Jared and Jerusha Hess

Jared Lawrence Hess (born July 18, 1979) and Jerusha Elizabeth Hess (née Demke; born May 12, 1980) are husband-and-wife American filmmakers known for their work on Napoleon Dynamite (2004), Nacho Libre (2006) and Gentlemen Broncos (2009), all of which they co-wrote and which were directed by Jared (Nacho Libre was co-written with Mike White). They also produced music videos for The Postal Service's third single, "We Will Become Silhouettes", and The Killers' Christmas charity single "Boots".

"Jared Hess" redirects here. For the mixed martial arts fighter, see Jared Hess (fighter).
Jared Hess
Hess in 2009
Born
Jared Lawrence Hess

(1979-07-18) July 18, 1979
Glendale, Arizona, U.S.
OccupationFilmmaker
Spouse(s)Jerusha Hess
Children4[1]
Jerusha Hess
Born
Jerusha Elizabeth Demke

(1980-05-12) May 12, 1980
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
OccupationFilmmaker
Spouse(s)Jared Hess
Children4[2]

Personal life

Jerusha was born in Omaha, Nebraska and Jared was born in Glendale, Arizona. Jared is a graduate of Burton Elementary School located in Kaysville, Utah, which he attended while living in Fruit Heights during his youth. He also attended Manhattan High School in Kansas for two years, before transferring to Preston High School, from which he graduated in 1997. Many scenes from Napoleon Dynamite were filmed there. As a teenager Jared worked in film production with T. C. Christensen.

Career

Jared met Jerusha while attending Brigham Young University's (BYU) film school. Together they co-wrote the film Napoleon Dynamite, which was produced and edited by their classmate Jeremy Coon.

While at BYU, Jared wrote and directed a student film entitled Cardboard Only, which is about a seven-year-old Idaho farm boy who struggles to escape boredom while wearing a cardboard box over his head. While at BYU, Jared also wrote and directed a short film entitled Peluca, which became a prototype for Napoleon Dynamite and featured much of the same cast and plotline, including Jon Heder as Seth, "super nerd extraordinaire."[3]

Besides his efforts on Napoleon Dynamite and Peluca, Jared has worked as a camera assistant in a number of films and has played minor roles in a few Latter-day Saint comedies. These include The Singles Ward, The R.M. and Pride and Prejudice: A Latter-day Comedy. Their second movie Nacho Libre, starring Jack Black, was released on June 16, 2006.

The third major film made by the Hesses, Gentlemen Broncos, was released in 2009. It is about a teenager who aspires to be a writer, but after attending a fantasy-writer's convention, he finds that his idea has been stolen by an established novelist. The film stars Michael Angarano as the teenager, Jemaine Clement as the established novelist, and Sam Rockwell as the story's fictional title character who appears in book-come-to-life sequences.[4]

In 2010, Jared created ads for the Utah State Fair which were run on the radio, but refused on television. The Utah State Fair representatives claimed they refused to run them due to sexual overtones, while Hess claimed the failure to run the ads was because the main actor in them, Marcus T. Boddie, was an African-American.[5]

In 2011, Jerusha directed a film adaptation of the book Austenland, which was released in 2013. She also co-wrote the screenplay.[6][7]

Jared and Jerusha Hess are also among the executive producers of the Napoleon Dynamite TV series that aired in 2012. In addition, Jared voiced Don Moser, a returning character originally portrayed by Trevor Snarr in the film.

Jared directed the comedy heist film Masterminds (2016).[8][9]

Jared was among the executive producers for the Fox TV series Making History, which premiered in 2017.[10]

Filmography

Directed by Jared Hess:

Directed by Jerusha Hess:

  • Austenland (2013)
  • Ninety-five Senses (2020) (short film)
gollark: I don't really care a huge amount, I just want a bit more variety.
gollark: Probably.
gollark: I mean, with a male, is the decision for it to be purple/green biome-based?
gollark: I know that part.
gollark: Is nebula blue/purple or green/redness determined by biome? None of my CB desert nebulae are turning out red/green.

References
  1. https://www.deseret.com/platform/amp/2015/12/3/20578149/byu-grad-napoleon-dynamite-creator-talks-new-religious-comedy-family-business-and-mentors
  2. https://www.deseret.com/platform/amp/2015/12/3/20578149/byu-grad-napoleon-dynamite-creator-talks-new-religious-comedy-family-business-and-mentors
  3. "Peluca (2003)". IMDb.
  4. ""Napoleon Dynamite" Helmer's New Comedy". Worst Previews. 2008-01-31. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. "Utah hates Jared Hess's Utah State Fair ads".
  6. "Jerusha Hess to Direct Romantic Comedy with 'Twilight' Author Stephenie Meyer Producing (Exclusive)". Hollywood Reporter. July 5, 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-20.
  7. Stern, Marlow (20 January 2013). "'Austenland' Starring Keri Russell, Is A Delightful Hoot" – via www.thedailybeast.com.
  8. article about Jared Hess directing Masterminds
  9. second article on Hess directing Masterminds
  10. "FOX 2017 Spring Premiere Dates Announced". January 11, 2017. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  11. "Shanghai Dawn". Empire.
  12. Wayt, Matt. "Napoleon Dynamite's Jared Hess to direct Disney's "Home Alone in a toy store" movie".
  13. Cannes: Jack Black Reteams with Director Jared Hess on Comedy 'Micronations' Variety. May 18, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
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