Red Riding Hood" (2011) was not a commercial or critical success. Adapted from the classic fairy tale "Little Red Riding Hood", the movie was reimagined with Hardwicke. The lead role was played by actress Amanda Seyfried, and Max Irons and Shiloh Fernandez also appeared in supporting roles.

Hardwicke's next feature film was when she directed the erotic thriller "Plush" (2013). Emily Browning, Cam Gigandet, Xavier Samuel and Frances Fisher took part in the film. Unfortunately, the film was less successful than Hardwicke's other films. Feedback was mostly negative.

Also in 2013, Hardwicke directed and produced the pilot for "Reckless," the legal drama television series starring Cam Gigandet, Shawn Hatosy, Kim Wayans, and Adam Rodriguez. In 2015, Hardwicke directed the British-American comedy-drama film "Miss You Already" (2015). In the movie, Drew Barrymore and Toni Collette starred as best friends.

Hardwicke directed the action thriller "Miss Bala"(2019), a remake of Gerardo Naranjo's 2011 film of the same name. Starring Gina Rodriguez, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Anthony Mackie, Aislinn Derbez, Matt Lauria, and Cristina Rodo, the film was released by Columbia Pictures on February 1, 2019. The film was a failure, both critically and financially.

Later, Hardwicke directed the drama "Prisoner's Daughter" (2022), written by Mark Bacci. The film starred Kate Beckinsale, Brian Cox, Ernie Hudson, Christopher Convery and Tyson Ritter. Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 14, 2022, the film received mixed reviews.