Jo D. Jonz
Encyclopedia
Jo D. Jonz is an American method actor, maverick writer, director, and film producer. He began acting as early as five years old and he had the great pleasure of working with some of today's most visionary directors and actors throughout his career. Undertaking a myriad of roles on both sides of the pendulum as an actor, Jonz explains his deep exploration into his characters as an integral part of his journey. Jonz, an artist, has shown no limits in his commitment to his craft. As Jonz continues to work, he always feels "we have a responsibility on how we represent ourselves in Hollywood."
, Jonz began his career at the age of five. Working primarily in print, appearing in numerous catalog ads such as Macy's
, and Sears. He quickly began moving into commercial ads and television. Jonz appeared in commercials for Disney
, Kool-Aid
, Aetna Life Insurance
, and Sega
. His first starring role was "Ty's Homemade Band" with Taj Mahal at seven years old, a movie about music education. His first play was Medea
at the age of nine, at the Borough of Manhattan Community College
. After working consistently for years, Jonz's time was spent between working and school but was missing the normalcy of his childhood. At a young age, he had insight and awareness to focus on his education and eventually he made the decision to attend college where he spent his time mastering his acting craft.
productions of Shakespeare's
Twelfth Night. After turning down more commercial roles, such as soap operas, he felt it was time to see the west coast to further fine tune his art. Jonz relocated to Los Angeles
where he intended to study in the Meisner technique
program method acting
. After learning of Meisner's passing, Jonz auditioned for the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
. After being accepted, he declined the offer for a more formal education and attended in the University of Massachusetts Amherst
and graduated with a double major in Theater and Anthropology. While he was there, he joined the Five College Theatre Arts program and toured Smith College
, Hampshire College
, Amherst College
and Mt. Holyoke College in an array of performances from Australian play Our Country's Good
at the Rand Theater to the international play Crossroads by Togo exile Jossi Kossi Efoue, as well as Molière the Misanthrope
.
directorial debut film, First Time Felon
. After he completed the film, he then relocated back to Los Angeles and went on to appear in many television episodics ER
, NYPD Blue
, Cold Case and Criminal Minds
. During this time he went on to write, direct, and star in the play Negritude. The play went on to receive many favorable reviews including by Deborah Klugman from LA Weekly
"This African-American medley of drama, dance and song has plenty to recommend it... A segment celebrating Harlem in its heyday showcases the ensemble's musical talents... The costumes and the dancing are lively and the company's collaborative spirit contagious."
Also, he was the musical director of a nine piece band. Soon after, he went on to write, direct, and later produce his first film, 15 Minutes of Fame, a comedy film that tells the story of four guys who made the grave mistake of letting Hollywood into their home. The film stars Charles Malik Whitfield
, Richard T. Jones
, and Adam Rodriguez
and was executive produced by Donald Faison
.
Continuing to challenge himself, for three months, he trained in boxing and went professional in 2006 while preparing for a role as a has-been boxer. He fought on ESPN's Friday Night Fights but his opponent dropped out and Jonz still agreed to fight and a replacement was found just days before the event. Although Jonz won all three rounds on the score cards, he lost by a controversial TKO with thirty seconds left in the third round on a scheduled four round fight. Jonz explains "his victory was never the goal nor in the character description. It was the journey and the understanding of the emotional state of a fighter against all odds." Boxrec.com. Jonz has recently produced a play Jungle Kings, directed by another mentor Bill Duke
and starred in feature films like Next Day Air
and Midnight Son
.
, and the Key Club in West Hollywood
.
; a biographical film
, Breaking Free, based on the life of Fatema Saira Rehman and her marriage to Bristish prisoner Charles Bronson
; a 3-D animated movie
; and an action film
, Unsung. In order to prepare for the role of the lead in Unsung, Jonz took to professional boxing
and went on to train and compete in several matches. Along with his professional acting career, he has gone on currently trains mixed martial arts fighters to fight in the octagon.
For his film 15 Minutes of Fame:
Early career
Born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Jonz began his career at the age of five. Working primarily in print, appearing in numerous catalog ads such as Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
, and Sears. He quickly began moving into commercial ads and television. Jonz appeared in commercials for Disney
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
, Kool-Aid
Kool-Aid
Kool-Aid is a brand of flavored drink mix owned by the Kraft Foods Company.-History:Kool-Aid was invented by Edwin Perkins in Hastings, Nebraska, United States. All of his experiments took place in his mother's kitchen. Its predecessor was a liquid concentrate called Fruit Smack...
, Aetna Life Insurance
Aetna
Aetna, Inc. is an American health insurance company, providing a range of traditional and consumer directed health care insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmaceutical, dental, behavioral health, group life, long-term care, and disability plans, and medical management...
, and Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
. His first starring role was "Ty's Homemade Band" with Taj Mahal at seven years old, a movie about music education. His first play was Medea
Medea (play)
Medea is an ancient Greek tragedy written by Euripides, based upon the myth of Jason and Medea and first produced in 431 BC. The plot centers on the barbarian protagonist as she finds her position in the Greek world threatened, and the revenge she takes against her husband Jason who has betrayed...
at the age of nine, at the Borough of Manhattan Community College
Borough of Manhattan Community College
The Borough of Manhattan Community College is one of six two-year colleges within the City University of New York system and the only one in Manhattan. Founded in 1963, BMCC originally offered business-oriented and liberal arts degrees for those intending to enter the business world or transfer...
. After working consistently for years, Jonz's time was spent between working and school but was missing the normalcy of his childhood. At a young age, he had insight and awareness to focus on his education and eventually he made the decision to attend college where he spent his time mastering his acting craft.
Education
Jonz consistently worked from childhood through his high school years. After he graduated from Humanities High School, Jonz sought to actively engage his craft by taking on roles in Off-BroadwayOff-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
productions of Shakespeare's
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
Twelfth Night. After turning down more commercial roles, such as soap operas, he felt it was time to see the west coast to further fine tune his art. Jonz relocated to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
where he intended to study in the Meisner technique
Meisner technique
The Meisner technique is an acting technique developed by the American theatre practitioner Sanford Meisner.Meisner developed this technique after working with Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler at the Group Theatre and as head of the acting program at New York City's Neighborhood Playhouse and...
program method acting
Method acting
Method acting is a phrase that loosely refers to a family of techniques used by actors to create in themselves the thoughts and emotions of their characters, so as to develop lifelike performances...
. After learning of Meisner's passing, Jonz auditioned for the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
The American Academy of Dramatic Arts is a fully accredited two-year conservatory with facilities located in Manhattan, New York City – at 120 Madison Avenue, in a landmark building designed by noted architect Stanford White as the original Colony Club – and in Hollywood, California...
. After being accepted, he declined the offer for a more formal education and attended in the University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research and land-grant university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States and the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system...
and graduated with a double major in Theater and Anthropology. While he was there, he joined the Five College Theatre Arts program and toured Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
, Hampshire College
Hampshire College
Hampshire College is a private liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1965 as an experiment in alternative education, in association with four other colleges in the Pioneer Valley: Amherst College, Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, and the University of Massachusetts...
, Amherst College
Amherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
and Mt. Holyoke College in an array of performances from Australian play Our Country's Good
Our Country's Good
Our Country's Good is a 1988 play written by British playwright, Timberlake Wertenbaker, adapted from the Thomas Keneally novel The Playmaker. The story concerns a group of Royal Marines and convicts in a penal colony in New South Wales, in the 1780s, who put on a production of The Recruiting...
at the Rand Theater to the international play Crossroads by Togo exile Jossi Kossi Efoue, as well as Molière the Misanthrope
Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
.
Continuing career
Shortly after, Jonz found himself back in New York City where he landed a role in his mentor Charles Dutton'sCharles S. Dutton
Charles Stanley Dutton is an American stage, film, and television actor and director. He is perhaps best known for his roles as "Fortune" in the film Rudy and "Dillon" in Alien 3...
directorial debut film, First Time Felon
First Time Felon
-Plot:A young inexperienced drug dealer and "Vice Lords" gang member, Greg Yance has been given the choice between facing a five-year prison sentence or the successful completion of an intensive boot camp...
. After he completed the film, he then relocated back to Los Angeles and went on to appear in many television episodics ER
ER (TV series)
ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
, NYPD Blue
NYPD Blue
NYPD Blue is an American television police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan...
, Cold Case and Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds is an American police procedural drama that premiered September 22, 2005, on CBS. The series follows a team of profilers from the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit based in Quantico, Virginia. The BAU is part of the FBI National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime...
. During this time he went on to write, direct, and star in the play Negritude. The play went on to receive many favorable reviews including by Deborah Klugman from LA Weekly
LA Weekly
LA Weekly is a free weekly tabloid-sized "alternative weekly" in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1978 by Editor/Publisher Jay Levin and a board of directors that included actor-producer Michael Douglas...
"This African-American medley of drama, dance and song has plenty to recommend it... A segment celebrating Harlem in its heyday showcases the ensemble's musical talents... The costumes and the dancing are lively and the company's collaborative spirit contagious."
Also, he was the musical director of a nine piece band. Soon after, he went on to write, direct, and later produce his first film, 15 Minutes of Fame, a comedy film that tells the story of four guys who made the grave mistake of letting Hollywood into their home. The film stars Charles Malik Whitfield
Charles Malik Whitfield
Charles Malik Whitfield is an American actor from Bronx, New York. He is best known for his role as Otis Williams in 1998 miniseries The Temptations. He also appeared in 33 episodes of The Guardian as character James Mooney. He has appeared in dozens of other television series as well as a handful...
, Richard T. Jones
Richard T. Jones
Richard Timothy Jones is an American film and television actor.Jones was born in Kobe, Japan and raised in Carson, California. He is the son of Lorene, a computer analyst, and Clarence Jones, a professional baseball player and the hitting instructor for the Cleveland Indians. He also has an older...
, and Adam Rodriguez
Adam Rodriguez
Adam Michael Rodríguez is an American actor and director. He is best known for his long running role as Eric Delko on CSI: Miami.-Life and career:...
and was executive produced by Donald Faison
Donald Faison
Donald Adeosun Faison is an American actor, comedian, and voice actor best known for his role as Dr. Chris Turk in the ABC comedy-drama Scrubs and as Murray in the film Clueless and the subsequent television series of the same name.Faison has also co-starred in the films Remember the Titans ,...
.
Continuing to challenge himself, for three months, he trained in boxing and went professional in 2006 while preparing for a role as a has-been boxer. He fought on ESPN's Friday Night Fights but his opponent dropped out and Jonz still agreed to fight and a replacement was found just days before the event. Although Jonz won all three rounds on the score cards, he lost by a controversial TKO with thirty seconds left in the third round on a scheduled four round fight. Jonz explains "his victory was never the goal nor in the character description. It was the journey and the understanding of the emotional state of a fighter against all odds." Boxrec.com. Jonz has recently produced a play Jungle Kings, directed by another mentor Bill Duke
Bill Duke
William Henry "Bill" Duke, Jr. is an American actor and film director with over 30 years of experience. Known for his physically imposing frame, Duke's work frequently dwells within the action/crime and drama genres but also includes comedy.-Early life:Duke was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, the...
and starred in feature films like Next Day Air
Next Day Air
Next Day Air is a 2009 action comedy film that was released by Summit Entertainment on May 8, 2009. The film starring Mike Epps and Donald Faison was produced on an estimated budget of $3 million...
and Midnight Son
Midnight Son
Midnight Son is a 2011 film directed by Scott Leberecht, written by Scott Leberecht, produced by Matt Compton, and starring Zak Kilberg. A trailer was released late October 2010.-Plot:...
.
Boku
Jonz also formed a nine piece band Boku. Jonz wrote, composed, arranged the original work and collaborated with an array of international artists. Boku's world hip hop sounds explored world beat rhythms while keeping true to their roots in hip hop. The band performed all over Los Angeles including The House of Blues, El Rey TheatreEl Rey Theatre
El Rey Theatre is currently a live music venue in the Miracle Mile area of the Mid-Wilshire region in Los Angeles, California. "El Rey" means "The King" in Spanish....
, and the Key Club in West Hollywood
West Hollywood, California
West Hollywood, a city of Los Angeles County, California, was incorporated on November 29, 1984, with a population of 34,399 at the 2010 census. 41% of the city's population is made up of gay men according to a 2002 demographic analysis by Sara Kocher Consulting for the City of West Hollywood...
.
Jonz Unltd.
In 2008 Jonz created Jonz Unltd. taking his previous production company, PolySci Multimedia, and combining it with all of his other properties. Jonz Unltd. manages films, new media, books, graphic design, Oshune Body Care and natural health care company. Jonz Unltd. has several projects in development including Hieroglyph of the Cockatoo by Ron Allen (playwright)Ron Allen (playwright)
Ron Allen was an Afro-American poet and playwright who described his work as a "concert of language." The Detroit native employed intuitive configurations of language to invent new meaning and new structures for the exploration and expression of language arts, including poetry and theater.Like...
; a biographical film
Biographical film
A biographical film, or biopic , is a film that dramatizes the life of an actual person or people. They differ from films “based on a true story” or “historical films” in that they attempt to comprehensively tell a person’s life story or at least the most historically important years of their...
, Breaking Free, based on the life of Fatema Saira Rehman and her marriage to Bristish prisoner Charles Bronson
Charles Bronson (prisoner)
Charles Bronson is a Welsh criminal often referred to in the British press as the "most violent prisoner in Britain"....
; a 3-D animated movie
3-D film
A 3-D film or S3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception...
; and an action film
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
, Unsung. In order to prepare for the role of the lead in Unsung, Jonz took to professional boxing
Professional Boxing
Professional boxing, or prizefighting, emerged in the early twentieth century as boxing gradually attained legitimacy and became a regulated, sanctioned sport. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse which is divided among the fighters and promoters as determined by contract...
and went on to train and compete in several matches. Along with his professional acting career, he has gone on currently trains mixed martial arts fighters to fight in the octagon.
Filmography
- First Time FelonFirst Time Felon-Plot:A young inexperienced drug dealer and "Vice Lords" gang member, Greg Yance has been given the choice between facing a five-year prison sentence or the successful completion of an intensive boot camp...
(1997) - Kings (1998)
- ERER (TV series)ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
(1998) - Pacific BluePacific Blue (TV series)Pacific Blue is an American crime drama series about a team of police officers with the Santa Monica Police Department who patrolled its beaches on bicycles. The show ran for five seasons on the USA Network, from March 2, 1996 to April 9, 2000, with a total of one hundred and one episodes...
(1999) - Deadlocked (2000)
- Book of LoveBook of Love (2002 film)Book of Love, also known as Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs, is a 2002 romantic comedy film, written and directed by Jeffrey W. Byrd, and starring Anthony "Treach" Criss, Eric K. George, and Richard T. Jones as its three male protagonists, respectively.-Plot:Book of Love is a...
(2002) - The DivisionThe DivisionThe Division is an American Lifetime Television original series about a team of women police officers in the San Francisco Police Department. The series premiered on January 7, 2001 and ended on June 28, 2004 after 88 episodes.-Synopsis:...
(2002) - The GuardianThe Guardian (TV series)The Guardian is an American drama series which aired on CBS from September 25, 2001 to May 4, 2004. It is currently showing in re-runs on the Sleuth Channel in the US. The Guardian has also aired in the United Kingdom on the Hallmark Channel, ABC1 and more recently five USA and as of August...
(2002) - Mello's Kaleidoscope (2002)
- Gilfriends (2003)
- NYPD BlueNYPD BlueNYPD Blue is an American television police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan...
(2003) - L.A. Dragnet (2003)
- MonkMonk (TV series)Monk is an American comedy-drama detective mystery television series created by Andy Breckman and starring Tony Shalhoub as the titular character, Adrian Monk. It originally ran from 2002 to 2009 and is primarily a mystery series, although it has dark and comic touches.The series debuted on July...
(2004) - Cold Case (2004)
- Ralph & Stanley (2005)
- Next Day AirNext Day AirNext Day Air is a 2009 action comedy film that was released by Summit Entertainment on May 8, 2009. The film starring Mike Epps and Donald Faison was produced on an estimated budget of $3 million...
(2009) - Blue (2009)
- Criminal MindsCriminal MindsCriminal Minds is an American police procedural drama that premiered September 22, 2005, on CBS. The series follows a team of profilers from the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit based in Quantico, Virginia. The BAU is part of the FBI National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime...
(2009) - Midnight Son (2011)
Awards
- Honorary Artivist Video of Panther Film Festival 2001-2003
For his film 15 Minutes of Fame:
- Best Comedy Feature Film at the Hamptons Black International Film Festival
- #1 Feature Film of the Week by DipdiveDipdiveDipdive is a social networking website tagged as "a Lifestyle Engine for Music, Arts, Action & More." It is best known for the original source site of the "Yes We Can" music video. The site allows users to upload images, videos, MP3s, Blogs and create playlists. Videos and MP3s are allowed in the...
- "Independent Film of the Week" by The Hollywood ReporterThe Hollywood ReporterFormerly a daily trade magazine, The Hollywood Reporter re-launched in late 2010 as a unique hybrid publication serving the entertainment industry and a consumer audience...
- Official Selection of the Hollywood Black Film FestivalHollywood Black Film FestivalThe Hollywood Black Film Festival, dubbed the "Black Sundance," is an annual six-day film festival held in Los Angeles, California dedicated to enhancing the careers of new and established black filmmaking professionals by bringing their work to the attention of the film industry, press and public....
- Outstanding Small Business Achievement 2010 - Community Financial Resource Center
External links
- Official Website
- Jonz Unltd.
- Jo D. Jonz at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- 15 Minutes of Fame Movie Website
- Oshune Body Care