Alfonso Gomez-Rejon

Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (sometimes Alfonso Gómez-Rejón; born November 6, 1972)[1] is an American film and television director. His television program credits include Hunters, Glee and American Horror Story. He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing For a Miniseries for American Horror Story: Coven. He is most known for his second feature film Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.

Alfonso Gomez-Rejon
Rejon at the Montclair Film Festival in May 2015
Born (1972-11-06) November 6, 1972
Laredo, Texas
EducationNew York University (BFA)
American Film Institute (MFA)
OccupationFilm director
Years active1991–present

Early career

In high school, Rejon would "borrow a friend's camera" and "make shorts in lieu of presenting a report in front of the class."[2] He began his professional career as personal assistant to Martin Scorsese, Nora Ephron, Robert De Niro and Alejandro González Iñárritu before transitioning into a second unit director for feature films, and becoming a television and commercial director.[3] Much of his time as a personal assistant was spent on the sets of major motion pictures.[4] Gomez-Rejon then gained extensive experience as a second unit director, including such films as Babel, Julie & Julia and Argo.[5] He cast most of the "unknown parts" in Babel, which earned him a chance to assist Ryan Murphy in finding authentic Balinese personnel for Eat Pray Love.[6]

Television commercials

Prior to and during the September 21, 2010 season 2 premiere (episode "Audition") of Glee, American Express aired a commercial for its Members Project entitled "Don't Be A Sue", in reference to Glee character Sue Sylvester who has no regard for the arts and public service.[7][8]

On February 6, 2011, Chevrolet ran several Super Bowl ads. One was a 30-second ad in which the cast of Glee was asked to be spokespersons for the Chevrolet Cruze.[9] This ad served as a teaser for a 2-minute-and-20-second ad featuring the Glee cast as singers and dancers during a Lea Michele-led rendition of "See the USA in Your Chevrolet" that aired during the Super Bowl lead-out program, which was "The Sue Sylvester Shuffle" episode of Glee. A 60-second version of the ad was aired along with movie trailers at nationwide movie theaters. The "See the USA" ad was directed by Gomez-Rejon. Russell Carpenter was the director of photography.[10]

On November 30, 2011, T-Mobile announced a surprise event at the Woodfield Mall.[11] On December 1, 2011, Gomez-Rejon directed about six surprise singing and dancing mall performances of "Home for the Holidays" by Carly Foulkes and 100 Chicago-area women in magenta dresses. The performances were later edited into a music video with the hope that it would go viral.[12][13] The full video that has been posted on YouTube has a run time of 3:48 and it will be presented in a 60-second national television commercial starting on December 12. The video was produced by Ridley Scott and Tony Scott's RSA Films.[14] The musical director was Paul Mirkovich.[15]

Television programs

Eventually Murphy sought Gomez-Rejon to direct Glee,[6] where he earned his first episodic television directorial credits for executive producers Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Dante Di Loreto.[16] He credits Murphy for nurturing his early development.[6] In season 1, he directed "Laryngitis" (episode 18, May 11, 2010).[17] In season 2, he directed "Grilled Cheesus" (episode 3, October 5, 2010),[18] "A Very Glee Christmas" (episode 10, December 7, 2010)[19] and "Born This Way" (episode 18, April 26, 2011).[20] In season 3, he directed "Asian F" (episode 3, October 4, 2011).[21]

A new show by Murphy, Falchuk and Di Loreto as executive producers, American Horror Story, debuted in October 2011,[22] and Gomez-Rejon has directed two episodes from the first season: "Home Invasion" (episode 2, October 12, 2011)[23] and "Birth" (episode 11, December 14, 2011).[24] Rejon later returned for the second and third season.[4]

Gomez-Rejon was among the creative contributors named in the Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries or Television Film nomination at the 71st Golden Globe Awards for American Horror Story: Coven as Co-Executive Producer/Director.[25] His role as a producing director meant he had a more regular dialogue with Murphy because he was a creative contributor to all episodes whereas when he had been an episodic director, he had only been involved in the episodes that he shot. He also worked more closely with the showrunner on casting decisions.[6] He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy at the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special for his work directing the American Horror Story: Coven episode "Bitchcraft".[26] He is also credited with a nomination for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries since he served as Co-Executive Producer of the series.[27]

Feature films

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, which he directed, was a selection for the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival.[28] It won the award as well as the US drama audience prize.[29]

Gomez-Rejon was attached to direct Will Smith in the New York-set indie drama Collateral Beauty, scripted by Allan Loeb.[30][31] However, he later dropped out of the project due to creative differences.[32]

Gomez-Rejon directed the historical drama The Current War.[33]

Future projects

On November 13, 2015, Gomez-Rejon is set to direct Let It Bleed, a crime thriller based on his early life in Laredo, Texas.[34] On March 31, 2016, Gomez-Rejon is set to direct the film adaptation of Delia Ephron's novel Siracusa[35] On May 6, 2016, Gomez-Rejon is set to direct the film A Foreigner based on David Grann's 2011 article A Murder Foretold, starring Oscar Isaac.[36] On April 12, 2018, Gomez-Rejon is set to direct Limelight, the biopic of Peter Gatien the owner of the nightclub of the same name for Amazon Studios.[37] On November 7, 2019, Gomez-Rejon is set to direct the Walter Cronkite film Newsflash with Chris Pine set to portray Cronkite.[38]

Personal life

Alfonso, who is of Mexican American descent, was born and raised in Laredo, Texas on the US/Mexico border where he attended St. Augustine High School.[2][39] He received his BFA from New York University and his MFA from the AFI Conservatory.[40] He dedicated Me and Earl and the Dying Girl to his father, Julio C. Gomez Rejon, MD.[41]

Filmography

Gomez-Rejon's filmography is listed in the table below.[5]

Film
Year Title Contribution Notes
1996 Grace of My Heart Special Thanks
2000 Lucky Numbers Second Unit Director
2003 21 Grams Assistant
2005 Bewitched Second Unit Director
2006 Babel Casting Consultant, Second Unit Director
2009 State of Play Second Unit Director
2009 Julie & Julia Second Unit Director
2010 Eat Pray Love Casting, Second Unit Director
2011 The Eagle Second Unit Director
2012 Argo Second Unit Director
2014 The Town That Dreaded Sundown Director
2015 Me and Earl and the Dying Girl Director
2017 The Current War Director
Television
Title Season Episode name Episode # Date Contribution Notes
Glee Season 1 "Laryngitis" 18 May 11, 2010 Director
Season 2 "Grilled Cheesus" 3 October 5, 2010 Director
"A Very Glee Christmas" 10 December 7, 2010 Director
"Born This Way" 18 April 26, 2011 Director
Season 3 "Asian F" 3 October 4, 2011 Director
"Michael" 11 January 31, 2012 Director
Season 4 "Britney 2.0 2 September 20, 2012 Director
"The Break-Up" 4 October 4, 2012 Director
American Horror Story Season 1 "Home Invasion" 2 October 12, 2011 Director
"Birth" 11 December 14, 2011 Director
Season 2 "I Am Anne Frank (Part 2)" 5 November 14, 2012 Director
"Spilt Milk" 11 January 9, 2013 Director
"Madness Ends" 13 January 23, 2013 Director
Season 3 "Bitchcraft" 1 October 9, 2013 Director Nominated–Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special (2014)
"The Replacements" 3 October 23, 2013 Director
"The Sacred Taking" 8 December 4, 2013 Director
"The Magical Delights of Stevie Nicks" 10 January 8, 2014 Director
"Go to Hell" 12 January 22, 2014 Director
"The Seven Wonders" 13 January 29, 2014 Director
Season 4 "Massacres and Matinees" 2 October 15, 2014 Director
The Carrie Diaries Season 1 "Lie with Me" 2 January 21, 2013 Director
Red Band Society Season 1 "Pilot" 1 September 17, 2014 Director
Chambers Season 1 "Pilot" 1 April 26, 2019 Director
"Right to Know" 2 April 26, 2019 Director
Hunters Season 1 "Pilot" 1 February 21, 2020 Director

References
  1. "Alfonso Gómez-Rejón: Movies, Photos, Videos". Times of India. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  2. Chai, Barbara (June 29, 2015). "'Me and Earl and the Dying Girl' Director Recounts His Own High School Films". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  3. Kit, Borys (May 10, 2012). "'The Crow' Producer Tackling Graphic Novel 'Feeding Ground' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  4. Lutes, Alicia (January 29, 2014). "TV's Soon-To-Be Breakout Stars of 2014: American Horror Story Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon". Cinema Blend. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  5. "Alfonso Gomez Rejon (Filmography)". The New York Times. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
  6. Radish, Christina (October 18, 2013). "Director/Producer Alfonso Gomez-Rejon Talks American Horror Story: Coven and His First Feature The Town That Dreaded Sundown". Collider. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  7. "Alfonso Gomez-Rejon". RSA Films. Archived from the original on September 8, 2011. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
  8. "Member's Project Unveils New "Glee" Campaign "Don't Be a Sue"". Passport. September 23, 2010. Archived from the original on September 7, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
  9. "2011 USA TODAY Super Bowl Ad Meter". USA Today. February 9, 2011. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
  10. "Chevy/Glee Super Bowl ad spot 2011". Quantel. March 1, 2011. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
  11. T-Mobile USA (November 30, 2011). "@TMobile status". Twitter. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
  12. Bishop, Todd (December 7, 2011). "Video: T-Mobile stages holiday musical in middle of a mall". Geekwire. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
  13. Baar, Aaron (December 8, 2011). "Magenta Meets New Directions For T-Mobile". Media Post News. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
  14. McGlynn, Tim (December 9, 2011). "Schaumburg High School students in T-Mobile ad". Daily Herald. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
  15. "T-Mobile's Home For The Holidays Surprise". CastTV. December 5, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
  16. Lowry, Brian (May 14, 2009). "Glee". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  17. Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (director), Ryan Murphy (writer) (May 11, 2010). "Laryngitis". Glee. Season 1. Episode 18. Fox.
  18. Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (director), Brad Falchuk (writer) (October 5, 2010). "Grilled Cheesus". Glee. Season 2. Episode 3. Fox.
  19. Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (director), Ian Brennan (writer) (December 7, 2010). "A Very Glee Christmas". Glee. Season 2. Episode 10. Fox.
  20. Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (director), Brad Falchuk (writer) (April 26, 2011). "Born This Way". Glee. Season 2. Episode 18. Fox.
  21. Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (director), Ian Brennan (writer) (October 4, 2011). "Asian F". Glee. Season 3. Episode 3. Fox.
  22. Goldberg, Lesley (August 3, 2011). "'American Horror Story' Adds Tim Minear, 3 More Writers (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 3, 2011.
  23. Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (director), Ryan Murphy & Brad Falchuk (writers) (October 12, 2011). "Home Invasion". American Horror Story. Season 1. Episode 2. FX.
  24. Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (director), TBA (writers) (December 14, 2011). "Birth". American Horror Story. Season 1. Episode 11. FX.
  25. "Hollywood Foreign Press Association Announces 2014 Golden Globe Nominations". Tisch School of the Arts. Archived from the original on August 1, 2014. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  26. "Emmy nominations 2014: The complete list". CNN. July 10, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  27. "Alfonso Gomez-Rejon". Emmys.com. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  28. "SUNDANCE INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES FILMS IN U.S. AND WORLD COMPETITIONS, NEXT <=> FOR 2015 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL". Sundance Film Festival. December 3, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  29. Thurston, Michael (January 31, 2015). "Cancer movie wins top prize at Sundance". Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  30. Sneider, Jeff (May 13, 2015). "Hugh Jackman, Rooney Mara to Star in Indie Drama 'Collateral Beauty'". The Wrap. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  31. "'Collateral Beauty' Acquired By New Line; Rooney Mara Drops Off". Deadline Hollywood. September 8, 2015.
  32. Jaafar, Ali (October 5, 2015). "'Collateral Beauty' Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon Exits Project Over Creative Differences With Studio". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  33. Lodderhose, Diana (September 29, 2016). "Michael Shannon Joins Benedict Cumberbatch In TWC's 'The Current War'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  34. Allen, Clark (November 13, 2015). "{Exclusive} Alfonso Gomez-Rejon To Helm Autobiographical Thriller "Let It Bleed"". The Tracking Board. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  35. Fleming Jr., Mike (March 31, 2016). "Working Title Lands Upcoming Delia Ephron Novel 'Siracusa'; Alfonso Gomez-Rejon To Direct". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  36. Kroll, Justin (May 6, 2016). "Oscar Isaac to Star in Alfonso Gomez-Rejon Thriller 'A Foreigner' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  37. Fleming Jr., Mike (April 12, 2018). "Amazon Studios Sets Book & Alfonso Gomez-Rejon Movie On Rise & Fall Of New York Club Owner Peter Gatien". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  38. Welk, Brian (November 7, 2019). "'The Current War' Filmmaker Alfonso Gomez-Rejon to Direct Chris Pine as Walter Cronkite in 'Newsflash'". The Wrap. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  39. "Alfonso Gómez Rejón: From Laredo to Hollywood". www.goldenglobes.com.
  40. "Alfonso Gomez Rejon (Full Biography)". The New York Times. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
  41. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (DVD). 1:39:58. 2015. FOR MY FATHER, JULIO C. GOMEZ REJON, MDCS1 maint: location (link)
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