You probably know him best as the director of the final four Harry Potter movies, but David Yates career had humble beginnings. Born in England, a young Yates shot a variety of short films on a Super 8mm camera. He has cited Steven Spielbergs Jaws as his inspiration for wanting to become a film director. After graduating from the University of Essex, Yates began a career as a television director and producer. His earlier projects included British TV programs such as The Bill, The Way We Live Now, and the six-part BBC political thriller State of Play. Heard of any of those? Well, apparently someone at Warner Bros. did, because in 2006, David Yates wound up on WBs director shortlist for Harry Potter: The Order of the Phoenix. He ended up winning the job, and the film became the fourth highest-grossing film in the entire franchise. Since then, Warner Bros. has been so pleased with his work that theyve kept him on the series indefinitely. This year will see the release of the spinoff film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, starring Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne. Fantastic Beasts will be set seventy years before the events of the first Harry Potter film, with David Yates returning as director. 2016 will also see the release of Yates The Legend of Tarzan, starring True Bloods Alexander Skarsgård and The Wolf of Wall Streets Margot Robbie.
Spencer is a Film Studies major at the Rhode Island College in Providence. He is a professional video editor, hopeful screenwriter, aspiring director, and prays that his ambitions aren't just starry-eyed daydreams. Follow him on twitter @NotSpencerSerra
