Quentin Tarantino: 5 Things You Didn't Know

Quentin Tarantino:

5 Things You Didn't Know

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Ever since he introduced Reservoir Dogs to audiences in 1992, Quentin Tarantino has become a household name in filmmaking and the ultimate example of the successful independent filmmaker.

He has won at Cannes, he has won at the Oscars and now he’s off to Germany to take on the Nazis in his upcoming WWII flick, Inglourious Basterds. But before you head to the theater to indulge in one of this summer’s last blockbusters, it’s time to learn a little more about who the man behind some of our generation’s greatest, most influential and often controversial films — Quentin Tarantino.



1 - Tarantino’s mother was 16 when she gave birth to him

2 - One of Tarantino’s first acting roles was as an Elvis impersonator

3 - Tarantino passed on directing Speed

Whether it’s starting a family or starting a career, the Tarantino’s like to begin early. Quentin Tarantino was born to Tony Tarantino, an actor and amateur musician from Queens, and Connie Zastoupil, a health-care exec and nurse who was just 16 years old at the time she gave birth to the would-be auteur.By the time Quentin was 16 years old, he had already dropped out of Narbonne High School in Harbor City, California, to study acting at the James Best Theater Company. At 22, he landed a job recommending (and restocking) films at the Video Archives in Hermosa Beach, which is where he developed his encyclopedic knowledge of film alongside fellow filmmaker Roger Avary ().Quentin frequently makes cameos in his own movies and in movies directed by friend and fellow filmmaker Robert Rodriguez , but one of his first real acting gigs came in 1988 when he played an Elvis impersonator on the popular television show. Despite performing in the back row of the 10-man “Elvis ensemble,” Quentin still manages to stick out like a sore thumb. Quentin Tarantino has also appeared in four episodes ofin addition to his several cameos in feature films.After making a name for himself with Reservoir Dogs , Quentin Tarantino was offered the directors chair on the 1994 adrenaline flick, but passed and gave the job to career cinematographer Jan de Bont ().grossed over $350 million worldwide, but Quentin doesn’t regret turning down the offer. The same year he unveiledand took the Palme d'Or at Cannes along with an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. In addition to, Quentin Tarantino was also asked to directbut he passed and long-time TV director/producer Barry Sonnenfeld took the wheel.

What common thread does all of Quentin Tarantino's movies have? That's next...