SIMON WEST (Director) makes his feature film directorial debut with
"Con Air." Born in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, Great Britain,
he began his career in 1981 when he joined the BBC in London as an apprentice
film editor. He worked on a number of award-winning productions, including
the documentary "Strangeways Prison" and the dramatic series "Bleak
House"-both productions winning coveted British Academy of Film and
Television Awards-during his four years with the network.
In 1985, West began directing when awarded a grant from the British Arts
Council to write and direct the 30-minute film, "Dolly Mixtures."
He was subsequently signed to Limelight London to direct music videos and
commercials. In 1987, he won Best Video at the Montreux Music Festival
for Mel and Kim's "Respectable."
West relocated to the United States and continued his association with Limelight
London via the company's American headquarters. He then moved to Pilot
Pictures, winning the Golden Lion (from the International Advertising Festival
in Cannes) for Little Caesar's "Italian Feast" commercial and
a Clio for the pizza company's "Airplane" ad spot.
West joined Satellite Films in 1993, adding to his commercial credits award-winning
spots for such clients as Sprint, AT&T, MCI, Ford, Miller Beer and Budweiser,
his "Ant" spot for the latter brewery company winning a Bronze
in Cannes in 1995. That same year, West began directing for Propaganda
Films.
Among West's numerous awards for commercial work are the TNE New York Festival's
1993 International TV Advertising Award, the AICP for Direction of Humor,
an ADDYS for Best of Show Broadcast, an ANDYS for Humor, Clios for Best
Direction, the Golden Lions from Cannes, and the MOMA.
SCOTT ROSENBERG's (Written by) first feature film to go before cameras
was the independent movie "Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead,"
which he also associate produced. His second feature, "Beautiful Girls,"
was directed by Ted Demme and starred Uma Thurman and Matt Dillon.
Born and raised in Boston, he began writing at a young age, intending on
becoming a novelist. Uncertain of how to make a living after graduating
from Boston University in 1985, he chanced fate and came to Los Angeles
with a friend. He landed a job as a production assistant and began writing
scripts. He applied and was accepted to the University of California at
Los Angeles' film school, and as a result of winning a screenwriting contest,
signed with his first agent. His big break came when producer Joel Silver
bought one of his projects, "Love Lies Bleeding." Rosenberg then
sold another screenplay, "Disturbing Behavior," completed a book
adaptation, "The Black Ice," for Paramount Pictures and wrote
two "Tales from the Crypt" episodes, "Forever Ambergris"
and "Seance."
Rosenberg's upcoming projects include "Down and Under" and "Gone
in 60 Seconds" for Jerry Bruckheimer Films, "Hi Fidelity"
for Mike Newell and "Bad Moon Rising" for Miramax.
As one of the most highly regarded creative forces in the entertainment
industry, JERRY BRUCKHEIMER (Producer) along with his late partner
Don Simpson, established one of the most successful producing careers in
recent motion picture history with such critically acclaimed and commercially
successful hits as "Flashdance," "Beverly Hills Cop,"
"Top Gun," "Days of Thunder," "Bad Boys,"
"Dangerous Minds," "Crimson Tide" and "The Rock,"
resulting in worldwide box office ticket, video and record sales of more
than $3 billion. The films of Mr. Bruckheimer have continually topped the
list of box office winners, resulting in worldwide number one pictures an
unprecedented three years in a row.
Based at the Walt Disney Studios and working out of a newly renovated Santa
Monica loft, Mr. Bruckheimer continues to make tremendous contributions
to the entertainment industry. In 1995, Simpson-Bruckheimer produced the
number one box office hits "Bad Boys" starring Will Smith and
Martin Lawrence; and "Crimson Tide" starring Denzel Washington
and Gene Hackman; and "Dangerous Minds" starring Michelle Pfeiffer.
"Bad Boys" became Columbia Pictures' highest grossing film for
1995, while "Crimson Tide" and "Dangerous Minds" were
two of Hollywood Pictures' most successful for the year, with "Crimson
Tide" receiving Academy Award® nominations for film editing and
sound, as well as being named one of the "Top Three Favorite Films"
of the year by The People's Choice Awards. "Crimson Tide" received
an Eddie Award nomination for Artistic Achievement in Film Editing by the
American Cinema Editors and received Golden Reel Awards from the Motion
Picture Sound Editors for Feature Film Sound Editing and Feature Film ADR
Editing. Between them, "Bad Boys," "Crimson Tide" and
"Dangerous Minds" garnered a total of six 1996 MTV Movie Award
nominations for Best Movie ("Dangerous Minds"), Best Male Performance
(Denzel Washington, "Crimson Tide"), Best Female Performance (Michelle
Pfeiffer, "Dangerous Minds"), Best Song from a Movie (Coolio's
"Gangsta's Paradise," "Dangerous Minds"), Best On-Screen
Duo (Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, "Bad Boys"), and Best Action
Sequence ("Bad Boys"). Both "Gangsta's Paradise" and
the score for "Crimson Tide" received Grammy Awards in the categories
Best Rap Solo (Coolio) and Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion
Picture of Television (Hans Zimmer), respectively.
In 1996, Mr. Bruckheimer produced "The Rock" starring Nicolas
Cage and Sean Connery. "The Rock" grossed $335 million worldwide
at the box office and set the video rental record as the most ordered film
with 830,000 copies being purchased by video retailers. Recently Mr. Bruckheimer
and director Michael Bay accepted awards at the annual ShoWest Convention
where the film was named 1996's Favorite Movie of the Year. "The Rock"
also received an Academy Award® nomination for Best Achievement in Sound.
Pre-production has just begun on Mr. Bruckheimer's current projects "Armageddon"
starring Bruce Willis and directed by Michael Bay, and "Enemy of the
State" to be directed by long time collaborator and friend Tony Scott.
He is also working on the television adaptation of "Dangerous Minds"
starring Annie Potts in the LouAnne Johnson role for ABC Television, and
the syndicated series "Soldier of Fortune" starring Brad Johnson
for Rysher Entertainment.
In addition, Mr. Bruckheimer is developing "Rogue Warrior," the
exciting action story of a Navy S.E.A.L., based on the best-selling hardcover
novel by Dick Marcinko (which reached #1 on the New York Times Paperback
Bestsellers List, where it maintained the top position for 17 weeks); "Witness
To the Truth" based on the fascinating true-life account of FBI agent
Paul Lindsay which is being adapted by Academy Award®-winning screenwriter
Robert Towne; and "Zone of Silence," a contemporary suspense thriller
based on an original story by his late partner, Don Simpson, which John
Dunne and Joan Didion have adapted.
Also in development at the production company are "The Veronica Guerrin
Story" about the heroic life of an Irish investigative journalist who
was gunned down last summer by Dublin crime lords; an as yet untitled feature
about the true story of journalism professor David Protess, who along with
three of his female students, helped to exonerate four African-American
men on death row unjustly convicted of a double murder/rape in 1978; "ESAU,"
based on the book by Philip Kerr about a mountain climber who leads an expedition
to find his missing brother and subsequently discovers Yeti in an unascended
mountain peak in the Himalayas; and for television, "Soldier of Fortune,"
the story of an ex-Delta Force major recruited by a U.S. Intelligence mole
to put together an elite team designed to undertake missions to which the
U.S. government cannot admit to being involved.
A native of Detroit, Michigan, Bruckheimer grew up in a working class environment,
the son of German immigrants. With an early fascination for film, Bruckheimer
pursued still photography from an early age, and developed into a talented
and accomplished photographer, winning the prestigious National Scholastic
Award and a special Kodak Award at age 14. He subsequently earned his bachelor
of arts degree from the University of Arizona, before beginning his professional
career, first in the mailroom at a large advertising agency where he rose
through the ranks to become an art director/producer. Additionally, he
produced television commercials that were honored with numerous Clio Awards
and Silver Lions from the Cannes International Television/Cinema Commercials
Festival.
Prior to his official partnership with Simpson, Bruckheimer's credits as
a producer already included "American Gigolo," "Cat People,"
"Thief," "Young Doctors in Love" and "Farewell
My Lovely" (the latter of which earned a Best Actress Oscar® nomination
for Sylvia Miles).
Since his initial teaming with Mr. Simpson as producers on the 1983 blockbuster
"Flashdance," the two have been honored with an impressive 12
Academy Award® nominations, two Best Song Oscars®, three Golden
Globe Awards, MTV's Best Picture of the Decade Award, and two People's Choice
Best Picture Awards. Their hit film "Top Gun" has the distinction
of being one of the most profitable motion pictures in Paramount's history.
For Bruckheimer and Simpson, it wasn't long before they were hailed as the
quintessential producers of the '80s, and were named Producers of the Year
by the National Association of Theatre Owners at the ShoWest Conventions
in 1985 and 1988. The Publicists Guild of America also named the team 1988
Motion Picture Showmen of the Year. Breaking new ground as they progressed
from one hit to another, they turned their movies into gold mines. Investment
analyst and respected business columnist Paul Kagan ranked Bruckheimer the
#1 producer (based on average domestic box office, per film) on his list
of top 100 producers for 1985-1993 in his book 1994 Box Office Champions.
The Oscar®-winning songs Mr. Bruckheimer's films have produced are "What
a Feeling" from "Flashdance" and "Take My Breath Away"
from "Top Gun," as well as for Best Instrumental Composition for
"Crimson Tide." The "Flashdance" soundtrack won Grammys
for Pop Vocal -- Female, Instrumental Composition, and Original Score.
The "Top Gun" them by Harold Faltermeyer and Steve Stevens was
awarded a 1986 Grammy as Best Pop Instrumental.
The soundtrack albums of their four highest grossing films have been honored
with 18 Grammy nominations in all. Three of the soundtracks were #1 albums,
ten singles have achieved Top Ten status, including four #1 singles. Many
of these hits were performed by such popular artists as Irene Cara, Harold
Faltermeyer, Glenn Frey, The Pointer Sisters, Patti LaBelle, Berlin, Kenny
Loggins and George Michael. In addition, "Days of Thunder" produced
an international hit single.
In 1995, the "Dangerous Minds" soundtrack reached triple platinum
status, making it the highest-selling soundtrack that year. Hit recording
artist Coolio's single, "Gangsta's Paradise," was also the year's
top seller and was nominated for two Grammy Awards, Best Record and Best
Rap Solo Performance for which Coolio won the award. Billboard Magazine
listed the soundtrack as the #1 selling album for four weeks running, and
as one of their top five albums of 10 weeks. "Gangsta's Paradise"
remained the #1 single on the pop charts for three weeks and the song's
video was #1 on MTV for eight weeks.
Jerry Bruckheimer is married to writer and magazine editor, Linda Bruckheimer.
They reside in Los Angeles.
CHAD OMAN (Executive Producer) is the executive vice president of
Jerry Bruckheimer Films, where he oversees all aspects of film and television
development and production.
Mr. Oman is currently executive producing "Armageddon" starring
Bruce Willis with Michael Bay directing. He is also serving as executive
producer on Tony Scott's next film, "Enemy of the State," starring
Will Smith. He serves as co-executive producer on Bruckheimer's television
series "Soldier of Fortune."
Prior to joining the company in 1995, Oman was a founding employee of the
Motion Picture Corporation of America. After six years, he left the independent
production company as senior vice president of production.
His credits include associate producer on "Dumb and Dumber"; executive
producer on Touchstone Pictures' "The War At Home" (starring Emilio
Estevez, Kathy Bates and Martin Sheen); and co-producer on "The Desperate
Trail" (with Linda Fiorentino and Sam Elliott), as well as on "The
Sketch Artist" (with Drew Barrymore and Sean Young).
Screenwriter JONATHAN HENSLEIGH (Executive Producer), a former Manhattan-based
corporate lawyer and investor, has been writing for the screen for several
years. In addition to the hits "Jumanji," "Die Hard With
A Vengeance," "The Rock" (for which Hensleigh did an extensive
uncredited rewrite), and "The Saint," his credits include Lucasfilm's
"The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles" and the Disney feature "A
Far Off Place." His original script, "Armageddon," starring
Bruce Willis and directed by Michael Bay, will be released in summer 1989.
Hensleigh's other projects include Warner Bros.' "Captain Blood,"
"Golf in the Kingdom" and "Hickok and Cody," as well
as Lucasfilm's "Red Tails." His first feature script, "Mad
Dogs and Englishmen" was recently purchased by Phil Collins..
PETER BOGART (Executive Producer/Production Manager) has enjoyed
a long association with producer Jerry Bruckheimer, working not only on
Simpson/Bruckheimer's Disney-based projects, but on many others throughout
the years. Most recently, he worked on the hit films, "The Rock"
and "Crimson Tide" as an in-house production executive for Hollywood
Pictures, overseeing all aspects of production and post-production on both
films.
Prior to joining the company, Bogart served as unit production manager on
"Dangerous Minds." He was the first assistant director on "Beverly
Hills Cop," "Beverly Hills Cop II" and "American Gigolo"
and Bruckheimer's early project, "Thief." He was also the co-producer
and unit production manager on the features "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective"
and "Return to The Blue Lagoon," and served as unit production
manager/first assistant director on the original "The Blue Lagoon."
For television, Bogart was co-producer and unit production manager on the
series "Studio 5B" and earned the title of producer/unit production
manager for Lifetime's telefilm, "The Last Prostitute." He was
also associate producer of the ABC movie-of-the-week "Bluffing It,"
and worked as unit production manager and assistant director on "Swashbuckler."
JIM KOUF (Executive Producer) previously co-produced "Silent
Fall" and executive produced "Kalifornia." He also wrote
Walt Disney Pictures' live-action hit "Operation Dumbo Drop,"
and wrote and produced "Stakeout" and "Another Stakeout."
In addition, he co-produced his screenplay for "Secret Admirer."
As a writer/director, Kouf's credits include "Disorganized Crime"
and "Miracles," and he wrote the screenplay for "American
Dreamer," "Class," and "Up the Creek." His latest
film that he wrote and directed is called "Criminal Intent" starring
James Belushi, Tupac Shakur, Dennis Quaid and Lela Rochon, and will be released
in September 1997.
LYNN BIGELOW (Executive Producer) previously served as producer on
the Jim Kouf-written action/comedy "Another Stakeout." She also
served as associate producer on "Secret Admirer" and "Miracles."
Bigelow and Kouf established a partnership and since 1985 have been associated
with The Walt Disney Studios, where their first production as a team was
"Disorganized Crime." Bigelow also executive produced "Kalifornia"
for Propaganda Films, starring Brad Pitt and Juliette Lewis. In addition
she produced the Disney Sunday Movie "Save the Dog!" Their latest
film, "Criminal Intent" starring James Belushi, Tupak Shakur,
Dennis Quaid and Lela Rochon will be released in September 1997.
DAVID TATTERSALL (Director of Photography) most recently lensed "Moll
Flanders," as well as "The Bridge," "Radioland Murders,"
and the upcoming "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride."
Tattersall earned an Emmy Award nomination and an American Society of Cinematographers
Award nomination for his work on the television series "The Young Indiana
Jones Chronicles." He also worked on the British television series
"Yellow Thread Street."
Early in his career Tattersall worked on "Kings Christmas," which
received a BAFTA nomination for Best Film Short in 1987. He subsequently
worked on the short film "Caprice" and "Metropolis Apocalypse,"
which were screened at a number of prestigious international film festivals,
including those at Cannes, Venice, Edinburgh and Milan.
Prior to beginning his film career, Tattersall made his name as one of the
commercial industry's most sought-after cinematographers. He worked on
hundreds of commercials in England and throughout Europe.
DEBORAH EVANS makes her major motion picture debut as Production
Designer on "Con Air." Having worked with Simon West on countless
commercial campaigns, the director encouraged her to design the interior
of the transport plane. Evans' exciting concepts landed her the job.
Evans emigrated to Los Angeles from London in 1981 with an ambition to design
for motion pictures. While studying architecture and interior design at
the University of California at Los Angeles, she had the opportunity to
work in the art department (where part of her job entailed throwing doves
in the air) on a music video for Prince's hit song "When Doves Cry."
She next landed a job with Limelight Films as a set decorator on a short
picture shooting in Mexico. She continued decorating for music videos and
independent films and later made the transition to production designer working
on videos for such artists as Don Henley, Guns 'N' Roses and Rod Stewart
and expanded her work to Afterschool Specials for television for the likes
of director Diane Keaton as well as to commercials for directors Michael
Bay, Howard Deutch, Ed Zwick and "Con Air" director Simon West.
EDWARD T. McAVOY (Art Director) began his industry career as a set
painter and scenic artist working on numerous feature films including Irwin
Allen's "The Towering Inferno" and Steven Spielberg's "Always."
Moving up to assistant art director McAvoy's credits include "The Last
Action Hero," "The Distinguished Gentleman," "Honey,
I Blew Up the Kid," "The Rocketeer" and "Arachnophobia."
More recently, he served as supervising art director on "Airheads,"
and art director on "Outbreak" and "The Rock."
A graduate of Uesper George School of Art in Boston with a degree in graphic
design, McAvoy also studied painting at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
CHRIS LEBENZON (Editor) most recently edited Tim Burton's "Mars
Attacks!" Also for Burton, Lebenzon served as editor on "Ed Wood"
and "Batman Returns." He was consulting editor on "Tim Burton's
The Nightmare Before Christmas."
An Academy Award® nominee for his work as editor on "Crimson Tide"
and as co-editor on "Top Gun," Lebenzon's other credits include
"Josh and S.A.M." "Hudson Hawk," "Days of Thunder,"
"Revenge," "Midnight Run," "Beverly Hills Cop II,"
"Weeds," "Death of an Angel," "Weird Science,"
"A Breed Apart," and "Wolfen."
Born in Redwood City and raised in Palo Alto, California, Lebenzon graduated
from Stanford University before entering the motion picture industry.
STEVE MIRKOVICH, A.C.E. (Editor) previously served on the editing
team for "The Ghost and the Darkness," "Broken Arrow,"
"Necessary Roughness," "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II,"
"Flight of the Intruder" and "Big Trouble in Little China."
Among Mirkovich's feature film credits as sole editor are "Lassie,"
"A Gift From Heaven," "Fire in the Sky," "Cool
World" and "Spellbinder."
GLEN SCANTLEBURY (Editor) was born and raised in Annadale, Virginia,
and attended Virginia Commonwealth University. A pioneer in the art of
editing feature films on video, in 1987 he cut the Tom Waites concert film
"Big Time" on video. He subsequently served at Zoetrope Studios
for five years where he edited "The Spirit of '76." During this
time he was also an additional editor on "The Godfather: Part III,"
and was among the credited co-editors on "Dracula." He most recently
provided additional editing on "The Rock."
In addition to feature films, Scantlebury has edited numerous music videos
and documentaries, including Neil Young's upcoming "Muddy Tracks."
Scantlebury is also an independent filmmaker teamed with his wife Lucy
Phillips. The pair recently completed the independent feature "Steel
America." They live in San Francisco.
DAVID GOLDBERG (Visual Effects Supervisor) studied theater arts and
architecture at San Diego State University and received a bachelor of arts
degree in scenic design. Skills learned in college led to work as an architectural
modelmaker, but it was not long before Goldberg's love of science fiction
and fantasy turned his talents to art direction and visual effects modelmaking.
As Visual Effects Supervisor at Dream Quest, Goldberg implements and oversees
all aspects of production, from the production design, art direction and
creation of digital/CGI elements to model construction and final post production.
In addition to his work as visual effects supervisor on "Con Air,"
Goldberg recently served in the same capacity on Walt Disney Pictures' live-action
comedy "Jungle 2 Jungle." He also supervised the elaborate miniature
and CGI sequences for the interactive CD-ROM "Goosebumps: Escape from
Horrorland," based on the acclaimed series of children's books by R.L.
Stine. The recipient of an Emmy Award for his work on the pilot episode
of Amblin Entertainment's television series "Earth 2," Goldberg
has also supervised the miniature design and construction for many of Dream
Quest's feature projects including "Crimson Tide," "The Abyss,"
"Defending Your Life" and "Grand Canyon."
He has served as both Art Director and Model Shop Supervisor on four motion
simulator ride films: "Batman Adventure" for Warner Movie World
in Australia, "StarQuest Adventure" for the Samsung World's Fair
Pavilion, "Asteroid Adventure" for Phantasialand in Germany, and
"Space Shuttle America" for Six Flags Great America. Goldberg
also supervised the building of the ancient Egyptian pyramids featured in
the interactive CD-ROM "Pyramid: The Pharaoh's Dream."
BOBBIE READ (Costume Designer) previously worked for producer Bruckheimer
on his hit films with the late Don Simpson: "The Rock," "Dangerous
Minds," "Bad Boys," "Beverly Hills Cop II," "Top
Gun" and "Flashdance."
Read began her career as a designer and pattern cutter for a manufacturing
company in London. In 1971 she moved to the United States and landed her
first job as a stylist on a Levi's commercial for director Adrian Lyne.
She continued to work with Lyne and other top commercial directors such
as Tony Scott and Joe Pytka on commercials such as Coca Cola, Jovan and
Nestea.
Her work as a designer began with the television shows "Miami Vice"
and "Max Headroom" and on such telefilms as "Bed of Lies"
and "The Resurrector."
Read has designed costumes for the feature films "Eye for an Eye,"
"Major League II," "Ace Ventura, Pet Detective," "Indecent
Proposal," "Raising Cain," "Sweethearts Dance"
and "9 1/2 Weeks."
MARK MANCINA (Music by) has written music for numerous feature films
and television programs. Among his most prominent motion picture credits
are "Twister," "Moll Flanders," "Money Train,"
"Assassins," "Bad Boys" and "Speed." He also
composed the score for the upcoming "Speed II." In addition,
Mancina worked on Walt Disney Pictures' animated classic "The Lion
King," for which he arranged, produced and provided vocal arrangements
for several of the songs, and Walt Disney Pictures' live-action comedy "Man
of the House," for which he composed the film score. Mancina's other
motion picture credits include "Monkey Trouble," "True Romance"
(co-scored with Hans Zimmer), "Sniper" and "Space Mutiny."
He also wrote the scores for the PBS series "Millennium: Tribal Wisdom
and the Modern World." His made-for-television movies include "Space
Rangers," "Lifepod," and "Future Force."
Mancina also composed the Disney Records album Rhythm of the Pridelands.
His other recordings include Miracle of Life for the group Yes, on Arista
Records; Emerson, Lake and Palmer's Black Moon for PolyGram Records; and
Seal's Crazy, for ZTT Records, which was a #1 single in the United Kingdom
in 1991. In 1994 Mancina received a Grammy Award for Best Musical Album
For Children for The Lion King. That same year he won the American Music
Award for Best Pop Album, also for The Lion King. He is currently writing
and producing music for Disney's "Lion King on Broadway."
TREVOR RABIN (Music by) was born and raised in South Africa. His
multiple musical talents eventually led him to become a member of the internationally
acclaimed progressive art/rock group Yes. With that renowned band he served
as guitarist, keyboardist, singer, songwriter, producer and recording engineer.
He also composed the group's #1 hit single "Owner of a Lonely Heart"
on their multi-platinum album 90125. With Yes he also served in many creative
and technical capacities to create the popular Big Generator and Talk albums.
As a motion picture composer, Rabin co-wrote music for director Joel Silver's
film "Fair Game" starring Billy Baldwin and Cindy Crawford. Most
recently he scored the movie soundtrack for Steven Segal's "Glimmer
Man."
A native of Southern California, KENNY BATES (Associate Producer/2nd
Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator) previously worked for producer Jerry Bruckheimer
on his action paced hits "The Rock" and "Bad Boys."
Bates is the only stuntman to be honored with a special Academy Award®
for Scientific and Technical Achievement, presented to him in 1993 for his
outstanding work in creating and developing the Bates Decelerator System.
An extraordinary piece of safety equipment, the Bates Decelerator is a
device which allows the stunt person to free fall for hundreds of feet before
slowing to an immediate stop inches from the ground, without the use of
an airbag. The Bates Decelerator System was recently used in a death-defying
jump of 230 feet from a moving helicopter in "Demolition Man."
A stuntman for over 19 years, Bates has taken record-breaking falls on dozens
of films including "In the Line of Fire," "Physical Evidence,"
"The Last Boy Scout," "Die Hard," "Marked for Death,"
"Another 48 HRS.," "Ford Fairlane," "Cool World,"
and "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier."
Producers worldwide have sought his talents to create illusions for such
successful motion pictures as "True Romance," "The Crow,"
"Hook," "The Good Son," "The Mask," "No
Escape," "A Low Down Dirty Shame" and "On Deadly Ground."
He has worked as the second unit director/stunt coordinator on the films
"Bad Boys," and included as associate producer on "The Rock"
and "Con Air."
Bates began his career taking falls in wild West shows and parades. He
has doubled such actors as Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, John Malkovich,
William Shatner and Alan Rickman. Bates prefers to think of himself simply
as an illusionist. He has been called "The Hollywood Houdini"
of major action movies, treating audiences to the most entertaining action
sequences ever filmed (i.e. "The Rock" car chase bears his signature).
Bates' production company, Alternative Innovations, caters to commercial
clients such as Coca Cola, Nike, Miller Lite, Budweiser, Kodak, American
Express, AT&T, Pepsi, General Motors and hundreds of others worldwide.
CRAIG HOSKING (Aerial Coordinator) previously served as aerial unit
director and/or aerial coordinator on such films as "Executive Decision,"
"Clear and Present Danger," "Alaska" and TNT's "Amelia
Earhart." His impressive list of credits also includes work as the
aerial coordinator and pilot on such films as "Mars Attacks!"
"Michael," "Waterworld," "The American President,"
"Drop Zone," "The Specialist," "Terminal Velocity,"
"Speed," "In the Line of Fire," "Freefall,"
"Sliver," "Falling Down," "Patriot Games,"
"City Slickers," "The Rocketeer," "Point Break,"
"L.A. Story," "Another 48 HRS." "Tango & Cash,"
"Darkman," "Internal Affairs," "Lethal Weapon II"
and the soon to be released "Speed 2," to name a few.
On television, Hosking has flown for such series as "Mantis,"
"Candid Camera," "Stunt Masters," "The Father Dowling
Mysteries," "Columbo," "Murder, She Wrote," "Super
Dave" and "Falcon Crest." He has also performed for the
telefilms and miniseries "A Woman Scorned," "War & Remembrance,"
"Earthquake," "Shattered Vows," "The Gambler IV"
and "Flight #847."
His work appears in a variety of specialty projects like the Imax film "Magic
Carpet," on MCA's Universal Studio's Tour and Back to the Future ride,
as well as in Stargate's CD game "Apache Attack." Hosking has
also done short films for the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy as well
as commercials for such recognizable clients as Bank of America, General
Motors, Pepsi, Jack in the Box, AT&T, Pizza Hut and Miller Brewing.
Hosking first flew a plane at the tender age of 8 and mastered helicopters
at age 12. On his 16th birthday, he soloed and received his pilot's license.
Each subsequent year he earned his next set of wings with his passenger's
license on his 17th birthday and his commercial license on his 18th birthday.
Hosking flew professionally for his father's charter company in Utah, working
on motion pictures, television shows and commercials when they came to town.
In 1987 he moved to L.A. and established himself as one of the premiere
pilots and aerial coordinators working today.
Last July Aerial Coordinator J. DAVID JONES was honored by the Society
of Operating Cameramen with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his many contributions
to motion pictures and television. He began his professional flying career
as a pilot in the United States Marine Corps. in the mid 1950s, and began
working in motion pictures in 1963. In 1966 he formed his own company,
J. David Jones Aviation, specializing in aerial photography, stunt flying,
as well as aerial coordinating and directing.
A pioneer in helicopter aerial photography and stunt flying, Jones is acknowledged
as one of the preeminent pilot/directors in the motion picture industry.
He has directed and produced over 200 second unit action shows and has
been the aerial coordinator on literally hundreds of feature films, television
episodes and commercials. In 1985 he received the Hollywood Stuntman Award
for the best aerial stunt for his work on the television series "Airwolf."
Among his film credits are "Twister," "Water World,"
"The Net," "The River Wild," "Speed," "Boyz
on the Side," "Free Willy II," "The Firm," "Wyatt
Earp," "It Could Happen to You," "City Slickers II,"
"Field of Dreams" and "Honey, I Blew Up the Kid."
Over the years, Jones has worked as a consultant and technical advisor in
the development, writing, direction and editing of numerous projects which
demand intricate flying sequences. Working in conjunction with the makers
of miniature aircraft and special effects craftsmen, Jones has produced
many complicated scenes involving crashes, dog fights and overall flying
stunts which add to the drama and realism of each film. Those films include
such classics as "Apocalypse Now," "Catch 22," "Tora!
Tora! Tora!" "The Blues Brothers," "Capricorn One,"
"American Graffiti," "King Kong," "Tobruk,"
"The Graduate," "Funny Girl," "Bonnie & Clyde,"
"Planet of the Apes" and many more.
Jones has also been instrumental in creating specialized aircraft designed
exclusively for film and television productions. The series "Airwolf"
and "Magnum P.I." utilized many modified aircraft. His television
work also includes "Quantum Leap," "Tales of the Gold Monkey,"
"The 'A' Team," "Fantasy Island," "Dragnet,"
"Mission Impossible," "The Man From U.N.C.L.E.," "The
Mod Squad," "The Fugitive," "Batman & Robin"
and many more.
Jones was born and raised in Pensacola, Florida and graduated from the University
of Florida in Gainesville prior to joining the Marine Corps. Before beginning
his prolific career in the entertainment industry, he spent time as a crop
duster and pilot for hire, running supplies and gold shipments for miners
on the California coast in the 1960s.
DIRK VAHLE (Aerial Coordinator) started flying as a helicopter pilot
in the U.S. Army in 1971. He holds an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate,
with ratings in helicopters, single and multi-engine airplanes and seaplanes.
In 1985 Vahle began flying for the entertainment industry on the television
series "Airwolf." He subsequently coordinated for "J.A.G.,"
"Tour of Duty," "Drug Wars: The Kiki Carmarena Story,"
"Jake and the Fat Man," as well as the miniseries "They Are
Among Us."
Vahle's feature film credits as aerial coordinator include "Courage
Under Fire," "Clear and Present Danger," "The Client,"
"Mars Attacks!" "Casino," "Get Shorty" and
"Flatliners.
He also has contributed his skills to numerous television commercials including
spots for Disneyland, Jeep Grand Cherokee, MCI, AT&T, Accura, Sprint
and Nike, to name a few.
Copyright 1994-2008 Film Scouts LLC
Created, produced, and published by Film Scouts LLC
Film Scouts® is a registered trademark of Film Scouts LLC
All rights reserved.
