“I think, in a lot of ways, directing is puppeteering. I guess I see a lot of analogies between what puppeteers and filmmakers do. There's something about creating life out of things that have no life.”

James Wan is an Australian filmmaker working in Hollywood since the 1990s. He is best known for directing horror films that blend practical effects with psychological tension, including *The Conjuring* and *Aquaman*. His work often explores themes of fear and survival with a grounded, visceral approach.