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Roger Corman, Movie Maker and Mentor, Dies at 98
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Intermediate
Intermediate
FILE - Roger Corman addresses the audience during the awards ceremony of the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 27, 2023. Corman, the Oscar-winning “King of the Bs” who helped turn out such low-budget classics as “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Attack of the Crab Monsters” and gave many of Hollywood's most famous actors and directors an early break, died Thursday, May 9, 2024. He was 98. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole, File)

Roger Corman, Movie Maker and Mentor, Dies at 98

May 12th, 2024

Roger Corman was a very important person in the movie world. He made many movies without spending a lot of money. People called him the "King of the Bs" because his movies were not big and expensive. Some of these movies are "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Attack of the Crab Monsters." Roger was not just good at making movies; he was also great at helping new actors and directors when they were starting. He worked with famous people like James Cameron and Martin Scorsese when they were new. Roger won a special Oscar award in 2009 because he was so good at his job. He liked making movies with little money because it made him think of new and creative ideas. Many famous actors got their first acting job in Roger's movies. Jack Nicholson, Robert De Niro, and many others started with him. Roger's movies were also important because they talked about things like love and making choices. Roger was loved by many people for being kind and always ready to help new filmmakers. Even though he did not have much money for his movies, he worked well with others and never fired anyone. Roger died when he was 98 years old. He was married to Julie and had four children named Catherine, Roger, Brian, and Mary. People will miss him very much, but they will always remember him for the movies he made and for helping so many actors and directors to start their careers.
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💭 Discussion Questions


1
. Who was Roger Corman and what was he known for in the movie world?
2
. Can you name a famous actor who started their career with Roger Corman?
3
. What special award did Roger Corman win in 2009 and why?

📖 Vocabulary


🌐 Cultural context


Roger Corman was an American film producer and director known for low-budget films, often called B-movies. He helped launch careers of famous industry figures.

🧠 Further reading


Guerrilla filmmaking
Guerrilla filmmaking is when people make movies with very little money, only a few helpers, and simple things instead of big, expensive movie sets. They use places and things they can find easily and don't usually ask for permission to film. This kind of movie making is like guerrilla warfare because it’s quick and uses the surprise element. People who make movies this way do it because they love making movies and don’t have a lot of money. Some famous people made movies like this. Ed Wood was one of them. He even took a fake octopus to use in his movie without asking. Another filmmaker named Melvin Van Peebles made a really important movie with a very small budget. And Spike Lee, a well-known director, made his first big movie this way too. It didn't cost much to make but earned a lot of money. Gregg Araki, another director, made movies with just a little camera and didn't spend much money. He also used old film that other people didn't want. Big movie companies usually don't make movies this way because they could get into trouble or people might think badly of them. But for people who really want to tell their story and don’t have much money, guerrilla filmmaking is a good way to do it.

Cinema of the United States
In the United States, there are big movie companies known as Hollywood and some smaller, independent films. Hollywood movies have been very important around the world since the 1900s. Most American movies are made in a special way that started between 1910 and 1962. This way of making movies is still used today. Long ago, two French brothers started modern movies. But soon, movies from the United States became very famous. Every year, the United States makes lots of English-language movies. Only India, Japan, and China make more movies than America. There are other English-speaking places like the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand that also make movies, but they are different from Hollywood. Sometimes, Hollywood makes movies in other languages like Spanish or French. They also make movies in other countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Hollywood movies are very popular and many people go to see them. Hollywood is a very old movie place. It started the first movie studios and companies. It also made many types of movies like comedies, dramas, action movies, musicals, romances, scary movies, science fiction, and big adventure movies. It showed other countries how to make movies. A man named Eadweard Muybridge was the first to show pictures moving in 1878. Later, in New York in 1894, people could watch moving pictures for the first time with a machine called the kinetoscope. After that, silent movies became very popular, and many movie studios were created.

Mentorship
Mentorship happens when someone who knows a lot helps and teaches someone who is newer or younger. A mentor is a person who has experience and shares what they know to help others grow in their work and life. They don't have to be older or have a higher job position, but they should have good knowledge that others can learn from. A mentor is like an advisor or guide to someone who is learning. They give feedback on the work and help with any problems at work. Mentorship is not just talking; it also includes listening and working together to get better. Sometimes, someone who is learning from a mentor is called a mentee or an apprentice. It is important for them to talk and have a good relationship with their mentor so they can learn well. In short, mentorship is when someone with experience helps another person to learn new things and become better at their job. It's about giving advice and support in a friendly way.