Joe Johnston

Joe Johnston
Johnston at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con International.
Born Joseph Eggleston Johnston II
(1950-05-13) May 13, 1950
Austin, Texas, United States
Nationality American
Education Art Center College of Design
Alma mater California State University
Occupation Film director, film producer, effects artist, art director
Years active 1977–present
Notable work Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, The Rocketeer, Jumanji, October Sky, Jurassic Park III, Hidalgo, The Wolfman, Captain America: The First Avenger

Joseph Eggleston Johnston II[1] (born May 13, 1950)[1] is an American film director and former effects artist best known for such effects-driven movies as Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989), Jumanji (1995) and Jurassic Park III (2001). These movies include a number of period films such as The Rocketeer (1991), The Wolfman (2010), and Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). Johnston also directed the biographical drama October Sky (1999).

Early life

Johnston was born in Austin, Texas,[2] and attended California State University, Long Beach, and Pasadena's Art Center College of Design.

Career

Design and visual effects

Much of the work at the beginning of Johnston's screen career combined design and special effects. He began his career as a concept artist and effects technician on the first Star Wars film, directed by George Lucas, and was art director on one of the effects teams for the sequel. His association with Lucas would later prove fruitful, when he became one of four to win an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for Lucas and Steven Spielberg's film Raiders of the Lost Ark.[3] Johnston continued to work on many films as an effects expert.

He was also associate producer on fantasy Willow, and production designer on two mid-80s TV movies which featured the Ewoks seen in Return of the Jedi.

Johnston is also author of Star Wars novel The Adventures of Teebo: A Tale of Magic and Suspense, which ties into Return of the Jedi (New York: Random House, 1984; ISBN 0-394-86568-5, ISBN 0-394-96568-X).[4]

In 1984, Lucas gave Johnston a sabbatical, with salary, and paid his tuition to attend the USC School of Cinematic Arts.[5] Johnston left after a year, saying he "was asked not to return" because he "broke too many rules".[6]

Directing

Johnston made his directorial debut in 1989 with hit comedy adventure Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, starring Rick Moranis. He followed it with comic-book adaptation The Rocketeer (1991). The film was a commercial failure, as was his next, the animated and live-action The Pagemaster. Johnston rebounded, directing the family hit Jumanji, starring Robin Williams. The film overcame lukewarm reviews to gross over $260 million.[7]

Johnston was set to direct Hulk,[8] but dropped out in July 1997. Johnston then switched gears from effects-driven action films to the more personal October Sky (1999), starring a teenage Jake Gyllenhaal as a 1950s West Virginia high school student who dreams of being a rocket scientist for NASA against his father's wishes.

Johnston's first project of the 2000s was the sequel Jurassic Park III, which made over US$300 million at the box office. Johnston followed it with western Hidalgo, starring Viggo Mortensen. Johnston then took a six-year directorial break before signing on at a month's notice to take over the 2010 remake of 1941 horror classic The Wolfman. Shot in England, the film starred Benicio del Toro and Anthony Hopkins.

In part thanks to his experience with the period superhero film The Rocketeer, Johnston was selected to direct Marvel Studios superhero adaptation Captain America: The First Avenger. Released on July 22, 2011,[9] the film stars Chris Evans as the comic book hero and Hugo Weaving as his archenemy the Red Skull. In 2012, Johnston directed the thriller Not Safe for Work for Blumhouse Productions.

On April 26, 2017, Variety announced that Johnston had been hired by the Mark Gordon Company to direct the fourth installment of The Chronicles of Narnia film series, originally from Walden Media, The Silver Chair.[10] On November 4, 2017, Joe Johnston announced that The Silver Chair would be his final directorial effort.[11] On December 12, 2017, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Johnston would helm 32 days of reshoots on the film The Nutcracker and the Four Realms due to its director Lasse Hallström being unavailable.[12]

Filmography

Feature films

YearTitleDirectorProducerEffects ArtistArt DirectorActorNotes
1977Star WarsYesYesDeath Star trooper (uncredited)
1980The Empire Strikes BackYesYesYesCaptain Shawn Valdez - Hoth Rebel (uncredited)
1981Raiders of the Lost ArkYesYes
1983Return of the JediYes
1984Indiana Jones and the Temple of DoomYes
1986Howard the DuckYesUltralight sequence designer
1987Batteries Not IncludedSecond unit director, production manager
1988WillowYesAssociate producer
1989AlwaysYesAerial sequence designer
Honey, I Shrunk the KidsYes
1991The RocketeerYes
1994The PagemasterYesLive-action scenes
1995JumanjiYes
1999The Iron GiantDesigner: Iron Giant
October SkyYes
2001Jurassic Park IIIYes
2004HidalgoYes
2010The WolfmanYes
2011Captain America: The First AvengerYesYesExecutive producer
2014Not Safe for WorkYes
The Lawful TruthYesCaptain Waters
2018The Nutcracker and the Four RealmsYesReshoots;[13] given co-director credit along with Lasse Hallström.[14]
2020The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair[15][16]Yes

Television

YearTitleNotes
1978–1979Battlestar GalacticaEffects illustration and design
1984The Ewok AdventureProduction Designer
TV movie
1985Ewoks: The Battle for Endor
Star Wars: DroidsWriter
Episode: "Coby and the Starhunters"
1993The Young Indiana Jones ChroniclesDirector
Episode: "Princeton, February 1916"
2015LumenDirector
Executive producer
TV movie
2017The CreepsExecutive producer
Short

Critical reception

Film Rotten Tomatoes
Overall
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)73%[17]
The Rocketeer (1991)61%[18]
The Pagemaster (1994)18%[19]
Jumanji (1995)50%[20]
October Sky (1999)90%[21]
Jurassic Park III (2001)50%[22]
Hidalgo (2004)47%[23]
The Wolfman (2010)35%[24]
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)80%[25]
Not Safe for Work (2014)N/A[26]

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryFilmResult
1981Academy AwardBest Visual Effects Shared with Richard Edlund, Kit West and Bruce NicholsonRaiders of the Lost ArkWon
1990International Fantasy Film AwardBest FilmHoney, I Shrunk the KidsNominated
1992Hugo AwardBest Dramatic Presentation Shared with Danny Bilson, Paul De Meo, William Dear and Dave StevensThe RocketeerNominated
1995International Fantasy Film AwardBest Film Shared with Pixote HuntThe PagemasterNominated
1996Saturn AwardBest DirectorJumanjiNominated
Young Artist AwardBest Family Feature - Action-AdventureWon
1999Ajijic International Film Festival AwardBest FilmOctober SkyWon
2001Saturn AwardBest Science Fiction FilmJurassic Park IIINominated
Golden Trailer AwardBest Horror/Thriller FilmNominated
Golden Raspberry AwardWorst Remake or SequelNominated
2004Golden Trailer AwardBest DramaHidalgoNominated
2010Saturn AwardBest Horror/Thriller FilmThe WolfmanNominated
2012Hugo AwardBest Dramatic Presentation Shared with Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeelyCaptain America: The First AvengerNominated
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America AwardBest FilmNominated

References

  1. 1 2 "Texas Birth Index, 1903–1997".
  2. ↑ Diaz, Victor. "Austin-born Oscar winner directs 'Captain America'", Austin.YNN.com, July 22, 2011.
  3. ↑ Buchanan, Jason. "Film > Film Biography > Joe Johnston", AllMovie.com, n.d.
  4. ↑ Joe Johnston. "''The Adventures of Teebo''". OpenLibrary.org. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
  5. ↑ "2004 interview with Joe Johnston. Retrieved 12 August 2012". Articles.baltimoresun.com. 2004-03-08. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
  6. ↑ "2001 ''filmschoolrejects'' website interview with Joe Johnston. Retrieved 12 August 2012". Filmschoolrejects.com. 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
  7. ↑ "Jumanji (1995) - Box Office Mojo". boxofficemojo.com.
  8. ↑ Michael Fleming (April 14, 1997). "A Mania For Marvel". Variety. Retrieved November 10, 2008.
  9. ↑ Nicholson, Amy. "Exclusive: 'Captain America' & 'JP4' News" Archived March 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.. Boxoffice, January 13, 2010
  10. ↑ Kroll, Justin. "'Captain America' Director Joe Johnston Boards 'Narnia' Revival 'The Silver Chair'". Variety.com. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  11. ↑ https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2017/11/joe-johnston-says-the-chronicles-of-narnia-the-silver-chair-will-be-his-last-film/
  12. ↑ Kit, Borys (December 12, 2017). "Joe Johnston to Direct Disney's 'Nutcracker and the Four Realms' Reshoots (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  13. ↑ Kit, Borys (December 12, 2017). "Joe Johnston to Direct Disney's 'Nutcracker and the Four Realms' Reshoots (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  14. ↑ Kit, Borys (July 5, 2018). "Lasse Hallstrom, Joe Johnston to Share Director Credit on 'Nutcracker and the Four Realms' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  15. ↑ Foutch, Haleigh. "'Captain America' Helmer Joe Johnston to Direct 'Narnia' Revival 'The Silver Chair'". collider.com. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  16. ↑ "'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair' update: Mark Gordon drops teasers about setting and visual effects".
  17. ↑ "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
  18. ↑ "The Rocketeer". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
  19. ↑ "The Pagemaster". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
  20. ↑ "Jumanji". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
  21. ↑ "October Sky". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
  22. ↑ "Jurassic Park III". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
  23. ↑ "Hidalgo". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
  24. ↑ "The Wolfman". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
  25. ↑ "Captain America: The First Avenger". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
  26. ↑ "Not Safe For Work". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
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