Adam Somner, a revered assistant director and producer for filmmakers together with Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Paul Thomas Anderson, Alejandro Inarritu and Ridley Scott, died Wednesday of thyroid most cancers in Studio Metropolis. He was 57.
Most just lately, Somner served as producer and assistant director on Anderson’s upcoming Warner Bros. movie starring Leonardo Di Caprio. He was a part of the manufacturing staff for Anderson’s “Licorice Pizza,” which was nominated for a greatest image Oscar.
Born within the U.Ok., Somner bought his begin aiding on movies equivalent to “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” earlier than shifting into assistant directing. He was third assistant director on Spielberg’s “Indiana Jones and the Final Campaign,” and continued working with the director on quite a few movies together with “West Aspect Story,” “Prepared Participant One,” “Lincoln,” “Munich” and “Conflict of the Worlds.”
Spielberg remembered Somner in an announcement, saying, “The job title ‘assistant director’ is inadequate to explain what Adam Somner was to me and the contribution he made to my movies — simply as my left arm is extra than simply an assistant to my proper. He labored as AD, and producer and he carried out each of these duties with equal measures of devotion. He liked making films. He liked being on the set. It was his gridiron. He was a cheerleader and ball provider and at occasions I couldn’t inform if he was following my lead or I used to be following his. He made everybody who joined the crew really feel like they have been a part of the household. He was a uniter and when issues weren’t going in keeping with plan, his English working-class wit and humor, might easy out the issue by way of his under-the-breath cursing, laughter, and the backup plan he all the time appeared to have standing by. He was an icon in his discipline and an inspiration to anybody who desires a profession within the mounting of productions — with the total recognition that it’s as artistic as it’s organizational. Going again to work with out Adam won’t ever be the identical.”
For Scorsese, Somner served as first assistant director and producer or co-producer on “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “The Wolf of Wall Road.”
Scorsese mentioned, “Adam Somner was credited as an Assistant Director and a Producer on three of my photos, however his presence meant extra to me and to the movies than any credit might actually even point out. Adam had a really particular and really explicit set of qualities — the organizational skills and the self-discipline of a normal on the battlefield; a singular capability to work as carefully with me or with any director as two dancers doing a routine or two musicians bouncing off one another; and a rare artistry when it got here to organizing and orchestrating motion within the body. Adam Somner embodied and practiced all of it. I’d by no means have been capable of make ‘The Wolf of Wall Road’ or ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ with out him, and we have been in the course of planning one other mission. He handed away far too early, and I’ll miss him terribly. He liked ‘making photos,’ as he put it. He was one of many best collaborators I might ask for, and I do know that my fellow administrators would say the identical.”
Along with “Licorice Pizza” and the upcoming movie, Somner’s collaboration with Paul Thomas Anderson included “Phantom Thread,” “Inherent Vice,” “The Grasp” and “There Will Be Blood.”
Anderson mentioned in an announcement, “Adam liked making movies greater than anybody else ever within the historical past of the film enterprise. It was food and drinks to him. He made everybody who labored with him really feel protected. He noticed every little thing from all sides without delay and had a again up plan to the again up plan to the again up plan. He moved mountains and vans and folks like he was shifting a salt shaker throughout a desk. It was wonderful to observe him work.
“He knew tips on how to make a movie higher than anybody else. His instinct and expertise was second solely to how deeply humorous and loving he was. Most of all and above every little thing, he was beneficiant.
Somner’s movies with Ridley Scott included “Black Hawk Down,” “Kingdom of Heaven,” “Gladiator” and “G.I. Jane.”
With Alejandro Inarritu, he served as second unit and assistant director on “The Revenant,” and was a part of the DGA-award successful directing staff. He additionally labored on “Birdman.”
He’s survived by his spouse Carmen Ruiz de Huidobro, his kids Olivia and Bosco and his brother, Mark Somner.
A DGA scholarship in his title shall be established with donation particulars forthcoming.
