Jim Burke Jr. is an American film producer.[1][2]
Jim Burke Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Minnesota |
| Occupation | Film producer |
| Notable work | The Descendants, Green Book |
| Awards | Best Picture (2019) |
Burke, who is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, was a founding member of Rysher Entertainment. He was the President of Ad Hominem Enterprises, a production company he shared with Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor. The company had a first look deal with Fox Searchlight Pictures. He also served as President of Production at Focus Features.
On January 24, 2012, he was nominated for an Oscar for the movie The Descendants.[3]
In 2019, he won the Academy Award for Best Picture for producing Green Book.[4]
Over his career, Burke has been involved with films that have garnered 27 Academy Award nominations and 7 Oscars.
Burke is living in Hawaii and has nearly completed his final film as a producer. He is married to Christina Simpkins and father to New York sports broadcaster Madelyn Burke. He is dedicated to being an apprentice kama’aina and to being of service to the people of his beloved island home.
Early life and career
editBurke is the oldest of six children born and raised in Edina, Minnesota. Burke graduated from the University of Minnesota's College of Liberal Arts. In 2011, he was honored with the University's Alumni of Notable Achievement Award.
Prior to his senior year, he arranged for his family to audition for the popular game show Family Feud. Selected as contestants, against all odds, his family won. It was that experience in Los Angeles that enabled Burke to believe a career in show business was achievable.
After graduation he drove to Los Angeles in a Pinto station wagon and set out on his unlikely professional adventure.
His first job was as a “satellite jockey” coordinating news and sports satellite feeds. In that job he was introduced to the business of television syndication—the sales of film and television shows to broadcasters nationwide.
Lorimar Television / Warner Bros
editWithin a year, he landed a job at Lorimar Television, which soon after was acquired by Warner Bros.[5] During his 7 years at Warner,[6] after watching thousands of Warner Bros. films, Burke grew to become the studio's authority on its vast film library.
Rysher Entertainment
editWhen the opportunity arose, he followed his dream and pursued a career in filmmaking. He was a founding member of Rysher Entertainment[6]—a fledgling film and television company which soon after scored a notable success with the hit syndicated TV show, Saved By The Bell.[7] The enormous profits that show provided were immediately plowed into a small film slate, primarily for HBO.
Rysher was then bought by Cox Communications and provided with the resources to make a full slate of theatrical films. Over the next 5 years Burke supervised the development, production and release of over 30 films. Some of the most notable were, Primal Fear, Private Parts, Kiss the Girls, The Saint, Kingpin, Big Night, and Hard Eight.[7] The experience was invigorating but impersonal. Burke wanted to get closer to the films and make a stylistic imprint.
Ad Hominem
editWhile at Rysher, Burke read a script written by two friends entitled Election. It was the best script he had ever read and was driven to getting it made. When making Election he formed a bond with writer Jim Taylor and director Alexander Payne. Sharing the same film aesthetic, the decided to form a production company, Ad Hominem.[8] Ad Hominem, funded by Fox Searchlight, was dedicated to making human films.
At Ad Hominem the trio made several films including The Savages, and Oscar nominated The Descendants, starring George Clooney.[9] Burke spent 7 months in Honolulu while making The Descendants and fell in love with Hawaii's history, culture and people.
Focus Features
editWhile preparing the film Downsizing, Burke was unexpectedly approached with an offer to become the President of Production for specialized film groundbreaker and Universal Studios-based Focus Features.[6] At Focus he was tasked with making between 4-8 quality films a year.[10] During that time, he developed a film that came to known as Green Book.[11] He felt so strongly about the film that he asked to be let out of his deal to produce the film. Focus graciously agreed in exchange that he sign a “first look deal” with the studio. However, the film was instead released by Universal Pictures and not by Focus Features like it was originally intended.
Green Book went on to be a hit worldwide and was named best picture of the year by the academy, Golden Globes, Producers Guild and many critics organizations.[12]
Filmography and awards
edit| Year | Title | Award | Category | Result | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Dreamin' Wild | Producer | |||
| 2018 | Green Book | Academy Awards | Best Picture | Won | Producer |
| Best Actor (Viggo Mortensen) | Nominated | ||||
| Best Supporting Actor (Mahershala Ali) | Won | ||||
| Best Original Screenplay | Won | ||||
| Best Film Editing | Nominated | ||||
| BAFTA Awards | Best Film | Nominated | |||
| Best Actor (Viggo Mortensen) | Nominated | ||||
| Best Supporting Actor (Mahershala Ali) | Won | ||||
| Best Original Screenplay | Nominated | ||||
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Picture, Musical or Comedy | Won | |||
| Best Director (Peter Farrelly) | Nominated | ||||
| Best Actor, Musical or Comedy (Viggo Mortensen) | Nominated | ||||
| Best Supporting Actor (Mahershala Ali) | Won | ||||
| Best Screenplay | Won | ||||
| Producers Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Producing | Won | |||
| 2017 | Atomic Blonde | Studio Executive | |||
| 2017 | Darkest Hour | Academy Awards | Best Picture | Nominated | Studio Executive |
| Best Actor (Gary Oldman) | Won | ||||
| Best Cinematography | Nominated | ||||
| Best Production Design | Nominated | ||||
| Best Costume Design | Nominated | ||||
| Best Makeup and Hairstyling | Won | ||||
| BAFTA Awards | Best Film | Nominated | |||
| Best British Film | Nominated | ||||
| Best Actor (Gary Oldman) | Won | ||||
| Best Supporting Actress (Kristin Scott Thomas) | Nominated | ||||
| Best Cinematography | Nominated | ||||
| Best Production Design | Nominated | ||||
| Best Costume Design | Nominated | ||||
| Best Makeup and Hair | Won | ||||
| Best Music | Nominated | ||||
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor, Drama (Gary Oldman) | Won | |||
| 2017 | Victoria & Abdul | Academy Awards | Best Costume Design | Nominated | Studio Executive |
| Best Makeup and Hairstyling | Nominated | ||||
| BAFTA Awards | Best Makeup & Hair | Nominated | |||
| 2017 | Downsizing | Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actress (Hong Chau) | Nominated | Studio Executive |
| 2017 | The Beguiled | Studio Executive | |||
| 2017 | The Book of Henry | Studio Executive | |||
| 2017 | The Zookeeper's Wife | Studio Executive | |||
| 2016 | A Monster Calls | Studio Executive | |||
| 2016 | Nocturnal Animals | Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actor (Michael Shannon) | Nominated | Studio Executive |
| BAFTA Awards | Best Director (Tom Ford) | Nominated | |||
| Best Actor (Jake Gyllenhaal) | Nominated | ||||
| Best Supporting Actor (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) | Nominated | ||||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||||
| Best Cinematography | Nominated | ||||
| Best Editing | Nominated | ||||
| Best Production Design | Nominated | ||||
| Best Makeup & Hair | Nominated | ||||
| Best Music | Nominated | ||||
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Director (Tom Ford) | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actor (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) | Won | ||||
| Best Screenplay | Nominated | ||||
| 2015 | The Danish Girl | Academy Awards | Best Actor (Eddie Redmayne) | Nominated | Studio Executive |
| Best Supporting Actress (Alicia Vikander) | Won | ||||
| Best Production Design | Nominated | ||||
| Best Costume Design | Nominated | ||||
| BAFTA Awards | Best British Film | Nominated | |||
| Best Actor (Eddie Redmayne) | Nominated | ||||
| Best Actress (Alicia Vikander) | Nominated | ||||
| Best Costume Design | Nominated | ||||
| Best Makeup & Hair | Nominated | ||||
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor, Drama (Eddie Redmayne) | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress, Drama (Alicia Vikander) | Nominated | ||||
| Best Original Score | Nominated | ||||
| 2014 | Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter | Producer | |||
| 2011 | The Descendants | Academy Awards | Best Picture | Nominated | Producer |
| Best Director (Alexander Payne) | Nominated | ||||
| Best Actor (George Clooney) | Nominated | ||||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||||
| Best Editing | Nominated | ||||
| BAFTA Awards | Best Film | Nominated | |||
| Best Actor (George Clooney) | Nominated | ||||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||||
| Producers Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Producing | Nominated | |||
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Picture, Drama | Won | |||
| Best Director (Alexander Payne) | Nominated | ||||
| Best Actor (George Clooney) | Won | ||||
| Best Supporting Actress (Shailene Woodley) | Nominated | ||||
| Best Screenplay | Nominated | ||||
| 2011 | Cedar Rapids | Producer | |||
| 2007 | The Savages | Academy Awards | Best Actress (Laura Linney) | Nominated | Executive Producer |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||||
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor, Musical or Comedy (Philip Seymour Hoffman) | Nominated | |||
| 2004 | Walking Tall | Producer | |||
| 2001 | The Breed | Producer | |||
| 1999 | Election | Academy Awards | Best Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | Co-Producer |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress, Musical or Comedy (Reese Witherspoon) | Nominated | |||
| 1999 | OneGin | BAFTA Awards | Best British Film | Nominated | Production Executive |
| 1998 | The Opposite of Sex | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress, Musical or Comedy (Christina Ricci) | Production Executive | |
| 1997 | A Smile Like Yours | Production Executive | |||
| 1997 | The Eighteenth Angel | Executive Producer | |||
| 1997 | Switchback | Production Executive | |||
| 1997 | Kiss The Girls | Production Executive | |||
| 1997 | The Saint | Production Executive | |||
| 1997 | Zeus and Roxanne | Production Executive | |||
| 1997 | Turbulence | Production Executive | |||
| 1996 | Hard Eight | Production Executive | |||
| 1996 | The Evening Star | Golden Globes | Best Supporting Actress (Marion Ross) | Nominated | Production Executive |
| 1996 | Dear God | Production Executive | |||
| 1996 | 2 Days in the Valley | Co-Producer | |||
| 1996 | Big Night | Production Executive | |||
| 1996 | Foxfire | Production Executive | |||
| 1996 | House Arrest | Production Executive | |||
| 1996 | Escape from L.A | Production Executive | |||
| 1996 | Kingpin | Co-Producer | |||
| 1996 | Primal Fear | Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actor (Edward Norton) | Nominated | Production Executive |
| BAFTA Awards | Best Supporting Actor (Edward Norton) | Nominated | |||
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actor (Edward Norton) | Won | |||
| 1995 | Chameleon | Production Executive | |||
| 1995 | White Man's Burden | Production Executive | |||
| 1995 | It Takes Two | Production Executive | |||
| 1995 | Let It Be Me | Production Executive | |||
| 1995 | Three Wishes | Production Executive | |||
| 1995 | Perfect Alibi | Production Executive | |||
| 1995 | The Show | Production Executive | |||
| 1995 | Above Suspicion | Production Executive | |||
| 1995 | Destiny Turns on the Radio | Production Executive | |||
| 1995 | Bodily Harm | Production Executive | |||
| 1994 | Judicial Consent | Production Executive | |||
| 1994 | A Passion to Kill | Production Executive | |||
References
edit- ^ "Alexander Payne's THE DESCENDANTS Begins Principal Photography Today | FoxSearchlight.com". Archived from the original on 2011-05-19. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
- ^ Par captures 'Hogan's Heroes' - Entertainment News, Film News, Media - Variety
- ^ Academy Awards 2012 | Road to the Oscars - IMDb
- ^ Oscars: 'Green Book' Overcomes Backlash to Win Best Picture | The Hollywood Reporter
- ^ Lewis, Lacey Rose,Andy; Rose, Lacey; Lewis, Andy (2014-01-09). "How Lorimar, the Company Behind 'Dallas' and 'Falcon Crest,' Bred Hollywood's Ruling Executive Class". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-06-29.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c Fleming, Mike Jr. (2015-03-11). "Jim Burke Officially Named Focus Features Production President – Update". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-06-29.
- ^ a b "With Rysher Entertainment (Sorted by Popularity Ascending)". IMDb. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
- ^ "Ad Hominem Enterprises". Leo Adam Biga's My Inside Stories. Retrieved 2022-06-29.
- ^ "With Ad Hominem Enterprises (Sorted by Popularity Ascending)". IMDb. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (2015-03-11). "Jim Burke Named President of Production of Focus Features". Variety. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (2018-06-26). "Universal Dates 'Green Book', Shifting 'Welcome To Marwen' To December". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
- ^ Oscars: 'Green Book' Overcomes Backlash to Win Best Picture | The Hollywood Reporter