Trained at California Institute of the Arts, Jerry Rees is a Director of live action, animation, and live/CGI films. In addition to theatrical features, he has directed a record-setting 15 multi-media Disney Theme Park attractions in Florida, Paris and Anaheim, as well as aboard the Disney Cruise Line.
He has had the pleasure of directing a broad range of actors, from Steve Martin, Robin Williams, Alec Baldwin, Martin Short, and Drew Carey to Kim Basinger, Julie Delpy, Goldie Hawn, and Ileanna Douglas. He has even played director to the likes of George Lucas and Michael Eisner.
In addition to being a member of the DGA and WGA, he is an Animator, Sculptor, and Fine Artist, dedicated to the use of computer technology in opening new storytelling possibilities.
He has had the pleasure of directing a broad range of actors, from Steve Martin, Robin Williams, Alec Baldwin, Martin Short, and Drew Carey to Kim Basinger, Julie Delpy, Goldie Hawn, and Ileanna Douglas. He has even played director to the likes of George Lucas and Michael Eisner.
In addition to being a member of the DGA and WGA, he is an Animator, Sculptor, and Fine Artist, dedicated to the use of computer technology in opening new storytelling possibilities.
As Director
“The Marrying Man” / Hollywood Pictures
Live-action feature.
CAST: Kim Basinger, Alec Baldwin, Paul Reiser, Elisabeth Shue, Robert
Loggia, Armande Asante, Fisher Stevens
“The Brave Little Toaster” / Hyperion
Animated feature.
CAST: (voices of) Jon Lovitz, Phil Hartman, Tim Stack, Judy Toll, Deanna Oliver
“Cinemagique” / Euro-Disney *
Large format live action film and in-theater illusion.
CAST: Martin Short, Julie Delpi, Tcheky Karyo, Alan Cumming
*Winner of 2003 THEA Award for best attraction.
“Disneyland - The First 50 Magical Years” / Disneyland Anaheim
Directed all live portions of this live action/CGI fantasy documentary which opened 2005.
CAST: Steve Martin, Art Linkletter
“Back To Neverland” / Disney MGM Studios*
Live-action/ animation combo.
CAST: Robin Williams**, Walter Cronkite
*Winner Best Documentary, Houston Film Festival.
**This project led directly to the casting of Robin Williams in Disney’s Aladdin.
“Sounds Dangerous" / Disney MGM Studios
Live-action and binaural sound show. Sit-down theatre attraction.
CAST: Drew Carey, Ann Magnuson
“Cranium Command” / Disney’s Epcot
13 minute live-action show with 8 screens and 2 audio-animatronic figures. Over 90 minutes of footage displayed due to the multi-screen set-up.
Took over after Disney retired Colossal Pictures, who were in production. Wrote new story and directed all elements.
CAST: Charles Grodin, Jon Lovitz, Bobcat Goldthwait, Dana Carvey,
Kevin Neeland, George Wendt
“Rockin’ Roller Coaster” / Disney MGM Studios & Euro-Disney
Live-action, large format Showscan and video. Bookend scenes to set-up and pay-off thrill ride. Shot 2 versions for the 2 parks.
CAST: Aerosmith (Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Joey Kramer, Brad Witford, Tom Hamilton), Illeana Douglas, Ken Marino, Lisa Kushell
“Extra-Terrorestrial Alien Encounter” / Magic Kingdom at Disney World
20 minute live-action / CGI attraction that takes place in 4 rooms in Tomorrowland.
CAST: Kevin Pollack, Jeffery Jones, Kathy Njimy, Tyra Banks, Tim Curry
“Animation Magic” / Disney Cruise Line
Mixed media - using analog and digital techniques, host Mickey Mouse invites 700 visitors at a time to add their own artistic touches directly into his movie, rendering every show a unique experience. Permanent installation in the Animator's Palate aboard Disney's new cruise ships the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, launching 2011 and 2012.
“Michael & Mickey” / Disney MGM Studios
Live-action / animation combo. Theatrical short
Replaced Robert Zemeckis, who was ill. Reworked concept, then used Zemeckis’ Roger Rabbit DP and crew.
CAST: Michael Eisner
"Countdown to Extinction, a.k.a. Dinosaur" / Animal Kingdom at Disney World
Live-action / CGI scenes that bookend a ride-through audio-animatronic venue.
CAST: Wallace Langham, Phylicia Rashad
“Tourist From Hell” / Disney MGM Studios
live action instructional
CAST: Goldie Hawn, Rick Moranis
“The Editing Story” / Disney MGM Studios
Live action instructional
Called 3 days before cameras rolled to redo story and take over as director.
CAST: George Lucas, Anthony Daniels
“O' Canada” / Disney’s Epcot
Live action addition of onscreen host to update “circle-vision theater” tour of Canada.
Premiered September 2007.
CAST: Martin Short
"Mystery Attraction" / Undisclosed Disney Venue
Until Disney press is ready to announce, it remains a secret.
Premiere planned for 2013.
“Disney’s California Adventure” / ABC
Live-action - 1 hour prime time special.
Called 4 days before cameras rolled to take over direction
CAST: Richard Kind, Barry Bostwick, Patrick Warburton, Colin Mochrie
“Little Alvin and the Mini-Munks” / Independent
Widescreen Hi-Def live action/puppetry/CGI feature. Direct to DVD. Also animated all CGI effects.
Directed live action, animated all special effects and did 2 voices for Producer friends who wanted a quality piece for a resonable price.
CAST: Janice Karman, Ross Bagdasarian
“Doctor of Doom” / Personal / Cult
Featurette, co-directed with Tim Burton.
Parody of Mexican horror movies, shot in black and white.
CAST: Tim Burton, Harry Sabin, Michael Giaimo, Cynthia Prince, Chris Buck, Darrell Van Citters, Jerry Rees
VOICES: Brad Bird, Randy Cartwright, Jerry Rees
“Luau” / Personal / Cult
Featurette, co-directed with Tim Burton.
Parody of beach movies.
DP: Randy Cartwright
CAST: Tim Burton, Jerry Rees, Joe Ranft, John Musker, Gale Musker, Rebecca Rees, Mike Gabriel, Harry Sabin, Darrell Van Citters, Sue Kroyer, Sue Frankenburger, Terry Hamada, Phil Young, Ben Burges, Rick Heinricks, Brett Newton, George Sukara, Ed Gombert, Jay Jackson, Louis Tate, Brian McEntee, Cynthia Prince
Live-action feature.
CAST: Kim Basinger, Alec Baldwin, Paul Reiser, Elisabeth Shue, Robert
Loggia, Armande Asante, Fisher Stevens
“The Brave Little Toaster” / Hyperion
Animated feature.
CAST: (voices of) Jon Lovitz, Phil Hartman, Tim Stack, Judy Toll, Deanna Oliver
“Cinemagique” / Euro-Disney *
Large format live action film and in-theater illusion.
CAST: Martin Short, Julie Delpi, Tcheky Karyo, Alan Cumming
*Winner of 2003 THEA Award for best attraction.
“Disneyland - The First 50 Magical Years” / Disneyland Anaheim
Directed all live portions of this live action/CGI fantasy documentary which opened 2005.
CAST: Steve Martin, Art Linkletter
“Back To Neverland” / Disney MGM Studios*
Live-action/ animation combo.
CAST: Robin Williams**, Walter Cronkite
*Winner Best Documentary, Houston Film Festival.
**This project led directly to the casting of Robin Williams in Disney’s Aladdin.
“Sounds Dangerous" / Disney MGM Studios
Live-action and binaural sound show. Sit-down theatre attraction.
CAST: Drew Carey, Ann Magnuson
“Cranium Command” / Disney’s Epcot
13 minute live-action show with 8 screens and 2 audio-animatronic figures. Over 90 minutes of footage displayed due to the multi-screen set-up.
Took over after Disney retired Colossal Pictures, who were in production. Wrote new story and directed all elements.
CAST: Charles Grodin, Jon Lovitz, Bobcat Goldthwait, Dana Carvey,
Kevin Neeland, George Wendt
“Rockin’ Roller Coaster” / Disney MGM Studios & Euro-Disney
Live-action, large format Showscan and video. Bookend scenes to set-up and pay-off thrill ride. Shot 2 versions for the 2 parks.
CAST: Aerosmith (Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Joey Kramer, Brad Witford, Tom Hamilton), Illeana Douglas, Ken Marino, Lisa Kushell
“Extra-Terrorestrial Alien Encounter” / Magic Kingdom at Disney World
20 minute live-action / CGI attraction that takes place in 4 rooms in Tomorrowland.
CAST: Kevin Pollack, Jeffery Jones, Kathy Njimy, Tyra Banks, Tim Curry
“Animation Magic” / Disney Cruise Line
Mixed media - using analog and digital techniques, host Mickey Mouse invites 700 visitors at a time to add their own artistic touches directly into his movie, rendering every show a unique experience. Permanent installation in the Animator's Palate aboard Disney's new cruise ships the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, launching 2011 and 2012.
“Michael & Mickey” / Disney MGM Studios
Live-action / animation combo. Theatrical short
Replaced Robert Zemeckis, who was ill. Reworked concept, then used Zemeckis’ Roger Rabbit DP and crew.
CAST: Michael Eisner
"Countdown to Extinction, a.k.a. Dinosaur" / Animal Kingdom at Disney World
Live-action / CGI scenes that bookend a ride-through audio-animatronic venue.
CAST: Wallace Langham, Phylicia Rashad
“Tourist From Hell” / Disney MGM Studios
live action instructional
CAST: Goldie Hawn, Rick Moranis
“The Editing Story” / Disney MGM Studios
Live action instructional
Called 3 days before cameras rolled to redo story and take over as director.
CAST: George Lucas, Anthony Daniels
“O' Canada” / Disney’s Epcot
Live action addition of onscreen host to update “circle-vision theater” tour of Canada.
Premiered September 2007.
CAST: Martin Short
"Mystery Attraction" / Undisclosed Disney Venue
Until Disney press is ready to announce, it remains a secret.
Premiere planned for 2013.
“Disney’s California Adventure” / ABC
Live-action - 1 hour prime time special.
Called 4 days before cameras rolled to take over direction
CAST: Richard Kind, Barry Bostwick, Patrick Warburton, Colin Mochrie
“Little Alvin and the Mini-Munks” / Independent
Widescreen Hi-Def live action/puppetry/CGI feature. Direct to DVD. Also animated all CGI effects.
Directed live action, animated all special effects and did 2 voices for Producer friends who wanted a quality piece for a resonable price.
CAST: Janice Karman, Ross Bagdasarian
“Doctor of Doom” / Personal / Cult
Featurette, co-directed with Tim Burton.
Parody of Mexican horror movies, shot in black and white.
CAST: Tim Burton, Harry Sabin, Michael Giaimo, Cynthia Prince, Chris Buck, Darrell Van Citters, Jerry Rees
VOICES: Brad Bird, Randy Cartwright, Jerry Rees
“Luau” / Personal / Cult
Featurette, co-directed with Tim Burton.
Parody of beach movies.
DP: Randy Cartwright
CAST: Tim Burton, Jerry Rees, Joe Ranft, John Musker, Gale Musker, Rebecca Rees, Mike Gabriel, Harry Sabin, Darrell Van Citters, Sue Kroyer, Sue Frankenburger, Terry Hamada, Phil Young, Ben Burges, Rick Heinricks, Brett Newton, George Sukara, Ed Gombert, Jay Jackson, Louis Tate, Brian McEntee, Cynthia Prince
As Producer
“Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular”/Disney-MGM Studios
2400 seat amphitheater show.
Sent by George Lucas to give the show a makeover prior to opening. Lucas, Eisner and Katzenberg reviewed and approved the result.
“Spacejam” / Warner Bros. (Animation Producer)
Live-action, animation combined feature.
Acted as animation director in response to emergency call from Reitman’s company 7 weeks out from live shoot. Collected storyboard and animation crew, and brought on two animation directors. Continued as animation producer for additional contract term of 9 months.
CAST: Michael Jordan
2400 seat amphitheater show.
Sent by George Lucas to give the show a makeover prior to opening. Lucas, Eisner and Katzenberg reviewed and approved the result.
“Spacejam” / Warner Bros. (Animation Producer)
Live-action, animation combined feature.
Acted as animation director in response to emergency call from Reitman’s company 7 weeks out from live shoot. Collected storyboard and animation crew, and brought on two animation directors. Continued as animation producer for additional contract term of 9 months.
CAST: Michael Jordan
As Writer
“Betty Boop” / MGM / Zanuck
Sole Writer, Producer of animated feature with Lili and Richard Zanuck Executive Producing, Deal with Alan Ladd Jr.
"Casper” / Amblin
Production Rewrite at Steven Spielberg’s request after he read the Betty Boop original screenplay.
“Roger Rabbit Prequel” / Amblin
Sold Original Story to Steven Speilberg, after pitching and getting support from Jeffrey Katzenberg and Peter Schneider.
“Small Soldiers” / Amblin
Wrote Treatment
“Rand Robinson Robot Repairman” / Interscope
Writer, Attached to Direct
“The Kiss” / Sony-Columbia-Lisa Henson
Original Story and Screenplay, pitched to and embraced by Lisa Henson. Under contract as Writer/Director.
“The Brave Little Toaster”
Writer/Director
“Back To Neverland”
Original Story, Writer/Director
“Oddyssey” / WildBrain
Attached as Director – Wrote Screenplay – pitching for turnaround, script available to read
“Witchgirl” / WildBrain
Attached as Director – Wrote Screenplay based on original story by Tamara Lusher-Stocker – pitching for turnaround, script available to read
“5 Brothers” / WildBrain
Attached as Director – Wrote Screenplay – available to read
Sole Writer, Producer of animated feature with Lili and Richard Zanuck Executive Producing, Deal with Alan Ladd Jr.
"Casper” / Amblin
Production Rewrite at Steven Spielberg’s request after he read the Betty Boop original screenplay.
“Roger Rabbit Prequel” / Amblin
Sold Original Story to Steven Speilberg, after pitching and getting support from Jeffrey Katzenberg and Peter Schneider.
“Small Soldiers” / Amblin
Wrote Treatment
“Rand Robinson Robot Repairman” / Interscope
Writer, Attached to Direct
“The Kiss” / Sony-Columbia-Lisa Henson
Original Story and Screenplay, pitched to and embraced by Lisa Henson. Under contract as Writer/Director.
“The Brave Little Toaster”
Writer/Director
“Back To Neverland”
Original Story, Writer/Director
“Oddyssey” / WildBrain
Attached as Director – Wrote Screenplay – pitching for turnaround, script available to read
“Witchgirl” / WildBrain
Attached as Director – Wrote Screenplay based on original story by Tamara Lusher-Stocker – pitching for turnaround, script available to read
“5 Brothers” / WildBrain
Attached as Director – Wrote Screenplay – available to read
As Crew
Update
Latest theme park attractions for Disney scheduled to open in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Developing many original feature, series, web and specialty venue projects.
Founding member of iDea Entertainment Studios, dedicated to innovative, global uses of technology.
Lead Creative with AMUSME, digital media licensing, development and production.
Collaborating Director with Espace Productions Inc.
JERRY REES
has had the pleasure of directing:
Kim Basinger
Juli Delpi
Steve Martin
Martin Short
Robin Williams
Drew Carey
Alec Baldwin
Alan Cumming
Goldie Hawn
Kevin Pollak
Robert Loggia
Armande Assante
Illeana Douglas
George Lucas
Walter Cronkite
Tyra Banks
Steven Tyler
Michael Eisner
John Lasseter
Paul Reiser
Jon Lovitz
Charles Grodin
Richard Kind
Rick Moranis
Tcheky Karyo
Dana Carvey
Art Linkletter
Colin Mochrie
Patrick Warburton
Ann Magnuson
Elisabeth Shue
Phylicia Rashad
George Wendt
Jeffrey Jones
Barry Bostwick
Tim Curry
Bobcat Goldthwait
Kathy Najimy
Kevin Nealon
Fisher Stevens
Wallace Langham
Marco Leonardi
Tim Stack(voice)
Phil Hartman(voice)
Representation
Peter Nichols
Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler & Feldman, Inc.
9200 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 1200
Los Angeles, California 90069-3507
310 205-6999
