Terry Gilliam

Was first known for the bizarre animation sequences in Monty Python's Flying Circus ; Absurde, n'est-il pas? (1969) using cutout pictures and photographs.
Heroes in his films often dream of a woman who they have not yet met, but will meet during the course of the film. In the dream, the woman's face is obscured.
Often features people/animals bursting through walls or ceilings
Often begins and ends his films with the same shot
Heavy use of wide angle lenses

As a result of renouncing his American citizenship, he is only permitted to spend 29 days a year in the United States, considerably less than the average U.K. Citizen.
J.K. Rowling, creator of the "Harry Potter" book series, originally wanted Gilliam to direct Harry Potter à l'école des sorciers (2001), but Warner Brothers studios wanted a more family friendly film and eventually settled for Chris Columbus.
Turned down the opportunity to direct Qui veut la peau de Roger Rabbit (1988), Enemy (1985), and Forrest Gump (1994) and Alien, la résurrection (1997).
Was offered the chance to direct Troie (2004). He stopped reading the script 5 pages in and declined the offer.
He did not originally intend to cast Sean Connery as King Agamemnon in Bandits, bandits... (1981), he merely wrote in the screenplay that when Agamemnon took off his helmet that he looked "exactly like Sean Connery." To Gilliam's surprise, the script found its way into Connery's hands and Connery subsequently expressed interest in doing the film.

There's a side of me that always fell for manic things, frenzied, cartoony performances. I always liked sideshows, freakshows. Jerry Lewis was a freakshow...Absolutely grotesque, awful, tasteless. I like things to be tasteless.
People in Hollywood are not showmen, they're maintenance men, pandering to what they think their audiences want.
To be deemed to be OK, to be part of the culture, that's the kiss of death. When I'm pushing against something it helps me define what I believe. I've always been led to see what's beyond, what's round the corner. The world tries to say that this is what it is, and don't go any further, because out there are monsters. But I want to see what they are. So when I talk about the others in the group not having done more, that's because I really admire them, and I get angry when I see those with extraordinary talents not using them.
I am getting tired of these fights [with backers.] Each time you get into a fight the world closes in a bit. You start losing an innocence, a belief that everything is possible. Terry Jones thinks I'm belligerent and egotistical, and that I've got to get into a fight to keep me going. It does keep me awake. But I limit it to the fights that are worth it nowadays.
All I do is hunt. I want to be thrilled. And I'm not being thrilled at the moment. So I'm being old and bitter and curmudgeonly, because I want sensory buzz and I'm not getting it!