Director of T3

Background:

A recipient of World Stunt's Action Movie Director of 2004, American director, screenwriter and producer Jonathan Mostow has created a name for himself as a purveyor of action-oriented movies that have a deeper psychological investigative base thanks to the critically acclaimed “Breakdown” (1997) and the Oscar winner “U-571” (2000). Both movies were box-office success. The Harvard graduate is also known as the director of the successful installment “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” (2003). Mostow will helm the Bruce Willis vehicle “The Surrogates” (2010) and the big screen version of “Swiss Family Robinson” (2009). On the producing front, Mostow received a credits as executive producer for David Fincher's hit, “The Game” (1997). He reprises the duty for the upcoming films “Hancock” and “Mexicali” (both 2008).

Harvard

Childhood and Family:

Jonathan Mostow was born on November 28, 1961, in Woodbridge, Connecticut. He was educated at the Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and after earning his B.A, he relocated to Los Angeles. Jonathan also trained at the American Repertory Company and NYC's Lee Strasberg Institute.

U-571

Career:

Jonathan Mostow kicked off his moviemaking career as a student at Harvard University, in which he helmed several award-winning documentaries and shorts. He also made music videos for artists like Alicia Bridges and Leon Patillo before directing his feature, the direct-to-video release “Beverly Hills Bodysnatchers” (1989), which was considered a disappointing comedy. His next attempt, “Flight of the Black Angel,” about a colonel who trains fighter pilots and his annoyed protege who wants to attack the local population, was aired on Showtime in 1991. Starring Peter Strauss and William O'Leary, the thriller brought him a CableACe nomination in the category of Best International Movie or Special.

Mostow then vanished from filmmaking for several years, but made a triumphant return in 1997 with the release of his first film, “Breakdown,” which he directed and scripted. A thriller starring Kurt Russell and Kathleen Quinlan, the Paramount thriller was a surprise hit at the box office and earned a Saturn nomination for Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film. In his long-hiatus, Mostow also found himself writing an early draft of the 1997 film “The Game” with the hope of directing. Unfortunately for him, the duty went to David Fincher and Mostow himself was relegated to an executive producer credit. Starring Michael Douglas and Sean Penn, the action film was also a top box office hit.

The success of “Breakdown” allowed the director to co-found, with producer Hal Lieberman, a production company called Mostow/Lieberman Productions in 1997. The company signed production deal with Universal Studios. In 1998, Mostow helmed Tom Hank in “La Voyage Dans La Lune,” the 12th and final episode of the HBO incredible miniseries “From the Earth to the Moon.”

Returning to film, Mostow teamed up with accomplished actors such as Harvey Keitel, Bill Paxton, Matthew McConaughey and rising stars like Jack Noseworthy, Matthew Settle, Thomas Guiry for his next directorial outing, “U-571” (2000). A tense thriller about an effort by the USA to stop a German U-boat carrying a coding device, the film reached No.1 at the box office and stayed there for two straight weeks. It also won an Oscar for Best Sound Editing. With “U-571,” Mostow furthered showcased a gift for constructing and holding out suspense and bring the viewers on a rollercoaster ride. In 2003, Mostow enjoyed another blockbuster hit when he was tapped to direct Arnold Schwarzenegger for the sequel “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.”

Recently, in 2007, Mostow revisited television to helm the series pilot “Them,” starring Tricia Helfer and jointly written by David Eick and John McNamara about an agent sent to examine an terrestrial planet that has infiltrated the human race. He also served as an executive producer for the project.

As for his upcoming projects. Mostow is set to direct “The Surrogates” (2010), an action film starring Bruce Willis, and the adventure/comedy “Swiss Family Robinson” (2009), which he and Gregory Poirier adapted from a book by Johann David Wyss. He executive produces the films “Hancock” (2008), directed by Peter Berg, and “Mexicali” (2008), for director Pietro Scalia.

Awards:

• World Stunt: Action Movie Director, 2004