Michael Rymer

Writer and director Michael Rymer is one of the central architects behind the sleek reboot of the sci-fi show "Battlestar Galactica." After directing the two-episode miniseries in 2003, Rymer remained a central figure in shaping the full-blown series that launched in 2004. The show was notable for its character-driven storytelling, dark subject matter, and bold exploration of war and politics. A native of Australia, Rymer attended film school at USC and got his start as a writer on the pulpy Linda Blair thriller "Dead Sleep" in 1990. Rymer wrote and directed the "Angel Baby" in 1995, a story about two schizophrenics who fall in love. In 1997, Rymer directed "Allie and Me," another low-budget look at mental instability, and in 1999, he helmed the cop drama "In Too Deep" featuring Omar Epps and LL Cool J. In 2002 he released his most commercial film, the vampire movie "Queen of the Damned," based on the novel by Anne Rice.