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IMDbPro

Joseph J. Lawson

  • Visual Effects
  • Director
  • Art Department
IMDbProStarmeter
See rank
Joseph J. Lawson
Trailer for Alone for Christmas
Play trailer1:05
Alone for Christmas (2013)
3 Videos
17 Photos
Over his career, Joe Lawson has filled many roles as a filmmaker: director, writer, practical and digital visual effects supervisor and artist, storyboard artist, voice-over artist and actor as well as directing animated and live action productions including five features, commercials, Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future, Animal Armageddon and Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles.

He also is the digital artist who put an arrow in Peter Jackson's chest for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King while at Rhythm & Hues studios.

In 1999, he moved to Hollywood to work in Visual Effects and pursue his lifetime ambition of directing, fulfilled in 2012 with his first film the science fiction/horror adventure Nazis at the Center of the Earth followed quickly by an epic fantasy Clash of the Empires lensed in Cambodia. His followup was the dinosaur feature Age of Dinosaurs with Treat Williams and Ronny Cox. Showing a directorial range including Alone for Christmas, a family comedy with David DeLuise and Kevin Sorbo, his latest directed film is the war drama Ardennes Fury.

On the journey he has worked in artist and supervisory roles at Foundation Imaging, Digital Domain, Rhythm and Hues, Zoic Studios, NBC/Universal, UFO Films, Radical 3D and The Global Asylum. He has worked on series including Star Trek: Enterprise and SyFy Channels' Caprica. He also served as VFX supervisor on the cult pop phenomena Sharknado, Sharknado 2, Sharknado 3 and Sharknado 4.

Joe grew up the son of an Air Force sergeant, traveling with his parents and sister to over 22 homes by his 18th year.

His involvement in media started at a ten-watt student radio station in Neah Bay, Washington, progressing to news feature reporter and television commercial director/production department director for almost 20 years for KRTV-3 in Great Falls, Montana with awards including a Rocky Mountain Emmy nomination, numerous commercial Addy Awards and an Advertising Federation Silver Medalist award in 1998. He also formed and has run his own interactive media, animation and production house Lawson Digital Arts since 1992.

As a weather announcer he had the opportunity to fly with the Blue Angels along with writing, directing and editing numerous other documentaries and live specials.

Joe is always ready to take on a challenge whether it's directing in a far off land old-school David Lean style or mashing up genres and creating exciting, emotional and iconic images that defy and exceed expectations while meeting budgets and deadlines. He also works hard to be an effective team leader while keeping sets and departments efficient and fun places to be.

Joe lives in southern California with his wife Kelly and their two children.
BornMay 3, 1962
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornMay 3, 1962
IMDbProStarmeter
See rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
  • Awards

Photos17

Sharks and Planes and Joe, Oh My!
Directing Christopher Karl Johnson on Nazis at the Center of the Earth
Directing Nazis at the Center of the Earth
Joe Lawson preps a scene in Cambodia
Joe Lawson on location in Cambodia
Joe Lawson directs in Cambodia
Joseph J. Lawson directs Treat Williams, Age of Dinosaurs
Joseph J. Lawson directing in Cambodia
Directing Nazis at the Center of the Earth
A special moment directing in Cambodia, Joseph J. Lawson
The Team of Alone for Christmas
Joseph J. Lawson speaking at The Minnesota College of Art and Design

Known for

Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
6.4
  • Visual Effects(4K Director's Edition)
  • 1979
Liv Tyler, Sean Astin, Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, and Andy Serkis in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
9.0
  • Visual Effects(Rhythm & Hues)
  • 2003
Red Tails (2012)
Red Tails
5.9
  • Visual Effects(Radical 3D)
  • 2012
Age of Dinosaurs (2013)
Age of Dinosaurs
2.8
  • Visual Effects
  • 2013

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Visual Effects

  • On Fire
    • Post-production
  • Bad Connection
    • Completed
  • Patsy Lee & The Keepers of the 5 Kingdoms
    • Post-production
  • Space Command (2020)
    Space Command
  • Tom Arnold, Brittany Underwood, and Jonathan Stoddard in A Prince and Pauper Christmas (2022)
    A Prince and Pauper Christmas
  • William Baldwin, Jonathan Stoddard, and Anna Marie Dobbins in A Royal Christmas on Ice (2022)
    A Royal Christmas on Ice
  • The Gabby Petito Story (2022)
    The Gabby Petito Story
  • Andrea Bowen and Matt Magnusson in Hall Pass Nightmare (2022)
    Hall Pass Nightmare
  • The Devil Conspiracy (2022)
    The Devil Conspiracy
  • Megan Elizabeth Barker and Marc Herrmann in Love at the Lodge
    Love at the Lodge
  • Chelsea Gilson in Killer Design (2022)
    Killer Design
  • The Wrong High School Sweetheart (2022)
    The Wrong High School Sweetheart
  • The Wrong Blind Date (2022)
    The Wrong Blind Date
  • Krystal Joy Brown and Curtis Hamilton in Writing Around the Christmas Tree (2021)
    Writing Around the Christmas Tree
  • Vanessa Williams, Asia'h Epperson, Michelle Argyris, and Alonzo B. Slater in Welcome to the Christmas Family Reunion (2021)
    Welcome to the Christmas Family Reunion
  • All I Want for Christmas (2021)
    All I Want for Christmas
  • Dina Meyer, Tatyana Ali, and Henderson Wade in A Picture Perfect Holiday (2021)
    A Picture Perfect Holiday
  • Kelly Hu and Sylvia Kwan in List of a Lifetime (2021)
    List of a Lifetime

Director

  • Ardennes Fury (2014)
    Ardennes Fury
  • Alone for Christmas (2013)
    Alone for Christmas
  • Age of Dinosaurs (2013)
    Age of Dinosaurs
  • Bai Ling and Christopher Judge in Clash of the Empires (2012)
    Clash of the Empires
  • Nazis at the Center of the Earth (2012)
    Nazis at the Center of the Earth
  • Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future (2002)
    Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future

Art Department

  • Nazis at the Center of the Earth (2012)
    Nazis at the Center of the Earth
  • Titanic II (2010)
    Titanic II
  • Chesley Sullenberger in Brace for Impact: The Chesley B. Sullenberger Story (2010)
    Brace for Impact: The Chesley B. Sullenberger Story
  • Alien Earths (2009)
    Alien Earths
  • Animal Armageddon (2009)
    Animal Armageddon
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos3

Lawson Digital Arts Demo Reel 2020
Demo Reel 2:48
Lawson Digital Arts Demo Reel 2020
Alone for Christmas
Trailer 1:05
Alone for Christmas
Age of Dinosaurs
Trailer 1:04
Age of Dinosaurs

Personal details

Edit
    • Joe Lawson Official Director Site
    • May 3, 1962
    • Oak Park, Illinois, USA
    • July 11, 1998 - present (2 children)
  • Other works
    CGI Director, "Roughnecks:The Starship Trooper Chronicles" Episode 136, Funeral for A Friend

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