Films Directors Named John
Other names include: Jon, Johnny, Jonathan, Jonny, Johnathan, and any other related name.
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American actor John Krasinski is known for his role as sardonic nice guy Jim Halpert on NBC's popular TV sitcom, The Office (2005), for which he won a 2007 and 2008 Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series.
Born John Burke Krasinski on October 20, 1979, in Newton, Massachusetts, USA, he is the youngest of three brothers. His mother, Mary Claire (Doyle), is a nurse, and his father, Ronald Krasinski, is an internist. His father is of Polish descent and his mother is of Irish ancestry.
His first stage experience was starring in a satirical high school play, written and cast by his classmate B.J. Novak. Also good at sports, he played on the same Little League baseball team as Novak, later a writer and co-star on The Office (2005). After graduating from Newton South High School in 1997, Krasinski planned to be an English major and deferred his first semester of college to teach English in Costa Rica. He attended Brown University, graduating in English in 2001 with honors, then studied at the Eugene O'Neill National Theatre Institute in Waterford, Connecticut.
During the summer of 2000, he worked as a script intern on Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993). Krasinski made his big screen debut in 2002, then played several small roles like "Ben" in Kinsey (2004), and "Bob Flynn" in Duane Hopwood (2005). He appeared as "Corporal Harrigan" in Jarhead (2005), by director Sam Mendes, then played a supporting role as "Ben" in The Holiday (2006), a romantic comedy by director Nancy Meyers. He is billed as the voice of "Lancelot" in Shrek the Third (2007). Krasinski co-starred opposite Robin Williams and Mandy Moore in the romantic comedy License to Wed (2007), as well as with George Clooney and Renée Zellweger in the football screwball comedy, Leatherheads (2008). He is also director and writer of Brief Interviews with Hideous Men (2009), a big screen adaptation of the eponymous collection of short stories by David Foster Wallace. He followed that film up with The Hollars (2016), a family drama, and A Quiet Place (2018), a well-received horror film that had one of the biggest opening weekends for the genre.
Krasinski is married to English actress Emily Blunt, with whom he has two children. He claims Los Angeles as his home but travels to New York City and his hometown of Newton, MA, frequently.Films Directed:
Brief Interviews with Hideous Men (2009)
The Hollars (2016)
A Quiet Place (2018)
A Quiet Place Part II (2020)- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
John Francis Daley began acting in the national and international tour of The Who's Tommy, playing young Tommy - and coming to national prominence in the critically acclaimed, cult classic series, Freaks and Geeks (1999). Formerly a regular on the Fox hit, Bones (2005), John can also be seen in the Lions Gate comedy, Waiting and the upcoming Rapture-Palooza (2013), opposite Anna Kendrick and Craig Robinson.
Now enjoying a successful screenwriting career, with his writing partner, Jonathan Goldstein, the two have sold several scripts in the past three years, including the summer hit, Horrible Bosses (2011).
As well as being an actor and screenwriter, John is also a musician, playing keyboard and singing lead vocals in his band, Dayplayer soon to release their first CD.Films Directed:
Vacation (2015)
Game Night (2018)
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)- Producer
- Director
- Writer
John Hamburg was born on 26 May 1970 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a producer and director, known for Little Fockers (2010), Why Him? (2016) and I Love You, Man (2009). He has been married to Christina Kirk since 24 September 2005.Films Directed:
Safe Men (1998)
Along Came Polly (2004)
I Love You, Man (2009)
Why Him? (2016)
Me Time (2022)- Director
- Writer
- Actor
John Patton Ford was born on 30 December 1981 in Sumter, South Carolina, USA. He is a director and writer, known for Emily the Criminal (2022), Huntington and Untitled John Patton Ford Netflix Film.Films Directed:
Emily the Criminal (2022)- Writer
- Producer
- Script and Continuity Department
John Logan was a playwright in Chicago for ten years before writing, on spec, his first screenplay, "Any Given Sunday." He won the 2010 Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle awards for his play RED, which premiered at the Donmar Warehouse in London and the Golden Theatre on Broadway.Films Directed:
They/Them (2022)- Writer
- Director
- Producer
John Michael McDonagh was born in 1967 in London, England, UK. He is a writer and director, known for The Guard (2011), Calvary (2014) and The Forgiven (2021). He has been married to Elizabeth Eves since 2003.Films Directed:
The Second Death (2000)
The Guard (2011)
Calvary (2014)
War on Everyone (2016)
The Forgiven (2021)- Director
- Producer
- Writer
John Madden was born on 8 April 1949 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, UK. He is a director and producer, known for Shakespeare in Love (1998), The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) and Proof (2005).Films Directed:
Ethan Frome (1992)
Golden Gate (1994)
Mrs. Brown (1997)
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (2001)
Proof (2005)
Killshot (2008)
The Debt (2010)
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012)
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015)
Miss Sloane (2016)
Operation Mincemeat (2022)- Producer
- Additional Crew
- Director
John earned an Academy Award nomination in 2003 as the producer of Gone Nutty, an animated short created at Blue Sky Studios featuring the popular Scrat character from the "Ice Age" films. Donkin came to Blue Sky Studios in 1998 as the managing technical director. One of his first projects was to help complete the Academy Award winning short film Bunny. He developed the production pipeline for Blue Sky's first animated feature film project Ice Age, before becoming the film's Associate Producer. Donkin went on to produce several other Blue Sky Studios projects including Rio and Rio2, which became a global hit franchise, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, which grossed over $887 million worldwide, Ice Age: Continental Drift, Robots, and Blue Sky's Academy Award nominated short No Time for Nuts. Donkin began his computer animation career in 1983 where he studied with the world renowned CGRG (Computer Graphics Research Group) at The Ohio State University. He went on to be a senior animator at the pioneering CG company Cranston/Csuri Productions.Films Directed:
The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild (2022)- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Jon Watts is an American filmmaker and screenwriter. He directed Cop Car and Clown before he was picked by Marvel and Sony to direct Spider-Man: Homecoming starring Tom Holland and Zendaya. It's success resulted in two sequels, Far from Home in 2019 and No Way Home in 2021. He was also picked by Marvel to direct a Fantastic Four reboot film following the failure of Josh Trank's Fant4stic, but dropped the directing role in April 2022.Films Directed:
Clown (2014)
Cop Car (2015)
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2019)
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)- Producer
- Writer
- Additional Crew
John Ridley is the author of seven published novels, the most recent, What Fire Cannot Burn from Warner Books and The Drift from Knopf. His first novel, Stray Dogs, was made into the feature film U Turn (1997) directed by Oliver Stone and starring Sean Penn, Jennifer Lopez, and Nick Nolte. Additionally, Ridley wrote the screenplays for the films Undercover Brother (2002) and Cold Around the Heart (1997) and wrote the story for Three Kings (1999).
He is a playwright as well and in 2005 produced the world premiere of his first play, Ten Thousand Years. Ridley is also a commentator for National Public Radio and a regular contributor to California Connected (2002), an award-winning, news magazine which airs throughout California on 12 Public Television stations. He was the host of Movie Club with John Ridley (2004) on AMC, a unique movie review program with a panel of critics.
Ridley also wrote, directed, and produced the popular TV show, Barbershop (2005) formerly on Showtime.Films Directed:
Cold Around the Heart (1997)
Jimi: All is By My Side (2013)
Let It Fall: Los Angeles (2017)
Needle in a Timestack (2022)- Actor
- Writer
- Director
John Pollono was born on 23 May 1972 in Syosset, New York, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Stronger (2017), Small Engine Repair (2021) and Untitled Hulk Hogan Biopic.Films Directed:
Small Engine Repair (2021)- Additional Crew
- Director
- Writer
Jonathan Butterell is known for Everybody's Talking About Jamie (2021), Stay (2005) and Finding Neverland (2004).Films Directed:
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (2021)- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Jonathan Goldstein was born on 2 September 1968 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a director and writer, known for Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Horrible Bosses (2011) and Game Night (2018). He has been married to Adena Halpern since 26 August 2007. They have one child.Films Directed:
Vacation (2015)
Game Night (2018)
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)- Producer
- Director
- Writer
John Lee is known for False Positive (2021), Wonder Showzen (2005) and The Heart, She Holler (2011). He is married to Alyson Levy.Films Directed:
Pee-wee’s Big Holiday (2016)
False Positive (2021)- Writer
- Director
- Producer
One of the most prolific screenwriters in the action/adventure genre, Jonathan started his career writing episodes of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992) for George Lucas and ABC. He wrote Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995), re-conceived from his original spec script "Simon Says". He followed that with Jumanji (1995). His script for the The Saint (1997) was completely re-written by others. After this frustration, he enjoyed a long working friendship with producer Jerry Bruckheimer with whom he collaborated on many projects since 1996. He re-wrote the whole script for The Rock (1996) without credit, which he tried desperately to achieve via WGA arbitration.
He did uncredited re-writes on Con Air (1997) and the remake of Gone in 60 Seconds (2000) and received executive producer credits on both. Armageddon (1998), from Jonathan's original idea, was the second time Jonathan had the highest grossing film, worldwide, at the box office. The other was Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995).Films Directed:
The Punisher (2004)
Welcome to the Jungle (2007)
Kill the Irishman (2011)
The Ice Road (2021)- Producer
- Writer
- Director
Jon is an alumni of the USC School of Cinema-Television. There, he won the Princess Grace Award, the Dore Schary Award presented by the Anti-Defamation league, the Jack Nicholson directing award, and recognized as an honoree for the IFP/West program Project: Involve.
After making his student short, "When the Kids Are Away", Jon was scooped up by the William Morris Agency and attached to several high profile projects.Films Directed:
Step Up 2: The Streets (2008)
Step Up 3D (2010)
G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)
Jem and the Holograms (2015)
Now You See Me 2 (2016)
Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
In the Heights (2021)- Writer
- Director
- Producer
John Lee Hancock was born on 15 December 1956 in Longview, Texas, USA. He is a writer and director, known for The Blind Side (2009), Saving Mr. Banks (2013) and The Highwaymen (2019).Films Directed:
Hard Time Romance (1991)
The Rookie (2002)
The Alamo (2004)
The Blind Side (2009)
Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
The Founder (2016)
The Highwaymen (2019)
The Little Things (2021)
Mr. Harrigan’s Phone (2022)- Writer
- Director
- Actor
John Patrick Shanley was born on 3 October 1950 in The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA. He is a writer and director, known for Moonstruck (1987), Doubt (2008) and Congo (1995).Films Directed:
Joe Versus the Volcano (1990)
Doubt (2008)
Wild Mountain Thyme (2020)- Director
- Producer
- Additional Crew
John Whitesell was born on 2 December 1953 in Iowa Falls, Iowa, USA. He is a director and producer, known for Guiding Light (1952), Holidate (2020) and Deck the Halls (2006). He has been married to Jolie Barnett since July 1999. They have two children. He was previously married to Emily Whitesell.Films Directed:
Calendar Girl (1993)
See Spot Run (2001)
Malibu’s Most Wanted (2004)
Big Momma’s House 2 (2006)
Deck the Halls (2006)
Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son (2011)
Thunderstruck (2012)
Holidate (2020)- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Since he was eighteen years old, Johnny Martin has been solely working in the film and television industry. He began his career as a stuntman, and within a relatively short period of time graduated to being a stunt coordinator and second-unit director. In those capacities, Johnny has worked on over 260 films, TV shows, and commercials, and even won the award for Best Stunt Coordinator of the Year for the film "Gone in 60 Seconds" and later receiving two nominations for an Emmy and one Screen Actors Guild award.
In 2003, Johnny launched his own production company, MARTINI FILMS. In just the first year he produced three films under his banner and two of the films received SYFY Channel's "Premiere of the Year". In 2012 Martini Films was one of the first US companies to partner with China Film Group ("CFG") for the feature film "Urban Games", which was entirely shot in China and Korea. Since, Martini Films has produced 20 films for Lionsgate, Sony, Paramount, and Saban.
In 2014 Johnny began his Directing debut on the horror film "Delirium" after winning three film festivals and receiving a theatrical, he was then hired in 2016 to direct "Vengeance: A Love Story", starring Nicholas Cage and Don Johnson and then following up with "Hangman", starring Al Pacino, Karl Urban and Brittany Snow and is now in post-production on "Alone" starring Donald Sutherland and Tyler Posey. On each of these films he has credited the late great Tony Scott for the many years of preparing him for his new venture. 2018 Johnny was invited to be a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science.Films Directed:
Alone (2020)- Director
- Cinematographer
- Writer
Jon Stevenson is known for Rent-A-Pal (2020), WWE Evil (2022) and This Giant Beast That is the Global Economy (2019).Films Directed:
Rent-a-Pal (2020)- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Fast-talking and feisty-looking John Leguizamo has continued to impress movie audiences with his versatility: he can play sensitive and naïve young men, such as Johnny in Hangin' with the Homeboys (1991); cold-blooded killers like Benny Blanco in Carlito's Way (1993); a heroic Army Green Beret, stopping aerial terrorists in Executive Decision (1996); and drag queen Chi-Chi Rodriguez in To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995). Arguably, not since ill-fated actor and comedian Freddie Prinze starred in the smash TV series Chico and the Man (1974) had a youthful Latino personality had such a powerful impact on critics and fans alike.
John Alberto Leguizamo Peláez was born July 22, 1960, in Bogotá, Colombia, to Luz Marina Peláez and Alberto Rudolfo Leguizamo. He was a child when his family emigrated to the United States. He was raised in Queens, New York, attended New York University and studied under legendary acting coach Lee Strasberg for only one day before Strasberg passed away. The extroverted Leguizamo started working the comedy club circuit in New York and first appeared in front of the cameras in an episode of Miami Vice (1984). His first film appearance was a small part in Mixed Blood (1984), and he had minor roles in Casualties of War (1989) and Die Hard 2 (1990) before playing a liquor store thief who shoots Harrison Ford in Regarding Henry (1991). His career really started to soar after his first-rate performance in the independent film Hangin' with the Homeboys (1991) as a nervous young teenager from the Bronx out for a night in brightly lit Manhattan with his buddies, facing the career choice of staying in a supermarket or heading off to college and finding out that the girl he loves from afar isn't quite what he thought she was.
The year 1991 was also memorable for other reasons, as he hit the stage with his show John Leguizamo: Mambo Mouth (1991), in which he portrayed seven different Latino characters. The witty and incisive show was a smash hit and won the Obie and Outer Circle Critics Award, and later was filmed for HBO, where it picked up a CableACE Award. He returned to the stage two years later with another satirical production poking fun at Latino stereotypes titled John Leguizamo: Spic-O-Rama (1993). It played in Chicago and New York, and won the Drama Desk Award and four CableACE Awards.
In 1995 he created and starred in the short-lived TV series House of Buggin' (1995), an all-Latino-cast comedy variety show featuring hilarious sketches and comedic routines. The show scored two Emmy nominations and received positive reviews from critics, but it was canceled after only one season. The gifted Leguizamo was still keeping busy in films, with key appearances in Super Mario Bros. (1993), Romeo + Juliet (1996) and Spawn (1997). In 1998 he made his Broadway debut in John Leguizamo: Freak (1998), a "demi-semi-quasi-pseudo-autobiographical" one-man show, which was filmed for HBO by Spike Lee.
Utilizing his distinctive vocal talents, he next voiced a pesky rat in Doctor Dolittle (1998) before appearing in the dynamic Spike Lee-directed Summer of Sam (1999) as a guilt-ridden womanizer, as the Genie of The Lamp in the exciting Arabian Nights (2000) and as Henri DE Toulouse Lautrec in the visually spectacular Moulin Rouge! (2001). He also voiced Sid in the animated Ice Age (2002), co-starred alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in Collateral Damage (2002) and directed and starred in the boxing film Undefeated (2003). Subsequently, Leguizamo starred in the remake of the John Carpenter hit Assault on Precinct 13 (2005) and George A. Romero's long-awaited fourth "Dead" film, Land of the Dead (2005).
There can be no doubt that the remarkably talented Leguizamo has been a breakthrough performer for the Latino community in mainstream Hollywood, in much the same way that Sidney Poitier crashed through celluloid barriers for African-Americans in the early 1960s. Among his many strengths lies his ability to not take his ethnic background too seriously but also to take pride in his Latino heritage. He has opened many doors for his countrymen. A masterly and accomplished performer, movie audiences await Leguizamo's next exciting performance.Films Directed:
Critical Thinking (2020)- Writer
- Director
- Producer
A native of Washington D.C., John Pogue became interested in movies when he was in high school. While attending Yale University, he helped create a student production company, and by his senior year he decided to concentrate his talents on screenwriting.
After moving to Los Angeles in 1987, Pogue spent the next couple of years holding down a variety of jobs while he honed his screenwriting skills. In 1994, Pogue had sold his first spec script "Man with the Football" to Morgan Creek Productions, months later another spec script "The Damocles Network" was sold, further establishing his reputation for unique, character-driven material.
Based on the strength of his work, Pogue was invited to write a sequel to the 1993 blockbuster "The Fugitive", the resulting film was 1998's "U.S. Marshals", starring Tommy Lee Jones, Wesley Snipes, and Robert Downey Jr., he followed up with the 2000 film "The Skulls", starring Joshua Jackson, Paul Walker, and Leslie Bibb. 2002 saw two more films scripted by Pogue, "Rollerball" directed by John McTiernan, and "Ghost Ship", directed by Steve Beck.
Pogue has also worked as a script doctor, doing rewrites on the 1996 film "Eraser", 1997's "Shadow Conspiracy", and 2001's "The Fast and the Furious" (in which he was also an executive producer).
In 2011, Pogue made his directorial debut on Quarantine 2: Terminal", he would go on to direct other films such as "The Quiet Ones", "Blood Brother", Deep Blue Sea 3, and "Eraser: Reborn".Films Directed:
The Quiet Ones (2014)
Blood Brother (2017)
Deep Blue Sea 3 (2020)
Eraser: Reborn (2022)- Producer
- Writer
- Actor
Jon Stewart was born Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz in New York City, New York, to Marian (Laskin), a teacher, and Donald Leibowitz, a physics professor. His family is Ashkenazi Jewish (from Austria, Ukraine, Poland, and Belarus). Stewart moved to Lawrenceville, New Jersey during his childhood. He graduated from the College Of William And Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1984. He made his breakthrough on The Larry Sanders Show (1992), where he had a role playing himself, the oft-timed "Guest Host" of "The Larry Sanders Show". He became as much a part of the show's fabric as some of the regular performers.
In the 2000s, Stewart emerged as a bonafide television personality with his ascension to host of The Daily Show (1996)/Comedy Central, taking over for Craig Kilborn in 1999. Audiences have embraced his sarcastic, sardonic and incisive sense of humor, covering politics and other news stories.
Stewart and his wife, Tracey, have two children.Films Directed:
Irresistible (2020)- Camera and Electrical Department
- Cinematographer
- Director
John Barr was born in New London, Connecticut, USA. John is a cinematographer and director, known for Blood and Money (2020), Frost/Nixon (2008) and Greenberg (2010).Films Directed:
Blood and Money (2020)- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Jonathan Jakubowicz, winner of the German Film Peace Prize 2020 for his film "Resistance", is Venezuela's most celebrated filmmaker and writer. His film Secuestro Express was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the British Independent Film Awards and was a New York Times "Critics' Pick" in 2005. Jakubowicz has helped new talents break into international stardom. Among those who credit him for giving them their first high profile role are Ana de Armas, Edgar Ramirez, Jurnee Smollet, Matthias Schweighoefer and Bella Ramsey. Jakubowicz is Jewish of Polish descent.
Secuestro Express became the nation's biggest box office hit of all time, which enraged then-Pres. Hugo Chavez, whose government opened two trials against Jakubowicz, who was forced to leave Venezuela.
His latest film, Resistance, stars Academy Award-nominated actors Jesse Eisenberg, Ed Harris, Clémence Poésy and Édgar Ramírez. The film tells the story of how a group of Boys and Girls Scouts created a network that ended up saving ten thousand orphans during World War II. One of them went on to become the greatest mime of all time, Marcel Marceau. Warner Bros Germany produced the film together with Epicentral Studios, which is owned by Jakubowicz and his wife and producing partner Claudine Jakubowicz. It was released in the United States on March 27, 2020, by IFC Films during the Coronavirus epidemic, and it became the number one theatrical movie in America for two weeks in a row. Most multiplexes were closed, and only a few independent and Drive-in theaters remained opened, which gave Resistance the most unusual top box office spot of all time. The Film went on to win the German Film Peace Prize 2020, it Premiered at in the official selection of the Shanghai Film Festival, The Festival du Cinema Americain in Deauville, and The Munich Film Festival, among others.
Jakubowicz second film, Hands of Stone (2016), is about the relationship between Panamanian boxer Roberto Durán (played by Édgar Ramírez) and his trainer Ray Arcel (played by Robert De Niro). Hands of Stone premiered in the Cannes Film Festival 2016 and was warmly received with a 15 minutes standing ovation. It's the first Latin movie to have a simultaneous wide release in all of Latin America.
Hands of Stone also landed Jakubowicz in political controversy when it was invited and then pulled from the official selection of the Havana Film Festival after Jakubowicz made comments denouncing censorship for Cuban filmmakers in the Island.
In November 2016 Jakubowicz published his first novel Las Aventuras de Juan Planchard and it immediately became a best seller in the Spanish Language market. In February 2017, it became the number one Amazon bestseller for all foreign language fiction. In Venezuela the book sparked unprecedented success, not only in the record breaking sales but also in the amount of public gatherings to read it. One community of fifty thousand people that define themselves as "resistance to the Maduro dictatorship (Resistencia Venezuela hasta los tuétanos)", read the book aloud every night on the encrypted frequency of the app Zello. The book is on it's way to become the biggest bestseller of all time for a Venezuelan author. And it is being adapted to the stage by legendary playwright Moisés Kaufman, whom US Pres. Barack Obama awarded the Medal for the Arts in 2016.Films Directee:
Secuestro Express (2005)
Hands of Stone (2016)
Resistance (2020)- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Jon Avnet has directed, written, and produced more than 80 motion pictures, television movies, series and Broadway plays. He directed the Oscar-nominated performance of Jessica Tandy and the three Emmy-winning performances of Margo Martindale, Colleen Dewhurst and Judy Davis. He received an honorary Doctorate in Communications from the American Film Institute in 2013 and the Creative Spirit Award from the University of Pennsylvania in 2016. Among the other awards Avnet has received are the ACLU's "Bill of Rights Award," The New York Board of Review's "Freedom of Expression Award," and the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Feature Film. Avnet is currently directing and producing with Jennifer Garner a documentary about American Ballet Theater's principal ballerina, Isabella Boylston. His next film is based on a script by Washington Post journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner Eli Saslow. In 2022 he directed Justified City Primeval, continuing his collaboration with Graham Yost. Based on Elmore Leonard's writing, it will air in the summer of 2023 on FX for Hulu. He also is Chair of the Directors Guild Negotiating Committee. The DGA's contract expires June 30, 2023. He is best known for co-writing, directing and producing Fried Green Tomatoes, which garnered multiple Academy Award nominations (for writing and for Jessica Tandy, who co-starred with Kathy Bates, Cicely Tyson, Mary Stuart Masterson and Mary Louise Parker) and BAFTAs. Fried Green Tomatoes was nominated for Best Picture by the Golden Globes and was one of the top grossing films in the year of its release. He produced Paul Brickman's Risky Business for David Geffen and Warner Brothers, which launched the career of Tom Cruise and was a major box office success. He also produced Paul Brickman's Men Don't Leave, again for David Geffen and Warner Bros, starring Jessica Lange, Arliss Howard, Kathy Bates and Chris O'Donnell. Avnet was an executive producer of Black Swan, starring Natalie Portman (winner of the Oscar for Best Actress) and directed by Darren Aronofsky. Black Swan received five Oscar nominations in total (including Best Picture) as well as multiple nominations and wins from the PGA, WGA, SAG, BAFTA, AFI, and the Golden Globes. In television, Avnet produced The Burning Bed, starring Farrah Fawcett, which garnered eight Emmy nominations and is still today the highest-rated television movie ever aired on NBC. It told the true story of Francine Hughes, who was in a highly abusive relationship that ended when she burned her husband to death. She was exonerated in court. It received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Picture. This film is credited with creating the "battered woman syndrome" as a legal defense for victims of domestic violence. Avnet most recently directed and co-wrote the film Three Christs, starring Richard Gere, Peter Dinklage, Walton Goggins, Bradley Whitford, Julianna Margulies, Charlotte Hope and Jane Alexander. The script is based on the controversial 1959 study chronicled in Dr. Milton Rokeach's "The Three Christs of Ypsilanti." Three paranoid schizophrenic patients who each claimed to be Jesus Christ were put in a ward together to see if their delusions could be altered. The film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and was released theatrically in January 2020 by IFC Films. In the summer of 2019, Avnet directed and executive-produced two episodes of the Manhunt: Deadly Games limited series about the 1996 Olympic Park Bomber. Avnet directed ten episodes of FX Network's Justified, starring Timothy Olyphant and Walton Goggins. Justified received a Peabody award and Margo Martindale won an Emmy for her performance. He reunited with frequent collaborator Graham Yost, directing an episode of Sneaky Pete Season 2 for Amazon, starring Giovanni Ribisi, Margo Martindale and Marin Ireland. In 2018, he became an executive producer of Sneaky Pete Season 3 and directed 4 additional episodes. He first collaborated with Graham Yost as Executive Producer of the critically acclaimed series Boomtown for NBC and Steven Spielberg's Amblin Television. Avnet directed the pilot and eight additional episodes. Boomtown won the Television Critics Association Award for Best Series and a Peabody Award. Avnet is CEO of Indigenous Media (IM), which he founded with Rodrigo Garcia and his son Jacob Avnet, who is the Chief Operating Officer. Indigenous Media produces 60 Second Docs, which has received over 9.4 billion views and has more than 12.3 million followers. 60 Second Docs has won all of the major digital awards. Avnet produced Rodrigo Garcia's film Four Good Days, starring Glenn Close and Mila Kunis, for Indigenous Media. Written by Garcia and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Eli Saslow, the film depicts the codependent relationship of a mother and daughter as they both battle opioid addiction. Four Good Days premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was released theatrically in April 2021 by Vertical. Avnet directed the music video for the film based on Diane Warren's song, "Somehow You Do," as sung by Reba McEntire. The song has been nominated for an Oscar in 2022. This was a reunion with Diane Warren, who wrote the Grammy winning song "Because You Loved Me," for Avnet's Up Close and Personal. Celine Dion recorded the Oscar nominated song which reached number one globally. Avnet was the credited Executive Producer of the song. IM has also produced, in association with Kerry Washington and Pilar Savone, two seasons of the series Five Points for Facebook Watch and other successful digital productions. Next up for IM is Lonely Doll, starring Jessica Lange and Naomi Watts, and directed by Gia Coppola. Merritt Johnson adapted Jean Nathan's book. Avnet will produce with Bruce Cohen and Jason Weinberg. In 2001, Avnet directed, co-wrote with Paul Brickman, and produced the critically praised Uprising, starring Leelee Sobieski, Hank Azaria, David Schwimmer, Stephen Moyer, Jon Voight, and Donald Sutherland. This film was meticulously researched by Brickman and Avnet over a five-year period to tell the true story of the armed resistance during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1943. Avnet was nominated for a DGA Award for best directing and the film was released theatrically globally by Warner Bros.
Avnet directed Robert De Niro and Al Pacino in Righteous Kill, released in September 2008. He also directed and produced Red Corner starring Richard Gere, and Up Close and Personal starring Robert Redford and Michelle Pfeiffer with a script by Joan Didion and John Dunne. His first directing outing (which he also co-wrote and produced) was the highly acclaimed TV movie Between Two Women, starring Colleen Dewhurst and Farrah Fawcett, which earned Dewhurst an Emmy for her performance.
He directed and executive-produced The Starter Wife, a six-hour limited series for the USA Network starring Debra Messing, Joe Mantegna, Stephen Moyer and Judy Davis (who won the Best Supporting Actress Emmy for her performance). Based on the novel by Gigi Levangie Grazer, it aired in May 2007 as the highest-rated limited cable series that year and received ten Emmy nominations as well as DGA and PGA nominations for Avnet.
Rodrigo Garcia's debut film Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her was produced by Avnet. It starred Glenn Close, Holly Hunter, Cameron Diaz, Calista Flockhart and Gregory Hines, premiered at Sundance and won "Un Certain Regard," at the Cannes film Festival. Avnet produced Kerry Conran's Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow for Paramount starring Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Angelina Jolie. Avnet produced (along with Jordan Kerner) Less Than Zero, When a Man Loves a Woman, Miami Rhapsody, The Mighty Ducks films (and in 2021, the new series of The Mighty Ducks on Disney+) and George of the Jungle, to name a few. For television, Avnet produced Alex Haley's Mama Flora's Family, starring Cicely Tyson, Queen Latifah and Blair Underwood. Ms. Tyson won the NAACP Image Award for best Actress and Mr. Underwood won the Best Actor Award. The film was nominated for Best Picture as well. He produced Heatwave, again starring Cicely Tyson, James Earl Jones and Blair Underwood. Ms. Tyson and Mr. Jones both won Cable ACE best acting awards for their work on this film about the Watts Riots, based on articles written by the LA Times' first black journalist Bob Richardson. Mr. Jones won the Emmy as well. Mr. Avnet had the honor and pleasure of bestowing an Honorary Doctoral Degree for Ms. Tyson from the American Film Institute. On Broadway, his plays have received 35 Tony nominations and 12 Tony awards. He produced, all with Bill Haber, two Tony Award-winning shows, "Spamalot" and "The History Boys." He also produced "The Pillowman," "Inherit the Wind," starring Christopher Plummer and Bryan Dennehey, "The Seafarer" by Connor McPherson, and the Mike Nichols-directed "Country Girl," starring Morgan Freeman and Frances McDormand.
Avnet attended the University of Pennsylvania, received a BA from Sarah Lawrence College, and was awarded a fellowship in directing to the American Film Institute. Today, Avnet is Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors at the American Film Institute, where he has been a guiding force for over 30 years (and Chairman for eight years). In addition, he was co-chair of the Directors Guild of America 2020 Negotiations committee, serves on the Board of Directors, the Western Directors Council, and the Pension and Health Plan Committee of the DGA. Mr. Avnet has been chosen to chair the DGA Negotiations Committee once more for 2023.
Avnet has served on the Board of Advisors for the School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania for 17 years. He has participated as a mentor at the Director's Lab at Sundance and its sister program Emergence in France. He lectures on film and Holocaust studies at numerous universities worldwide and has supported a diverse range of charitable organizations targeting scholarships for women and BIPOC students. His career has taken him literally all over the world. Some highlights include working with Nelson Mandela when he was in Pollsmoor prison and later when he was released. Avnet interviewed Mr. Mandela for a week at his home in Soweto about the history of Apartheid and his views on race. Avnet also had the privilege to interview many of the key figures of the ANC such as Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo, Thabo Mbeki, Cyril Ramaphosa, to name a few. Harry Belafonte collaborated with Avnet on this project as well as Taylor Branch's "Parting the Waters." In the process, Avnet interviewed virtually all of the living participants in the Civil Rights Movement and had the honor of marching over the Edmund Portis Bridge with Rep. John Lewis and Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth. During the research for the film Uprising, Avnet had the humbling experience of interviewing more than 200 survivors of the Holocaust in Poland, Germany, Israel and the United States including Vladka Mead, Marek Edelman (then the last living leader of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising) and Simcha Rotem (Kazik.) Mr. Avnet had the honor of studying these historical events with Dr. Michael Berenbaum, then the leader of the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., Israel Gutman of Yad Vashem, Simcha Stein of the Ghetto Fighters House and Marek Webb of Yivo. As a result of his five years or research, Avnet has lectured on resistance during the Holocaust at Universities around the world. He has been married to artist Barbara Brody Avnet for forty-five years. They have two daughters Alexandra and Lily, both of whom earned Master's degrees in social work, and a son Jacob, who also earned a Master's degree from USC. They also have five precious grandchildren, Isabella, Henry, Sage, Ruby and Ezra.Films Directed:
Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
The War (1994)
Up Close & Personal (1996)
Red Corner (1997)
88 Minutes (2007)
Righteous Kill (2008)
Three Christs (2017)- Writer
- Producer
- Director
Films Directed:
21 & Over (2013)
Bad Moms (2016)
Bad Moms Christmas (2017)
Jexi (2019)- Director
- Producer
John Crowley was born on 19 August 1969 in Cork, Ireland. He is a director and producer, known for Brooklyn (2015), Boy A (2007) and Intermission (2003). He is married to Fiona Weir. They have one child.Films Directed:
Intermission (2003)
Boy A (2007)
Is Anybody There? (2009)
Closed Circuit (2013)
Brooklyn (2015)
The Goldfinch (2019)- Producer
- Actor
- Writer
Initially an indie film favorite, actor Jon Favreau has progressed to strong mainstream visibility into the millennium and, after nearly two decades in the business, is still enjoying character stardom as well as earning notice as a writer/producer/director.
The amiable, husky-framed actor with the tight, crinkly hair was born in Queens, New York on October 19, 1966, the only child of Madeleine (Balkoff), an elementary school teacher, and Charles Favreau, a special education teacher. His father has French-Canadian, German, and Italian ancestry, and his mother was from a Russian Jewish family. He attended the Bronx High School of Science before furthering his studies at Queens College in 1984. Dropping out just credits away from receiving his degree, Jon moved to Chicago where he focused on comedy and performed at several Chicago improvisational theaters, including the ImprovOlympic and the Improv Institute. He also found a couple of bit parts in films.
While there, he earned another bit role in the film, Rudy (1993), and met fellow cast mate Vince Vaughn. Their enduring personal friendship would play an instrumental role in furthering both their professional careers within just a few years. Jon broke into TV with a role on the classic series, Seinfeld (1989) (as "Eric the Clown"). After filming rudimentary roles in the movies Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994), Notes from Underground (1995) and Batman Forever (1995), he decided to do some risk taking by writing himself and friend Vaughn into what would become their breakthrough film. Swingers (1996), which he also co-produced, centers on Jon as a luckless, struggling actor type who is emotionally shattered after losing his girlfriend, but is pushed back into the L.A. social scene via the help of cool, worldly, outgoing actor/buddy Vaughn. These two blueprint roles went on to define the character types of both actors on film.
In 1997, Jon appeared favorably on several episodes of the popular TV sitcom, Friends (1994), as "Pete Becker", the humdrum but extremely wealthy suitor for Courteney Cox's "Monica" character, and also appeared to fine advantage on the Tracey Takes On... (1996) comedy series. He later took on the biopic mini-movie, Rocky Marciano (1999), portraying the prizefighter himself in a highly challenging dramatic role and received excellent reviews. Other engagingly offbeat "everyman" films roles came Jon's way -- the ex-athlete in the working class film, Dogtown (1997); a soon-to-be groom whose bachelor party goes horribly awry in the comedy thriller Very Bad Things (1998); a newlywed opposite Famke Janssen in Love & Sex (2000); a wild and crazy linebacker in The Replacements (2000); as Ben Affleck's legal partner in Daredevil (2003); and another down-and-out actor in The Big Empty (2003). He wrote and directed himself and Vaughn as two fellow boxers who involve themselves in criminal activity in Made (2001). Both he and Vaughn produced. He also directed the highly popular Will Ferrell comedy Elf (2003), in which he had a small part.
Jon went on to re-team favorably with his friend, Vince Vaughn, who enjoyed a meteoric rise into the comedy star ranks, in such light-weight features as The Break-Up (2006), Four Christmases (2008) and Couples Retreat (2009), the last of which he co-wrote with Vaughn.
Jon has made even greater strides as a writer, producer and/or director in recent years with the exciting mega-box office action-packed Iron Man (2008), starring Robert Downey Jr., and its sequels, Iron Man 2 (2010) and Iron Man 3 (2013). Jon's character of "Happy Hogan" would be featured in a number of Marvel Comic adventures. Other offerings behind the scenes have included the adventure dramedy Chef (2014), in which he also starred in the title role; the revamped film version of The Avengers (2012) also starring Downey Jr., and it's sequels Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019); and the animated Disney features The Jungle Book (2016) and The Lion King (2019) and the TV series The Chef Show (2019).
Favreau's marriage to Joya Tillem on November 24, 2000, produced son Max and two daughters, Madeleine and Brighton Rose. Joya is the niece of KGO (AM) lawyer and talk show host, Len Tillem. On the sly, the actor/writer/producer/director enjoys playing on the World Poker Tour.Films Directed:
Made (2001)
Elf (2003)
Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005)
Iron Man (2008)
Iron Man 2 (2010)
Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
Chef (2014)
The Jungle Book (2016)
The Lion King (2019)- Writer
- Director
- Actor
John Herzfeld won the Directors Guild of America Award and Emmy nomination for his HBO film, "Don King: Only in America," starring Ving Rhames. The film was nominated for two Golden Globes, won the Critics Choice Award, the Writers Guild of America Award and the coveted Peabody Award, the industry's most prestigious honor.
After appearing as the subway mugger in "Death Wish" and appearing in "Serpico," John Herzfeld guest starred in many television shows including Kojak, Baretta, and playing Starsky's brother in Starsky & Hutch.
Moving behind the camera Herzfeld wrote, produced and directed several distinguished and highly-rated television films, including; The Ryan White Story with George C. Scott and Sarah Jessica Parker, Daddy with Dermot Mulroney and Patricia Arquette, The Preppie Murder with Danny Aiello and Sandra Bullock, A Fathers Revenge with Brian Dennehy and Stoned for which he won a directing Emmy and was nominated for writing.
John Herzfeld, wrote and directed the stylishly searing "15 Minutes," starring Robert De Niro, Ed Burns, Kelsey Grammer and Vera Farmiga. Herzfeld wrote and directed, "2 Days in the Valley," which introduced Charlize Theron to the world.
John Herzfeld co-wrote and directed, "Escape Plan The Extractors," starring Sylvester Stallone and Dave Bautista.
In 2021 John Herzfeld's documentary, "KEEP PUNCHING The Making of Rocky vs Drago," portrays a candid, in-depth look at Sly reflecting on his life as he re-cuts his iconic film, "ROCKY IV."Films Directed:
Two of a Kind (1983)
2 Days in the Valley (1996)
15 Minutes (2001)
The Life and Death of Bobby Z (2007)
Reach Me (2014)
Escape Plan: The Extractor (2019)- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Jonathan Levine was born on 18 June 1976. He is a producer and director, known for 50/50 (2011), The Wackness (2008) and Warm Bodies (2013).Films Directed:
All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (2006)
The Wackness (2008)
50/50 (2011)
Warm Bodies (2013)
The Night Before (2015)
Snatched (2017)
Long Shot (2019)- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Director
John R. Leonetti was born on 4 July 1956 in California, USA. He is a cinematographer and director, known for Annabelle (2014), The Conjuring (2013) and Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013).Films Directed:
Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997)
The Butterfly Effect 2 (2006)
Annabelle (2014)
Wolves at the Door (2016)
Wish Upon (2017)
The Silence (2019)
Lullaby (2021)- Director
- Writer
- Editor
John McPhail studied Cinematography at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. During his time there he met and formed a close working relationship with Tyler Collins and Andrew Lanni.
In 2013 he formed his own production company Worrying Drake Productions and reunited with Collins and Lanni to produce a trilogy of short comedy films. Notes (2013), V for Visa (2013) and Doug and Steve Big Hold Adventure were released throughout 2013 and were warmly received by critics both in the United Kingdom and abroad.
Whilst filming the comedy trilogy, McPhail wrote a short 3 minute film called Just Say Hi (2013) to enter into the 2013 edition of the Virgin Media Shorts Competition. The film, starring Collins with Lanni in the role of producer, tells the story of a blossoming romance between a boy and a girl who meet every morning at a bus stop. The film made it through to the top 13 out of a short list of 250 films. The film proved to be a hit with the judges and with the audience at home winning 2 out of the 3 awards available at the festival making McPhail the only director in the competitions history to win multiple awards.
With the success of his short films on the domestic and international festival circuit, McPhail launched a crowd-funding campaign to help fund his first feature film Where Do We Go from Here? (2015). The campaign was a success, raising £10,630 in just two months. Production began in the summer of 2014 with McPhail directing the film in just 16 days in various location across Scotland.
After editing the film himself, McPhail began entering the film into festivals across the globe. In late October 2015, the film was screened at the Sydney Indie Film Festival where it won three of the seven awards it was nominated for. The film is due to have its UK premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival in February 2016.Films Directed:
Notes (2013)
V for Visa (2013)
Just Say Hi (2013)
Take It Back and Start All Over (2014)
Where Do We Go From Here? (2015)
Aviatrix (2015)
Anna and the Apocalypse (2017)
Dear David (2022)- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Jonathan Baker has always been enthralled by smart storytelling and larger-than-life figures, taking inspiration from greats like Ernest Hemingway to guide his own sensibilities as a writer, producer, director and adventurer. Studying film in his native New York City and at USC in his undergraduate years, Jonathan Baker began his entertainment industry career as a writer, director and producer of projects such as Through Scavullo's Eyes, a Warner Bros. documentary on controversial fashion photographer Francesco Scavullo; Dorf on Golf, a sports spoof with Tim Conway; and Dirty Tennis, a comedy starring Dick Van Patten, Nicolette Sheridan and Bruce Jenner that aired on HBO and Cinemax, winning the VSDA and the New York Film Festival Award for Best Comedy Video of the Year. More recently he founded Baker Entertainment Group, a multimedia development and production company based in Hollywood.
Baker is also a successful entrepreneur who grew a start-up venture, SkinSpa, into the leading full-service day spa in the U.S. before selling that brand
in 2011. While focusing on Baker Entertainment Group and his evolving work as a film director, he remains active in the personal care field and has currently developed a new signature brand, Jonathan Baker EST 1962, which introduces its first line of many pure aromatherapy products. Jonathan's men casual clothing line is due out next.Films Directed:
Inconceivable (2017)
Kin (2018)- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Jon Turteltaub was born on 8 August 1963 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a producer and director, known for Cool Runnings (1993), While You Were Sleeping (1995) and Phenomenon (1996). He has been married to Amy Eldon since 6 July 2006. They have three children.Films Directed:
Think Big (1990)
Driving Me Crazy (1991)
3 Ninjas (1992)
Cool Runnings (1993)
While You Were Sleeping (1995)
Phenomenon (1996)
Instinct (1999)
Disney’s The Kid (2000)
National Treasure (2004)
National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007)
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010)
Last Vegas (2013)
The Meg (2018)- Actor
- Director
- Writer
John Cameron Mitchell was born on 21 April 1963 in El Paso, Texas, USA. He is an actor and director, known for Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001), Shortbus (2006) and How to Talk to Girls at Parties (2017).Films Directed:
Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)
Shortbus (2006)
Rabbit Hole (2010)
How to Talk to Girls at Parties (2017)- Director
- Writer
- Producer
John Curran was born on 11 September 1960 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a director and writer, known for Chappaquiddick (2017).Films Directed:
Praise (1998)
We Don’t Live Here Anymore (2004)
The Painted Veil (2006)
Stone (2010)
Tracks (2013)
Chappaquiddick (2017)- Art Department
- Animation Department
- Director
John Stevenson is known for Kung Fu Panda (2008), Middle Watch (2022) and Monsters vs. Aliens (2009).Films Directed:
Kung Fu Panda (2008)
Sherlock Gnomes (2018)- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Jon & Andrew Erwin are a directing team that focus on developing and producing unique stories of redemption, faith, and triumph of the human spirit. The duo began their career as teenagers in their hometown of Birmingham, AL, working as camera operators for ESPN. Local games at the university of Alabama soon became a full time career as sports cameramen. The brothers eventually worked on everything from college football, the NBA, NFL, and the X Games. In 2002, the team began their own video production company and began to venture into commercials, documentaries and music videos. They found their greatest success in the world of music, directing videos and producing concerts and television programs for platinum artists like Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Casting Crowns, Switchfoot, Skillet, Montgomery Gentry, and many others. Jon and Andrew won Music Video Of The Year at the GMA Dove Awards three years consecutively, as well as receiving a total of eleven nominations. They also have produced and directed several feature length documentaries including the multi-award winning 9/11 story, The Cross and the Towers, as well as the International dramatic short film series, God Provides. In 2010 the brothers shifted their focus full time to feature films. Their debut feature, October Baby, a coming of age drama, was released by Samuel Goldwyn and Provident Films and debuted theatrically in the top ten. They are currently working on their new feature comedy, Moms' Night Out, set for release in 2014.Films Directed:
I Can Only Imagine (2018)- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris have built an impressive body of work by perpetually seeking innovative projects in a variety of mediums.
After introducing bands such as R.E.M. and Red Hot Chili Peppers on their ground-breaking MTV show The Cutting Edge (1992), Jonathan and Valerie continued to work in music television directing music videos and documentaries for bands such as The Smashing Pumpkins, Jane's Addiction, Macy Gray, Janet Jackson, Oasis, Weezer and The Ramones. Their music productions have earned them two Grammy Awards, nine MTV Music Video Awards and a Billboard Music "Director of the Year" Award.
In 1998, Jonathan and Valerie co-founded "Bob Industries", one of the country's leading commercial production companies. Directing commercials for VW, Sony Playstation, Gap, Target, Ikea, Apple, ESPN, amongst others, Dayton and Faris continue to push the medium into new vistas. In 2002, Creativity Magazine labeled them as one of their top ten best commercial directors.
Aside from their work in music videos and commercials, Jonathan and Valerie have done extensive work in television and film, including directing episodes of Mr. Show with Bob and David (1995) for HBO and producing two feature films, The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988) for New Line Cinema, and Gift (1993) for Warner Bros. Music.Films Directed:
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Ruby Sparks (2012)
Battle of the Sexes (2017)
Living with Yourself (2019)- Actor
- Director
- Writer
John Stockwell is an American actor, director, producer and writer who is probably best known - as an actor - for his roles in the Tom Cruise vehicles Losin' It (1982) and Top Gun (1986), and the Stephen King - John Carpenter film Christine (1983).
John has since moved from acting into the director's chair. His directing credits include Blue Crush (2002), Into the Blue (2005), and Turistas (2006).
John was a close friend of Andy Warhol and is mentioned frequently in the latter's 'Warhol Diaries'.Films Directed:
Under Cover (1987)
Crazy/Beautiful (2001)
Blue Crush (2002)
Into the Blue (2005)
Turistas (2006)
Middle of Nowhere (2008)
Heart (2009)
Cat Run (2011)
Killer in the Family (2012)
Dark Tide (2012)
Seal Team 6: The Raid on Osama Bin Laden (2012)
Breaking the Girls (2012)
In the Blood (2014)
Kid Cannabis (2014)
Cat Run 2 (2016)
Kickboxer: Vengeance (2016)
Countdown (2016)
Armed Response (2017)- Producer
- Writer
- Director
Jon Gunn was born on 30 June 1973 in the USA. He is a producer and writer, known for The Week (2015), Like Dandelion Dust (2009) and My Date with Drew (2004).Films Directed:
Mercy Street (2000)
My Date with Drew (2004)
Like Dandelion Dust (2009)
Do You Believe? (2015)
The Week (2015)
The Case of Christ (2017)
The Unbreakable Boy (2022)
Ordinary Angels (2023)- Producer
- Director
- Camera and Electrical Department
Jon Cassar was born on 27 April 1958 in Malta. He is a producer and director, known for 24 (2001), Forsaken (2015) and When the Bough Breaks (2016).Films Directed:
When the Bough Breaks (2016)- Producer
- Writer
- Director
Jon Binkowski - Well known for his energetic, creative style... he is also a perfectionist, building high quality, award winning productions that engage and excite the viewer. A recognized leader in the attractions and entertainment industry, Jon has produced and/or directed over 200 live, multimedia and film and television projects. As an independent filmmaker, Jon has written and directed 6 full length feature films.Films Directed:
Characterz (2016)- Producer
- Editor
- Director
John Suits has been a Director/Producer on multiple broadcast commercials and branded content films for clients including the NBA and WNBA, Microsoft, Pepsi, Buffalo Wild Wings, State Farm, Dove, Goodyear, Ruffles, The UPS Store, and AT&T. In 2019, Suits launched his production company, Natural Selection. He recently directed the DieHard Is Back commercial with Bruce Willis for Advance Auto Parts.
In the film world, Suits recently completed his latest directorial effort, BREACH (starring Bruce Willis and Thomas Jane). He also directed the 2019 theatrical release 3022 (starring Omar Epps, Kate Walsh, Angus Macfadyen, and Miranda Cosgrove). 3022 just spent multiple weeks in the top ten most watched movies on Netflix.
He has an additional 20 film credits as a director and producer, including his PANDEMIC (starring Rachel Nichols, Alfie Allen, and Mekhi Phifer). He is producing the upcoming film CHUCK HANK AND THE SAN DIEGO TWINS (Coatwolf's follow up to the Sundance hit, BELLFLOWER). Suits also produced buzzing indie flicks such as CHEAP THRILLS (winner of SXSW's 2013 Audience Award), LOITERING WITH INTENT (Sam Rockwell and Marisa Tomei), JUST BEFORE I GO (the directorial debut of Courteney Cox), the graphic-novel adaptation THE SCRIBBLER (which he directed as well as produced), BAD MILO! (produced with the Duplass brothers), 400 DAYS (with Brandon Routh, Dane Cook, Ben Feldman, and Caity Lotz), STATIC (shot in 3D), the SXSW hit EXTRACTED, 3 NIGHTS IN THE DESERT (with Wes Bentley and Amber Tamblyn), and many more.Films Directed:
The Scribbler (2014)
Pandemic (2016)- Director
- Producer
- Writer
John Hillcoat was born on 14 August 1961 in Queensland, Australia. He is a director and producer, known for The Proposition (2005), The Road (2009) and Lawless (2012).Films Directed:
Ghosts…of the Civil Dead (1988)
To Have & To Hold (1996)
The Proposition (2005)
The Road (2009)
Lawless (2012)
Triple 9 (2016)- Producer
- Writer
- Director
John Wells is one of the most prolific writers, directors and producers for television, film and the stage. Over the past two decades, Wells has been a creative force behind some of primetime's biggest hit series, including ER, The West Wing, Third Watch and China Beach. He is currently Executive Producer of the hit NBC crime drama Southland.
Shows produced by John Wells have received an astounding 267 Emmy nominations with 55 Emmy wins, not to mention 5 Peabody Awards, and numerous People's Choice Awards, Producers Guild Awards, a HUMANITAS Prize (nominated 7 times), as well as numerous distinctions from health care organizations across the country for ER. During its fifteen year run, ER earned 122 Emmy nominations, the most in television history.
A seven-time Writers Guild Award nominee, in 2007, Wells received the WGA's prestigious Paddy Chayefsky Television Laurel Award, given to writers who have advanced the literature of television and made outstanding contributions to the profession of television writers. In 2005, Wells was awarded the David Susskind Achievement Award in Television from the Producers Guild of America.
Wells and his team at John Wells Productions have a number of high-profile films in various stages of production and development.
Wells recently wrote and directed The Company Men, a drama set against the backdrop of affluent Boston suburbs that vividly portrays the struggles of families coping with the current ongoing economic meltdown. The film marks Wells' feature film directorial debut with an extraordinary ensemble cast including Academy Award® winners Ben Affleck, Kevin Costner, Tommy Lee Jones and Chris Cooper, as well as Emmy® winner Craig T. Nelson and Golden Globe nominee Maria Bello.
As a producer, Wells' most recent motion-picture credits include: Carroll Ballard's critically-acclaimed drama Duma, a children's film starring Hope Davis and Campbell Scott; Peter Kosminsky's adaptation of Janet Fitch's critically acclaimed novel White Oleander, starring Alison Lohman, Robin Wright Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer and Renée Zellweger; and Neil Jordan's The Good Thief, starring Nick Nolte. Wells also served as a producer on Andrzej Bartkowiak's Doom, based upon the popular video game and starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
In an arrangement unique to the business, John Wells Productions also funds Killer Films, the independent operation of Christine Vachon, Pam Koffler and Katie Roumel. For Killer Films, Wells executive produced Todd Haynes' innovative Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There, Tom Kalin's Savage Grace, Douglas McGrath's Infamous, Mary Harron's The Notorious Bettie Page and Phyllis Nagy's Mrs. Harris for HBO, which garnered several Emmy nominations. Also in collaboration with Killer Films was Todd Haynes' Far From Heaven, Mark Romanek's One Hour Photo, Todd Graff's Camp, Fenton Bailey's Party Monster, Robert Altman's The Company, Michael Mayer's A Home at the End of the World and John Waters' A Dirty Shame.
As a TV producer, Wells' diverse projects include series Smith, The Evidence and Jonny Zero, as well as telemovies Dark Shadows (2004) and The Big Time (2002). Wells' award-winning stage productions include Judgement, Balm in Gilead, Battery and She Also Dances.
Wells served as President of the Writers Guild of America, West (1999-2001) and was vital to the success of the 2001 MBA contract negotiations.
Born in Alexandria, Virginia, and raised in Denver, Colorado, Wells graduated from Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a bachelor of fine arts and later earned a Masters degree in film and television at the University of Southern California, where he also serves on the school's Television Executive Advisory Council.Films Directed:
The Company Men (2010)
August: Osage County (2014)
Burnt (2015)- Writer
- Producer
- Director
John grew up in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. After graduating St. Thomas Academy, an all-boys, military, Catholic highschool, John moved to Iowa City to attend the University of Iowa. There he would make the move from writing to film. Two years later, John moved to Manhattan to attend NYU's film program. After graduating NYU, John moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in filmmaking. John wrote and directed his first feature, Full Moon Rising (1996) just out of college. For his sophomore effort, The Dry Spell, John was joined by his brother Drew, who produced the film as John wrote, directed and edited. They now live in Los Angeles, working together as The Brothers Dowdle.Films Directed:
Full Moon Rising (1996)
The Dry Spell (2004)
The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2006)
Quarantine (2008)
Devil (2010)
As Above, So Below (2014)
No Escape (2015)- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Jonathan Demme was born on 22 February 1944 in Baldwin, Long Island, New York, USA. He was a director and producer, known for The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Rachel Getting Married (2008) and Philadelphia (1993). He was married to Joanne Howard and Evelyn Purcell. He died on 26 April 2017 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.Films Directed:
Caged Heat (1974)
Crazy Mama (1975)
Fighting Mad (1976)
Handle with Care (1977)
Last Embrace (1979)
Melvin and Howard (1980)
Swing Shift (1984)
Stop Making Sense (1984)
Something Wild (1986)
Swimming to Cambodia (1987)
Married to the Mob (1988)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Philadelphia (1993)
Beloved (1998)
The Truth About Charlie (2002)
The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
Rachel Getting Married (2008)
Neal Young Journeys (2012)
A Master Builder (2013)
Ricki and the Flash (2015)- Writer
- Music Department
- Producer
John Sullivan was born on 23 December 1946 in Balham, London, England, UK. He was a writer and producer, known for Only Fools and Horses (1981), Dear John (1988) and The Green Green Grass (2005). He died on 23 April 2011 in Surrey, England, UK.Films Directed:
America: Imagine the World Without Her (2014)- Actor
- Director
- Producer
John Slattery was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Joan (Mulhern), a CPA, and John "Jack" Slattery, a leather merchant, both of Irish descent. John landed his first TV gig on the 1988 series The Dirty Dozen (1988) and has worked steadily since then. His television career has included the short-lived series Under Cover (1991), Homefront (1991), Maggie (1998) and Feds (1997); and the mini-series A Woman of Independent Means (1995) with Sally Field and From the Earth to the Moon (1998), in which he played Walter Mondale. By having recurring roles on Will & Grace (1998) as Will's big brother, "Sam"; Judging Amy (1999) as Amy's estranged husband; and Sex and the City (1998) as a very kinky politician, John has become one of the most in-demand character actors. In 2001, he had a role on NBC's comedy-drama Ed (2000), where he played the confident, cool, aloof high school principal "Dennis Martino". This role earned him much notoriety, and made him the subject of debate among Ed (2000) fans. John has also had a long, successful and diverse career in the theater. He made his theater debut in the 1989 play "The Lisbon Traviata", which also starred Nathan Lane. He has had several successful collaborations with the playwright Richard Greenberg and appeared in the author's "The Extra Man", "Night and Her Stars" and "Three Days of Rain", for which he earned critical praise for his dual roles of father and son. In 1993, John made his Broadway debut starring opposite Nathan Lane in Neil Simon's "Laughter on the 23rd Floor". Returning to the theater in 2000, John starred in a revival of Harold Pinter's "Betrayal". Making his feature film debut in 1996, John had a small role in the movie City Hall (1996). He then appeared in the movies Eraser (1996), Where's Marlowe? (1998), Traffic (2000), and the Anthony Hopkins/Chris Rock vehicle Bad Company (2002)_, before finding greater fame as one of the stars of the television series Mad Men (2007).Films Directed:
God’s Pocket (2014)- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
John Stuart Wildman is known for The Ladies of the House (2014), The Money Store (2016) and White Creek (2014).Films Directed:
The Ladies of the House (2014)- Writer
- Director
- Producer
John Huddles is known for After the Dark (2013), At Sachem Farm (1998) and Untitled Mythological Repurposing Project.Films Directed:
After the Dark (2014)- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Soundtrack
A 1941 graduate of Mary D. Bradford High School in Kenosha, where he served on the student council and participated in forensics under dramatic coach John Davies, he took second place in the National Forensics League national contest in Lexington, Kentucky in dramatic declaration and oratorical declamation. (The Kenosha team won the meet that year over 800-plus contestants.) By 1948, he was working in radio and joined television in its infancy, becoming the commercial announcer for "I Love Lucy" in 1951. He was married for sixty years.Films Directed:
The Christmas Candle (2013)- Camera and Electrical Department
- Director
- Producer
John Moore was born in Dundalk, Ireland in 1970, a small town situated about 60 miles from the country's capital Dublin. Moore attended a technical college in Dublin where he studied filmmaking and after completing the school he went on to direct and write a series of short films all produced in his native Ireland. These include Jack's Bicycle (1990) which has been broadcasted on Irish TV channel RTV on occasion. Moore then was hired to make a series of commercials and ended up making the launch advertisement for the Sega Dreamcast, the ad was so bombastic and visually impressive that Twentieth Century Fox ended up offering him the job on Behind Enemy Lines (2001), a $40 million action film centered around the conflict in Bosnia. The film starred Gene Hackman and Owen Wilson. Whilst a modest box-office success the film fared only average with critics who varied in their opinions, and in later years Moore himself admitted that perhaps his approach had been to lightweight and a conflict of that scope required a more deep and thoughtful motion picture. On the set of Behind Enemy Lines (2001) Moore was nearly killed via a Tank in an action sequence and had his life saved in the last moment by a stuntman who dragged him from harm's way. Moore's next film was a remake of The Flight of the Phoenix (1965) and shared the same name only dropping the "the" at the titles beginning. Flight of the Phoenix (2004) starred Dennis Quaid and Miranda Otto and told virtually the same story as the original, a group of people stranded in the desert after a plane crash. The picture was a huge box-office flop making just slightly over $21 million worldwide on a considerably larger budget. Critics showed the same unsure reaction to the film as they had on Behind Enemy Lines (2001), lavishing praise on certain aspects but harshly criticizing others. Moore himself was more pleased with the finished article on this occasion but the public's financial rejection suggests others weren't. After this Moore was involved with two other films one entitled "The last mission" which collapsed due to script issues and the 2006 smash X-Men: The Last Stand (2006). In the end it was not Moore who directed the third in the X-Men trilogy but Rush Hour 2 (2001) director Brett Ratner. However Moore did manage to get a film into cinemas during Summer 2006 in the end, he remade The Omen (1976) and had it released on the 06/06/06, a gimmick associated with the films satanic plot. The Omen (2006) was a fairly faithful remake and starred Julia Stiles along with Liev Schreiber and David Thewlis. Moore agreed to make the film as he names the 1976 original among his all time favorite movies along with Jaws (1975) and Freaks (1932). The film made a worldwide $120 million from a $25 million budget and thus had to be considered a success in terms of box-office. The critics were once more split, most criticized the picture for following the original too closely but by the same token generally a kind word was spared for Moore's impressive visuals and the strong cast. This marked the director's third collaboration with Twentieth Century Fox, a fourth arriving in the form of video-game adaptation Max Payne (2008) in October 2008.
Moore currently resides with his son and partner, Fiona Connon in Los Angeles occasionally returning home to Ireland.Films Directed:
Behind Enemy Lines (2001)
Flight of the Phoenix (2004)
The Omen (2006)
Max Payne (2008)
A Good Day to Die Hard (2013)
I.T. (2016)- Director
- Writer
- Producer
With Texas Chainsaw 3D, director/writer John Luessenhop successfully rebooted an iconic horror franchise while recording his 2nd #1 US box office opening in a little more than two years. Two summers before, Mr. Luessenhop made a splash when his stylish action film Takers surprised the field and opened #1. Upon its video release, Takers followed its box office success by topping U.S. charts for sales, rentals and video-on-demand purchases.
Mr. Luessenhop made his directorial debut in the world of feature films with Lockdown, an independently produced, urban prison drama acquired by Columbia Home Entertainment. The film struck a chord with urban audiences, opening the UrbanWorld Film Festival in New York City and closing the Hollywood Black Film Festival in Los Angeles. The film premiered internationally at the Toronto Film Festival.
A native of McLean, Virginia, and an alumnus of the University of Virginia and Georgetown Law School, Mr. Luessenhop began his film career by writing and directing the hard edged, 33-minute featurette TICK...TICK...TICK..., which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and went on to win Best Short Film at Universal's Florida Film Festival.
Because of his gritty style, from 1997 to 2001, Mr. Luessenhop directed more than 20 episodes for "America's Most Wanted," including two national cop-of-the-year stories. Prior to making the leap to writing and directing, Mr. Luessenhop was a successful corporate attorney. He resides in Beverly Hills, CA with his wife and three sons.Films Directed:
Tick, Tick, Tick (1994)
Lockdown (2000)
Takers (2008)
Texas Chainsaw (2013)- Director
- Additional Crew
- Producer
Most recently directed/exec-produced the opening episodes of FX's historical epic Shogun, director/produced The Changeling for Apple as well as the second block of the Ridley Scott helmed Apple series Sinking Spring.
He has directed the entire Season 2 of the critically acclaimed Top Boy and the BAFTA winning TV series Misfits, episodes of Danny Boyle's drama mini-series Trust and was the pilot director/exec-producer on the HULU original drama series Reprisal.
His short films have been nominated for BAFTAs and shown at major international film festivals including Toronto, Palm Springs and Slamdance.
His TV mini series Off Season - based on his short film of the same name - is with Complete Fiction.
He has a reoccurring collaboration with the critical acclaimed comedian Tim Key and makes many of the films for Tim's live performances including for his Perrier and Chortle award winning shows.
He works in both North America and the UK.Films Directed:
Movie 43 (2013)- Cinematographer
- Actor
- Director
John Gulager was born on 19 December 1957 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a cinematographer and actor, known for Feast (2005), Piranha 3DD (2012) and He Was a Quiet Man (2007). He has been married to Diane Ayala Goldner since 1986.Films Directed:
Feast (2005)
Feast II: Sloppy Seconds (2008)
Feast III: The Happy Finish (2009)
Piranha 3DD (2012)
Zombie Night (2013)
Children of the Corn: Runaway (2018)- Writer
- Producer
- Director
Jon Hurwitz was born on 15 November 1977 in Byram, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Cobra Kai (2018), Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004) and Obliterated (2023). He has been married to Randy Hurwitz since 30 June 2007. They have two children.- Producer
- Writer
- Director
Son of Danny Singleton, a mortgage broker, and Sheila Ward, a pharmaceutical company sales executive, and raised in separate households by his unmarried parents, John Singleton attended the Film Writing Program at USC, after graduating from high school in 1986. While studying there, he won three writing awards from the university, which led to a contract with Creative Artists Agency during his sophomore year. Columbia Pictures bought his script for Boyz n the Hood (1991) and budgeted it at $7 million. Singleton noted that much of the story comes from his own experiences in South Central LA and credited his parents with keeping him off the street.- Producer
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Although born in Hollywood, John and his twin sister Johanna were raised in Whittier near Los Angeles. His parents were Jewell Mae (Risley), an art teacher, and Paul Eual Lasseter, a parts manager at a Chevrolet dealership. His mother's profession contributed to his interest in animation and particularly the Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck cartoons which he would watch on television. It was when he was in High School that he realized that he could have a career in animation and he wrote to the Walt Disney Studios but nothing happened then In 1975 the Disney company started an animation course at Calarts - The California Institute of the Arts- and John, with encouragement from his mother, was one of the first to sign up. He and his class mates, who included the future animators and directors Brad Bird, and Tim Burton were taught by some of Disney's veteran animators such as Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas. During his time there John produced two animated shorts - Lady and the Lamp (1979) and Nitemare (1980) - which both won the Student Academy Award for Animation. On graduating in 1979 John was taken on as an animator at the Disney Studios. In 1983, while working on Mickey's Christmas Carol some friends invited him to see some footage of Tron that they were working on using CGI and he immediately saw the potential of it to enhance animated films. John and a colleague made a short test film and satisfied with the result and full of enthusiasm started work on a feature without consulting their superiors who when they found out about it canceled it and sacked John. Having made contacts in the computer industry he was quickly taken on by Lucasfilm which was bought by Steve Jobs for $5 million with a further $5 million invested as working capital and the company renamed Pixar. John soon convinced Steve that the future lay in computer animation by bringing his desk lamp to life in the short 'Luxor Jr' which was shown at a computer graphics conference and got a standing ovation. The first computer animated feature soon followed in the form of 'Toy Story' winning John an Oscar for Special Achievement to go with one he got for Animated Short Film - Tin Toy. He's also had Oscar nominations for Animated Feature - Monster Inc and Cars, Original Screenplay -Toy Story, Animated Short Story - Luxor Jr while the short Knick Knack was selected by Terry Gilliam as one of the best 10 animated films of all time. In 2008, he was honored with the Winsor McCay Award, - the lifetime achievement award for animators. He oversees 3 animation studios - Pixar, Disney Animation and DisneyToon He spent 9 year (2005 - 2014) on the board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, only relinquishing his seat due to term limits. He was presented with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood in November 2011.- Director
- Writer
- Producer
John Schultz is known for Bandwagon (1996), Like Mike (2002) and When Zachary Beaver Came to Town (2003).