Adam Shankman - Details

Biography

ADAM SHANKMAN makes his feature film directorial debut with "The Wedding Planner" after being one of the entertainment world's premier choreographers.

Shankman has put his creative stamp as dance and physical comedy choreographer on many well-known comedies, dramas, thrillers, and animated films. Some of his projects include "Monkey Bone," "She's All That," "Inspector Gadget," "Blast From the Past," "Antz," "The Out of Towners," "Forces of Nature," "Scream 2," "Anastasia," "A Life Less Ordinary," "George of the Jungle," "Boogie Nights," "Miami Rhapsody," "The Flintstones" (for which he was nominated for a Bob Fosse Award) and "Don Juan DeMarco."

A native of Los Angeles, Shankman developed a love for the theater at an early age. After high school, Shankman moved to New York and attended Juilliard in the dance program for two years. After five years of work as an actor/dancer in New York and regional theater, Shankman moved back to Los Angeles and began dancing in music videos, including those of Paula Abdul and Janet Jackson. He also performed at the 1989 Academy Awards.

At age 24, Shankman teamed up with influential video director Julian Temple and began working as a music video choreographer. One of the first videos he choreographed was Whitney Houston's "I'm Your Baby Tonight." He has also choreographed videos for The B-52's, Barry White, Aaron Neville, Chic and Stevie Wonder.

Shankman directed the well-received short film "Cosmo's Tale," which was an official entry at the Sundance Film Festival in 1997.