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Duncan Jones

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For the Welsh rugby union international, see Duncan Jones (rugby player).
Duncan Jones
Jones at the Tribeca Film Festival for the premiere of his film Moon, April 30, 2009
Born
Duncan Zowie Haywood Jones[1]

(1971-05-30) 30 May 1971 (age 53)
Bromley[1] (or Beckenham),
London, United Kingdom
OccupationFilm director
Years active2002–present

Duncan Zowie Haywood Jones (born 30 May 1971),[1] formerly known as Zowie Bowie,[2] is an English film director best known for directing the award-winning science fiction films Moon (2009) and Source Code (2011).

Childhood and family life

Duncan Jones is the only child from the marriage of musician David Bowie (born David Robert Jones) and his first wife,Mary Angela Barnett, an American former model. He was born at Bromley Hospital[1] in South London. His birth prompted Bowie to write the song "Kooks" for his 1971 album Hunky Dory.[2] Jones is the half-brother of Alexandria "Lexi" Jones (born 2000), from his father's second marriage to the fashion model Iman, and of Stacia Larranna Celeste Lipka (born 1980), from his mother's relationship with musician Drew Blood (né Andrew Lipka). He also has a stepsister, Zulekha Haywood (born 1978), who is the daughter of Iman and former NBA basketball player Spencer Haywood, Iman's second husband.

As a child, Jones spent time growing up in Berlin, London and Vevey, Switzerland where he attended the first and second grade at the Commonwealth American School in Lausanne. When the Bowies divorced in February 1980, David Bowie was granted custody of 9-year-old Jones (who was then known as Zowie), and he visited his mother on his school vacations. At age 14, he enrolled in the Scottish boarding school, Gordonstoun.

Around age 12, Zowie decided that he preferred to be called "Joey", and used this nickname for some time until shortening it to "Joe" in his later teen years. The press reported that he went by "Joe" in 1992 when attending his dad's wedding to Iman (he was the best man).[3] Whilst growing up, Jones dreamt of becoming a professional wrestler, and his father frequently praises what he called Jones' "natural strength".[4]

According to the Newham Recorder, he reverted to his birth name, Duncan Jones, around the age of 18.[5]

College and career choice

By 1995, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in philosophy from the College of Wooster. He then pursued a PhD degree at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee but left before completion to attend London Film School, where he graduated as a director.

He was one of many cameramen at his father's widely-televised 50th birthday party directed by Englishman Tim Pope at Madison Square Garden and also at two BowieNet concerts at Roseland Ballroom in New York City in June 2000. He was also the in-game cinematics director for the political simulator Republic: The Revolution, as well as scripting elements of the game.[6]

FCUK – Fashion vs Style

Duncan Jones directed the 2006 campaign for the French Connection fashion label. The concept of 'Fashion vs Style' was to re-invigorate the brand and move it away from the former incarnation of FCUK, which style pundits believed had become tired and overused.[7][8] The advert debuted in the week ending 20 February 2006 and featured two women (representing fashion and style) fighting and briefly kissing each other. The advertisement generated 127 complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority.[8]

Moon

Main article: Moon (film)

Jones' first feature film, Moon, was nominated for 7 British Independent film awards and won 2, both going to Jones. It was also nominated for 2 BAFTA Awards at the 2010 ceremony, winning 1. There have been 19 other nominations and wins for the film, from film festivals and societies. These include:

For other accolades, see the main article.

Current projects

Jones with his father David Bowie at the premiere of Jones's directorial debut Moon, April 2009

Following on from the success of Moon, Jones is currently planning a follow-up that will serve as an epilogue. "Sam (Rockwell) has agreed to do a little cameo in the next film," says Jones, who ultimately hopes to do three films in the Moon series.[9] Later, he said that he would be doing "another science fiction film, called Mute, which takes place in a future Berlin. It's a Blade Runner-inspired piece, a little love letter to that film."[10] The premise is that in future Berlin, a woman's disappearance causes a mystery for her partner, a mute bartender. He must go up against the city’s gangsters to solve the mystery.[11] The film takes place in the same timeline as Jones' Moon, and will feature Sam Rockwell in a cameo as his character Sam Bell.[12]

It was announced in 2009 that he would direct the feature film adaptation of Escape from the Deep: The Epic Story of a Legendary Submarine and Her Courageous Crew by Alex Kershaw,[13] but on Twitter Duncan Jones said he would not be directing Escape From the Deep, claiming: "not on the sub movie anymore, but trying hard to get one of two things made next. Mute is one of those 2".[14]

He directed the Summit Entertainment project Source Code,[15] a science-fiction thriller from Vendome Pictures, which was produced by Mark Gordon. Actor Jake Gyllenhaal played the lead role in the film.[16] Source Code was released on DVD and Blu-ray on 26 July 2011 in the United States.

Jones was one of the top candidates to direct the upcoming Superman reboot before the job ultimately went to Zack Snyder. He was also considered for Dredd, but turned it down as he preferred his own vision to the Alex Garland script.[17] He was also rumoured to helm the next X-Men film, The Wolverine starring Hugh Jackman, but Jackman and 20th Century Fox decided on James Mangold instead.[18]

Currently, Jones is writing the script for his untitled third film; according to imdb it will be a biopic about the creator of James Bond, Ian Fleming. Jones is also in talks for a graphic novel.

Filmography

Title Year Role
Whistle (short film) 2003 Director/Writer/Producer
Moon 2009 Director/Story
Source Code 2011 Director

References

  1. ^ a b c d Buckley, David (2005) [1999]. Strange Fascination – David Bowie: The Definitive Story (Revised & Updated ed.). London: Virgin Publishing. p. 90. ISBN 0-7535-1002-2. On 30 May 1971, Bowie's son, Duncan Zowie Haywood Jones, was born in Bromley Hospital.
  2. ^ a b Graham, Caroline (8 August 2009). "Zowie Bowie: How a son of rock royalty survived a bitter rift with his mother to earn genuine success". The Daily Mail. dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 06 October 2012. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. ^ Aris, Brian. "The wedding of David Bowie and Iman". Hello!, 13 June 1992.
  4. ^ Tan, Mandy. [1].
  5. ^ Itzkoff, Dave (7 June 2009). "Son of Major Tom, at Ground Control". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  6. ^ Duncan Jones | Film | Interview | The A.V. Club
  7. ^ Akbar, Arifa (16 August 2004). "FCUK, off: fashion label decides to rest 'tired' logo". The Independent, UK. London: Independent News and Media Limited.
  8. ^ a b Sweney, Mark (6 July 2006). "French Connection and Beattie part company". MediaGuardian.co.uk. London: Guardian News and Media Limited.
  9. ^ "Duncan Jones (a.k.a. Zowie Bowie): Moon". SuicideGirls.com. 11 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-11..
  10. ^ David Bentley. "Duncan Jones talks Moon and reveals his next film".
  11. ^ "Concept Art For Duncan Jones' Mute, News on the Shoot | /Film". Slashfilm.com. 2008-08-25. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
  12. '^ "Sam Rockwell Will Have A Cameo in Moons Quasi-Sequel". SFX. 2009-12-11. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
  13. ^ "Duncan Jones To Direct Escape From The Deep". BowieNet, 1 June 2009.
  14. ^ The Future for Oddball Jones – No Escaping from the Deep. ManMadeMoon.co.uk, 22 December 2010.
  15. ^ Will Jake Gyllenhaal Crack Duncan Jones' Source Code?
  16. ^ goes straight to 'Source'
  17. ^ "Duncan Jones talks Judge Dredd". TotalFilm.com, Mar 18th, 2011.
  18. ^ "Duncan Jones In Talks to Direct Wolverine Sequel". WorstPreviews, 7 April 2011.
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