Cool News
Writer/Producer Debra Hill has passed away at the age of 54.
Father Geek here with sad news... John Carpenter's longtime writing-producing partner 54 year old DEBRA HILL has died. I've met Debra several times here in Austin when she would come here on business or to attend film fests or to visit long time friend and workmate Lynda Obst who lives nearby. She was a great lady and a very cool person. We will all miss her as well as the future films she still had in her.
Harry was talking to John Carpenter back when we 1st saw the re-make of ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 and John mentioned to him that Debra was in a bad way and needed some extreme surgery on her legs, I guess today's news is related to that in some way. Anyway I'm sure John is really down right now. He and Debra worked together to give us HALLOWEEN, THE FOG, ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, and other genre classics. Debra worked on HALLOWEEN 2 also, as well as others in the series. She and her friend Lynda Obst gave us more fun flicks including the outstanding FISHER KING... I can't really go on with this, now...
http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movies/03/07/obit.debra.hill.ap/index.html has put up a story on Debra's passing, check it out... I'll put some of it up for you below...
SHOWBIZ...
In 1988 Debra Hill entered a contract with Walt Disney Pictures under which she produced the feature "Gross Anatomy," short films for the Walt Disney theme park and an NBC special for Disneyland's 35th anniversary.
Films she produced included "The Dead Zone," 1983; "Head Office," 1985; and "Clue," 1986.
"Back when I started in 1974, there were very few women in the industry, and everybody called me 'Honey,' " she recalled in 2003. "I was assumed to be the makeup and hair person, or the script person. I was never assumed to be the writer or producer. I took a look around and realized there weren't many women, so I had to carve a niche for myself."
Carpenter praised her as "a real pioneer in this business."
"Unlike many producers, she came from the crew ranks. I think they're the most under-appreciated people, and they work the hardest," he said. "She had experienced the ins and the outs and had a thorough understanding of what it took to make a picture."
Hill began as a production assistant on adventure documentaries, working up to films as a script supervisor, a job that required sitting beside the director and keeping a record of each scene.
From there she landed jobs as assistant director and second-unit director and became associated with Carpenter, who was then a rising young director...
When she was honored by Women in Film in 2003, Hill said, "I hope some day there won't be a need for Women in Film. That it will be People in Film. That it will be equal pay, equal rights and equal job opportunities for everybody."
Born in Haddonfield, New Jersey, Hill grew up in Philadelphia.
Hey guys, Quint here with some sad news for us genre fans. John Carpenter's long time partner in crime, Debra Hill has passed away, according to CNN. Hill was co-creator of Michael Meyers and co-wrote HALLOWEEN with Carpenter before going on to produce many of Carpenter's films, including ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK and THE FOG. She went on to produce such personal favorites of mine as CLUE, THE DEAD ZONE, Robert Rodriguez's ROADRACERS and THE FISHER KING.
I don't have much to say about her other than she was instrumental in creating some of my favorite films from childhood and adolescence. Her birthplace of Haddonfield, New Jersey became one of the key town names one didn't want to inhabit in the '80s, along with Springwood and Crystal Lake. Please discuss her work below in her memory. I wish her friends, family and fans the best. She will be missed.
CLICK HERE FOR CNN'S STORY
We got this bit in from of our readers that I thought would be nice to share:
Hey Harry, you'll probably get a lot about this, but
I'd like to inform your readers that the great
producer Debra Hill passed away today, apparently from
a 13 month battle with cancer.
I had a brief run in with Debra Hill a few years ago
when she and John Carpenter became interested in a
script I'd written. Nothing came of it, but they
battled hard with the studios to get it financed. She
always struck me as courteous but tough, smart but
willing to defer. In other words, all the qualities
talent searches for in a producer.
Carpenter was right when he eulogized her today as
that rare breed of women producers: someone who came
up from the production ranks, working her way up from
p.a. to script girl to second unit director. Anyone
who wants to hear the woman give a good lesson in
guerilla filmmaking should put in the DVD of THE FOG
and listen to how she and Carpenter engineered the
quality of that movie on a low budget.
Debra Hill, passed on as 54.
Bresson
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The Dead Zone is one of my favorite films. A classic.
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...to be taken from the world, but her touch on some of my favorite films of all time will surely earn her some small measure of immortality (as long as no one cuts off my head or sets me on fire any time soon). Thanks for the memories, Deb.
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Mar 07, 2005 5:31:43 PM CST
Damn, I hate when I click on aintitcool and find shit like this.
by jimbolo
Ms Hill, your contribution to film history will not be forgotten.
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Gentlemen, The missiles are flying. Hallelujah, Hallelujah!
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In today's age of "market based" films that have little goals beyond a massive first week and massive first month DVD sales, the producer has become a casualty of greed and ego. Now films have producers in the volumes of the teens, most of which are agents or relatives of stars looking to get added bonuses to agree to a project. Many of these people get on as a producer to reap the
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chickengeorge is right. real producers are a rarity in hollywood, and debra hill will be missed. condolences to her friends and family.
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Debra Hill and John Carpenter made such an impact on the horror genre and the effort that she put into those films will live on forever. This is very sad and unexpected. Rest In Peace.
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"crediting" her with writing resurrection. way to research, asshats. this is terrible.
remember a few years ago they were gonna do all this snake stuff (anime, comic, game, possible new film)??? all i ever saw was the comic (which kind of sucked). -
Her family and friends are in my prayers.
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Just looking at the amazing directors she worked with - Carpenter, Cronenberg, Gilliam - is a testament to her talent.
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We just read this at 1.30am over here in the UK and it makes for going to bed a rather sombre experience. Ms Hill was a very wise producer, one whi went out of her way to protect the creative concerns of the director, allowing what is intended to be made rather than paring the vision down to the cheapest possible price or ordering changes to make it an easier sell. Finally, she always looked cute in the clown outfit in which she doubled as Michael Myers at the start of Halloween. RIP, Ms Hill...
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Mar 07, 2005 9:15:13 PM CST
i heard she was doing pretty rough. she lost both of her legs to
by bearison ford
too bad though.
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Mar 07, 2005 9:27:43 PM CST
Your talent and your essence will stay with us forever Debra, ma
by huevo
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No, I'm not being disrespectful. Apparently, the use of the word that got repeated over and over by not just PJ Soles' character in the movie, but by audiences, as well, was the invention of Debra Hill, who wrote pretty much all of the babysitters' dialogue in "Halloween." Listen to the commentary on that movie and you'll hear her take some pride in that. Anyway, I don't suppose that rumored "Halloween" remake will happen now, though for fans of the original (like me) I suppose that would be good. Way too many classics are butchered in the remaking.
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i've seen her name numerous times on numerous movies and i dont know much about the woman but i know her place in movies and her importance and brilliance. very sad. My prayers go out to her family.
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and if she had never produced anything else, she'd still be immortal. Geeks, let's bow our heads..
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Seriously. This obviously was a woman who just loved making movies and, look at what she has accomplished, you have to love her for it. I can say this with all sincerity: Gross Anatomy may not be great, but it is an underrated little gem in her resume. May God bless you, Ms. Hill, on your final journey. You will be missed.
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Wonderful eulogy, ChickenGeorge, as always. Thanks.
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Fun to be around, knew the business but still loved "movies." She would stroll to the theaters on the Promenade from her office in Santa Monica. Debra made an effort to actually teach the people who worked for her, which is great to see - and unusual in Hollywood. She also spoke fondly about her cult status among twenty-and-thirty something guys who grew up reading about her in Fangoria...
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Mar 08, 2005 7:46:16 AM CST
NO!! Not another great person gone!! This just isn't fair.
by big_bubbaloola
I hadn't quite realised how much work she's done over the years!! Especially The Dead Zone (up there with my favorites). Is it me or does it feel like we are rapidly losing way too many geniuses lately; but not having any replacements for them waiting in the wings?? My thoughts are with you and your family Debra. RIP xxxxxx
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One of the truly great "behind the scenes" talents of recent times passes, and way too young. She played a big part in many of my favourite films, and for that I'll always be grateful, and from her audio commentary tracks and on featurettes she always seemed like one of the good guys (or gals) of the film industry, with a genuine love for genre and what she did, and contributed to. May she rest in peace.
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Carpenter smokes like a chimney, I don't understand how people that seem so smart can be so stupid.
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Mar 08, 2005 10:44:19 AM CST
A real giant in her field an a great loss. Isn't it sick that no
by charley varrick
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As I read all these posts particularly partner/rival in insanity King George
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Madness of King George on my mind + talking about insanity + the person talking to me while I type = me calling you King George. Peace.
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Truly terrible, truly sad news -- my heart just sank yesterday when I read this news.
From the bottom of my heart I just have to say, thank you Debra, thank you for all the wonderful films you helped create. HALLOWEEN, THE FOG, ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, THE DEAD ZONE and so many others -- they were and are monumental inspirations to this aspiring filmmaker and from the simple viewpoint of a fan/movie watcher, my life has been a more fun place for them. You are already sorely missed. I just have to say it again -- Thank you so much Debra, where ever you are.
TTM -
We need more cool female producers. Rest in peace, ma'am.
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Her legacy in film will endure. I mean, how many of us watch one or other of the Halloween films come October-time ? My sincere condolencies go to her family and loved ones. Her place in our menories is assured. God speed Ms Hill - and thank you.
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Sad news indeed. And I agree wholeheartedly with NeoSamurai85.
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and here all this time I thought you were some hearing-impaired schizophrenic with Tourette's Syndrome.
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As a young child, I remember reading comic books and noticing that the name Jack Kirby kept appearing in all of my favorite titles. There was just something about his work that stood out from the rest of the pack. My cinematic equivalent of this were the films of John Carpenter and Debra Hill. They were the first filmmakers whose work I recognized and would enthusiastically look forward to seeing. In fact, if you were to scan my extensive DVD collection, you would immediately notice that I keep all of their films together for easy retrieval. The reason for this is quite simple. John Carpenter and Debra Hill's films continue to be among my absolute favorites of all time, so it's always a great pleasure for me to revisit Haddonfield, and Antonio Bay from time to time. I will miss their great collaborations, but I will especially miss her, because she was taken from us far too early and had too many great stories left to tell. I feel sad for us all.
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Mar 09, 2005 5:38:49 AM CST
I guess I complained to soon. Today IMDB did write something abo
by charley varrick
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i'm a non-smoker,but reagardless of whether someone smokes or not,no-one expects death at 54.the fog was my favourite horror.
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I was very saddened to hear that Debra Hill had passed away. As the producer/writer of some of my favourite films she held a very special place in my heart. Her obvious love of what she did shone through into the films she produced and the business is much poorer for having lost her.
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