Why He's No. 38

Born on March 27, 1963, Quentin became a cineaste at an unusually early age. In fact, Quentin's main focus throughout his life has been film. When he's not working on one of his own movies, he's watching, reading about, and discussing motion pictures with colleagues, critics and fans alike. He has a notoriously enormous collection of 35mm prints, and will often entertain fellow filmmakers with private viewings at his expansive screening room. Quentin's even gone so far as to establish his own annual film festival in Austin, Texas, where he plays a variety of movies from his own collection. The festival runs for nine days and Tarantino often shares his thoughts about each film.

Quentin dropped out of high school at the age of 16, despite his IQ of 160, to pursue a career in film. His virtual encyclopedic knowledge of film and TV have contributed and inspired his filmmaking style.

In 1991, he started a production company with producer Lawrence Bender called A Band Apart Productions under which he made Pulp Fiction and other subsequent projects. In 1997, the company expanded to become A Band Apart Records, which marketed and distributed recordings on Madonna's Maverick label -- a smart move for Tarantino, considering that music is such a defining part of each of his films.

Back Stage

Never one to shy away from experimentation, Quentin's joint project with Robert Rodriguez, directly stems from his passion for 1970s exploitation flicks. Grindhouse (2007) consists of two shorts -- Quentin's is called Death Proof and stars Kurt Russell as a maniacal stuntman.

Tarantino's also taken on the role of producer for a host of other movies slated for release in 2007, including Hostel: Part II, Hell Ride and Inglorious Bastards (which he is also writing and directing).

"When people ask me if I went to film school I tell them, 'No, I went to films.'"

- Quentin Tarantino

Forcaste

With such iconic films as Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction under his belt, Quentin Tarantino has long-since established himself as one of the most controversial and flat-out talented filmmakers of his generation. His talent has been awarded with an Oscar win for Pulp Fiction's screenplay and a nomination for his directorial efforts in the same film.

His epic Kill Bill series established Uma Thurman as a bona fide action star, while folks such as John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson and Michael Madsen essentially owe their flourishing careers or return to the limelight to Quentin. Tarantino's occasional forays into the world of acting have been met coolly, and there's little doubt that he is at his best when he's behind the camera.