Earlier we gave the maverick directors such as Werner Herzog, Tim Burton and Stanley Kubrick two minutes in the spotlight after so often being overshadowed by the more mainstream filmmakers.
In the second part FemaleFirst takes a look at a couple more from the director that brought us The Godfather, the man behind The Exorcist and a British gem.
Quentin Tarantino
Much like Werner Herzog Tarantino didn't really go down the film school route encouraged to write a screenplay by Lawrence Bender.
And in the space of just six movies, albeit spanning sixteen years Quentin Tarantino has become one of the most popular and controversial directors.
His debut movie came in 1992 when Reservoir Dogs was screened at the Sundance Film Festival and audiences got the first look at the nonlinear storylines and stylistically excessive violence that he is now so famous for.
The film was well received by the critics; however it did enjoy more success after the release of Pulp Fiction. However the film was criticised for it strong language and explicit violence in particular Matthew Madsen's ear cutting scene.
Next up for the director was a second sold script as Oliver Stone took on Natural Born Killers, but changes Tarantino didn't agree with made him disown his script.
Because of the success of Reservoir Dogs Hollywood came calling and the new filmmaker was offered a series of high budget projects such as Men in Black and Speed but Tarantino stuck to his independent film roots choosing instead to work on Pulp Fiction.
The film was screened at the Cannes Film Festival and it went on to win the top prize the Palme d'Or and went on to be nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture, and won Best Original Screenplay for Tarantino and Roger Avary.
The success of the film changed the way independent filmmaking was seen by Hollywood forever as it became part of the mainstream.
But what has made Tarantino so successful is his determination not to bow to current demands of Hollywood studios and keep the idea of independent filmmaking at the heart of all of his work whether that be directing a film, writing a script or helping to get another project, such as Hostel, off the ground.
Francis Ford Coppola
Coppola kicked off his career in the early sixties working in independent movie working on the likes of Dementia 13 and You're a Big Boy Now.
Despite screenwriting success with Patton in 1971 it was The Godfather a year later that really established him as a filmmaker as he took risks with the unknown Al Pacino in the role of Michael Corleone.
Despite Coppola not being the first choice for Paramount to direct the movie he proved them all wrong as the film gained critical acclaim and is regarded as one of the greatest movies ever made.
The film won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actor for Marlon Brando. In 1974 the sequel enjoyed just as much success and critical praise becoming the first sequel to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Coppola other high profile release is of course the Vietnam drama Apocalypse Now which was filmed in the Philippines despite being warned by Roger Corman not to do so.
The production was plagued by problems including issues with the weather as well as Harvey Keitel being fired and Martin Sheen suffering from a heart attack.
Coppola insistence on authenticity has led to the film being considered one of the best war movies ever brought to the big screen.
William Friedkin
While he is best known for directing horror movie The Exorcist the film that made him a name in Hollywood was cop movie The French Connection.
The film which starred Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider was unlike any other cop movie that was around at the time as Friedkin went for a grittier and more realistic look that was expected in documentaries not Hollywood feature films.
However this change in style worked as the film was critically lauded going on to scoop five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
He was to break the mould again in 1973 when he adapted Peter Blatty's novel The Exorcist as he changed the face of the horror movie genre forever.
Friedkin's movie is littered with realism as he used the screams of pain from the cast member as they were violently thrown around in their harnesses.
Regan's bedroom was also built inside a freezer to catch the actor's breath on film as well as firing a gun on set without warning to create shock in his cast.
While some of these methods seem a little extreme The Exorcist became the most profitable horror film of all time as it grossed just over $400 million at the global box office.
Friedkin was now one of the most sought after directors in Hollywood but unfortunately he never repeated this success.
Danny Boyle
Danny Boyle was the name on everyone’s lips eighteen months ago when his movie Slumdog Millionaire swept the board at the Oscars as it took Best Picture and Best Director.
But Boyle is renowned for making off the cuff movies that are a little different to what we have seen before and it all starts back in 1994 on British crime film Shallow Grave.
Using unknown actors Kerry Fox, Christopher Eccleston and Ewan McGregor Boyle launched his film career. Although Shallow Grave was a small project it was a hit, and has since gone on to gain a cult status.
But it was Trainspotting that really cemented Boyle as a major force in British filmmaking as he tackled the issue of drugs head on. Based on the novel by Irvine Welsh the film followed a group of heroin addicts in the economically depressed Edinburgh of the 1990's.
The film was gritty and dark and looked at the effects of heroin and is widely regarded as one of the best anti drug movies ever made.
The film received universal praise when it was released in the UK however it did cause controversy elsewhere as it was accused of glorifying drug use. It did enjoy some box office success but has since become a cult hit and one of the most influential British movies of all time.
He is back on the big screen in the new year as he brings the story of Aron Rolston to the big screen, with James Franco taking on the lead role.
127 Hours will tell the story of Rolston, a mountain climber who becomes trapped under a boulder while canyoneering alone near Moab, Utah and resorts to desperate measures in order to survive.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
Earlier we gave the maverick directors such as Werner Herzog, Tim Burton and Stanley Kubrick two minutes in the spotlight after so often being overshadowed by the more mainstream filmmakers.
In the second part FemaleFirst takes a look at a couple more from the director that brought us The Godfather, the man behind The Exorcist and a British gem.
Quentin Tarantino
Much like Werner Herzog Tarantino didn't really go down the film school route encouraged to write a screenplay by Lawrence Bender.
And in the space of just six movies, albeit spanning sixteen years Quentin Tarantino has become one of the most popular and controversial directors.
His debut movie came in 1992 when Reservoir Dogs was screened at the Sundance Film Festival and audiences got the first look at the nonlinear storylines and stylistically excessive violence that he is now so famous for.
The film was well received by the critics; however it did enjoy more success after the release of Pulp Fiction. However the film was criticised for it strong language and explicit violence in particular Matthew Madsen's ear cutting scene.
Next up for the director was a second sold script as Oliver Stone took on Natural Born Killers, but changes Tarantino didn't agree with made him disown his script.
Because of the success of Reservoir Dogs Hollywood came calling and the new filmmaker was offered a series of high budget projects such as Men in Black and Speed but Tarantino stuck to his independent film roots choosing instead to work on Pulp Fiction.
The film was screened at the Cannes Film Festival and it went on to win the top prize the Palme d'Or and went on to be nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture, and won Best Original Screenplay for Tarantino and Roger Avary.
The success of the film changed the way independent filmmaking was seen by Hollywood forever as it became part of the mainstream.
But what has made Tarantino so successful is his determination not to bow to current demands of Hollywood studios and keep the idea of independent filmmaking at the heart of all of his work whether that be directing a film, writing a script or helping to get another project, such as Hostel, off the ground.
Francis Ford Coppola
Coppola kicked off his career in the early sixties working in independent movie working on the likes of Dementia 13 and You're a Big Boy Now.
Despite screenwriting success with Patton in 1971 it was The Godfather a year later that really established him as a filmmaker as he took risks with the unknown Al Pacino in the role of Michael Corleone.
Despite Coppola not being the first choice for Paramount to direct the movie he proved them all wrong as the film gained critical acclaim and is regarded as one of the greatest movies ever made.
The film won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actor for Marlon Brando. In 1974 the sequel enjoyed just as much success and critical praise becoming the first sequel to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Coppola other high profile release is of course the Vietnam drama Apocalypse Now which was filmed in the Philippines despite being warned by Roger Corman not to do so.
The production was plagued by problems including issues with the weather as well as Harvey Keitel being fired and Martin Sheen suffering from a heart attack.
Coppola insistence on authenticity has led to the film being considered one of the best war movies ever brought to the big screen.
William Friedkin
While he is best known for directing horror movie The Exorcist the film that made him a name in Hollywood was cop movie The French Connection.
The film which starred Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider was unlike any other cop movie that was around at the time as Friedkin went for a grittier and more realistic look that was expected in documentaries not Hollywood feature films.
However this change in style worked as the film was critically lauded going on to scoop five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Tagged in Francis Ford Coppola Quentin Tarantino