M. Night Shyamalan Timeline

Aug. 6, 1970: Born as Manoj Nelliyattu Shyamalan in Pondicherry, Tamil-Nadu, India to Jayalakshmi Shyamalan and Nelliate Shyamalan.

1980: Inspired by Alfred Hitchcock and Steven Spielberg, he begins to make films with an old fashioned 8mm camera.

1986: Has now made over forty-five short films with his old fashioned 8mm camera.

1988: Edits his senior yearbook in his favor by including a photo of himself wearing a director's cap with the headline, "Best Director: NYU grad takes Hollywood by storm."

1989/1990: Attends Tisch School of the Arts at NYU.

1992: Directs Praying With Anger but it never goes any further than the Toronto Film Festival and never sees distribution.

1993: Graduates from NYU with a BFA in Film.

1993: Marries psychologist Bhavna.

1996: Studies martial art Kempo.

1996: Bhavna gives birth to Saleka Shyamalan.

Mar. 20, 1998: Directs his second movie, Wide Awake, but it
flops.

1999: Bhavna gives birth to second daughter.

Mar. 8, 1999: In an interview with Philadelphia Inquirer Magazine, he says, "My biggest fear in life is to be average."

Aug. 2, 1999: Directs Sixth Sense, starring Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment. It is the second most successful movie of 1999. He makes a cameo, which he will do in all future movies.

Nov. 14, 2000: Directs Unbreakable, starring Bruce Willis.

July 29, 2002: Directs and cameos in Signs, starring Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix.

July 26, 2004: Directs The Villiage, starring Joaquin Phoenix, William Hurt and Sigourney Weaver. Ron Howard's daughter, Bryce Howard, makes her debut in this film.