Spike Jonze, a celebrated American filmmaker and music video guru, is widely recognized for his mind-blowing and visually captivating films. Back in 1969, Jonze, known as Adam Spiegel, began his career as a skateboard photographer and co-founder of the famous skateboard magazine, Homeboy. When the early 90s came around, Jonze switched up his game, and began directing music videos and commercials, collaborating with renowned artists such as Björk, Beastie Boys, and Weezer.
In 1999, Jonze’s directorial debut, Being John Malkovich, hit the big screen, and earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Director. His subsequent films, Adaptation in 2002 and Where the Wild Things Are in 2009, were also widely acclaimed. Jonze’s signature style, a combination of emotional drama and absurdist comedy, has earned him a reputation as one of the most inventive directors of his generation. He is also known for his original screenplays and stories.
Moreover, Jonze has delved into producing and acting, and co-founded the Directors Label series, which highlights music video directors. Jonze has worked repeatedly with actors John Malkovich, Nicolas Cage, and Charlie Kaufman. To add to his impressive portfolio, Jonze recently created the documentary series, Beastie Boys Story, in 2020.
