Steven Soderbergh

Soderbergh's first feature, sex, lies, and videotape (1989), which he both wrote and directed, catapulted him to fame and renewed hopes for the future of independent films in Hollywood. Having skipped college to get a head start on his career, Soderbergh grew frustrated at the menial jobs available to him, including cue card holder and game show scorekeeper, and returned to Louisiana to write part-time while he worked in a video arcade. He came back to Los Angeles and began directing music videos, including the Grammy Award-winning Yes video, 90125. After sex, lies, and videotape came a string of box-office and critical disappointments, but Soderbergh seemed to be regaining his stride with Out of Sight (1998), starring George Clooney. He also wrote the screenplay for Nightwatch, starring Ewan McGregor, and branched out to produce Pleasantville (1998). In 2001, he earned two Best Director Oscar nominations for Erin Brockovich and Traffic. The last time that happened was in 1939. Soderbergh won the Oscar for Traffic. His most recent film is the remake of the Rat Pack flick Ocean's Eleven (2001)