Directed at first towards painting, Gus Van Sant He changed his mind when he took an introductory course taught by avant-garde directors Jonas Mekas and Andy Warhol.
His first steps in the cinema were taken as an assistant director of Ken shapiroAfter returning from Europe where he dedicated himself to learning cinema, although the experience with Shapiro was not good in his own words, since his contributions were not taken into account by the director.
An avowed homosexual, Van Sant makes his film debut as a director with the film «Bad night»In 1985, a film that tells the story of a gay man in his thirties. This first feature film by the filmmaker was shot in black and white in 16mm format and its original title is in Spanish.
Years before, in 1982 he had made a short film called «The Discipline of DE », adapted from William Burroughs's essay on "Do Easy." Gus Van Sant's first cinematographic work.
In 1989 he rolled «Drugstore Cowboy«, An excellent road-movie that portrays the world of drugs through four drug addicts. This film was the international recognition of the filmmaker.
Learn more | Film Masters: Gus Van Sant (Early and 80s)