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J. F. Lawton

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J. F. Lawton
J. F. Lawton in 2009
Born
Jonathan Frederick Lawton

(1960-08-11) August 11, 1960 (age 64)
Riverside, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Film director
  • producer
  • screenwriter
Years active1989–present
SpousePaola Lawton

Jonathan Frederick Lawton (born August 11, 1960) is an American screenwriter, producer, and director.[1] His screen credits include the box office hits Pretty Woman, Mistress, Blankman, Under Siege, Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, The Hunted, Chain Reaction, Jackson, and the series V.I.P. (on American TV). Under the pseudonym J.D. Athens, Lawton wrote and directed the films Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death and Pizza Man.[2]

Early life

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J. F. Lawton is the son of author and novelist Harry Lawton and pianist Georgeann Leona Lawton (née Honegger).[3] The couple met in Berkeley, California while attending the University of California. The couple later moved to Riverside, where Harry was hired as a reporter for The Press-Enterprise, and where J. F. was born.[1]

As a child, J. F. Lawton had severe dyslexia, which made school life difficult. It took him many years of practice and hard work to manage his learning disability.[4]

When Lawton was still in elementary school, his father's novel, Willie Boy: A Desert Manhunt,[4] was made into a film starring Robert Redford.[5] During the making of Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here, Harry would take J. F. to the set, exposing his son to the process of filmmaking. From that moment on, fascinated, Lawton determined that he would become a screenwriter. Always curious, Lawton would observe his surroundings and write about them, although due to his dyslexia, it would take him double the time to put his stories down on paper.[1]

In high school, Lawton continued to write short stories, plays, and scripts. After graduating from John W. North High School in Riverside, he enrolled at California State University in Long Beach, to study filmmaking.[1] There he wrote, directed, and edited two short films, The Artist and Renaissance.[2] The first was a futuristic thriller in which the main character kills his victims, takes their pictures, and puts them in his art exhibitions. The second, Renaissance, was a short horror film in which a sadistic sexual predator dominates and kills his victim every night, but revives her the next morning only to start the cycle all over again. Both shorts won awards on the college film festival circuit.[1]

Career

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1980s

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After college, Lawton moved to Los Angeles, settling near Hollywood Boulevard and Western Avenue, one of the areas of Los Angeles with the highest crime rate at the time.[6] Living among prostitutes, pimps, drug users and dealers, and homeless people; the setting gave Lawton a wide range of inspiration for his stories.[7] He wrote many screenplays while working at several post-production companies.[8]

During this time, Lawton met producer Charles Band, for whom he would direct his first feature film. Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death is a take-off of both Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness and Francis Ford Coppola's feature Apocalypse Now.[2] Shot in less than two weeks in Lawton's hometown of Riverside, the film starred his longtime friend, comedian Bill Maher,[9][10] Playboy Playmate Shannon Tweed[11] and horror actress Adrienne Barbeau.[12] It became a cult favorite and late-night cable staple.[13]

After Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death, Lawton also wrote and directed Pizza Man, a political satire about a pizza delivery man investigating a comical government conspiracy.[14] Bill Maher also starred in the 1991 film Pizza Man, along with comedian Annabelle Gurwitch.[15] In both movies, he used the pseudonym J.D. Athens.[16]

1990s

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His script for the film Three Thousand[4][17] was accepted by the Sundance Institute in the late 1980s.[18] Executives at Touchstone Pictures,[19] a division of Walt Disney Studios, became interested in making the movie.[8] He changed the title to Pretty Woman,[20] and with over $400 million in worldwide box office,[7][21] the movie became the largest grossing live-action film in Disney history. Directed by Garry Marshall,[7] with Richard Gere and Julia Roberts,[17][22] the film is a story about Vivian Ward, a prostitute who is hired by a wealthy businessman, Edward Lewis, to be his escort for one week while he is in town on business.[23] Although they come from different backgrounds and lifestyles,[7] they end up developing a relationship based more on genuine love than money and convenience.[24] Pretty Woman[7] was a huge success[25] and got Lawton nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award and a British Academy Award for his screenplay.[26] Julia Roberts won a Golden Globe Award[27] for her role and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress.[28]

Lawton was given an executive producer credit for his next original screenplay, Under Siege,[29] based on his million-dollar spec script Dreadnought.[30] The idea came when Lawton, who had served time in the United States Coast Guard Reserve, read that the Navy was retiring the USS Missouri (BB-63). The film stars Steven Seagal as a disgraced Navy Seal working as a cook on a battleship. Seagal's character must face off against a psychopathic ex-CIA agent (Tommy Lee Jones), who leads a group of mercenaries on a takeover of the battleship on its final voyage, so he can steal its arsenal of nuclear Tomahawk cruise missiles. A successful sequel followed: Under Siege 2: Dark Territory.

With Barry Primus, Lawton co-wrote Mistress,[16] a comedy starring Robert De Niro, Danny Aiello, Christopher Walken and Martin Landau.[31] The movie is about a Hollywood screenwriter, Marvin Landisman, whose career is going downhill until he meets a has-been hustler-producer who tries to help him revive his career.[31] Starring an all-star cast, Mistress was one of the first films produced by TriBeCa Productions, Robert De Niro's production company;[31] it was released in the summer of 1992.

Lawton worked with radio host and media personality Howard Stern on the script for The Adventures of Fartman, a fictional superhero character created by Stern for The Howard Stern Show.[32] With two major studios willing to produce, the movie was put into hold due to a MPAA Film Rating System dispute, as Lawton and Stern felt the content of the film was better suited for a mature audience, and wanted an R-rating for the film instead of a PG-13 rating.[33] The film was put on hold, and Howard Stern included a five-page Fartman story in comics form in his 1995 book, Miss America, which was based on Lawton's script. The book reached number one on The New York Times Best Seller list within days of its release.[34]

For Columbia Pictures, Lawton co-wrote the 1994 film Blankman,[35] a film starring and produced by Damon Wayans. (Wayans' character is Darryl – a nerdy, comical ghetto superhero with a pure heart, who fights criminals in his own style.)[36]

Lawton went on to write and direct The Hunted (1995), a thriller set in Japan starring Christopher Lambert, John Lone, and Joan Chen.[37] Written and directed by Lawton,[38] the movie traces Paul Racine, a computer-chip executive from New York on one of his many business trips to Tokyo. Local authorities and a legendary ninja cult get involved in an electric chase[clarification needed] after a crime occurs in a hotel room.[39] The Hunted was released on February 25, 1995, and distributed by Universal Studios. The score, featuring music by the acclaimed Japanese taiko troupe Kodo,[40] was formally specified by Lawton.[citation needed]

Lawton's next film project was the action thriller Chain Reaction, which starred Morgan Freeman, Keanu Reeves, and Rachel Weisz.[41] Filmed in Chicago, Illinois,[42] the movie was released on August 2, 1996, and grossed over $60 million worldwide.

In 1998 Lawton created and executive produced the Sony Pictures Entertainment syndicated show V.I.P. which ran until 2002.[43][44] The adventure series starred Pamela Anderson as Vallery Irons,[45] a small-town girl who comes to Southern California looking for a break, when she stumbles into the glamorous role of heading up a Beverly Hills bodyguard agency called Vallery Irons Protection.[46]

2000s

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In 2006,[47] Lawton co-wrote for Paramount Pictures a film based on the video game series DOA: Dead or Alive,[48] starring Eric Roberts, Jaime Pressly, and Devon Aoki.[49]

Lawton wrote and directed the 2008 film Jackson,[16][50] a comedy-drama-musical starring Barry Primus, Charlie Robinson, Steve Guttenberg, Debra Jo Rupp, and included performances by opera singers Ella Lee, Shawnette Sulker, Clamma Dale and others. The movie takes place on a single day involving two homeless men surviving on Los Angeles's Skid Row. Lawton wrote two songs for the movie, "Downtown Birthday" and "Love Cannot Be". Jackson was shot mainly in Downtown Los Angeles, except for one scene shot in Kentucky.

Personal life

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Lawton has dyslexia and ADHD, and advocates for charities related to those issues. He is also a supporter of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). He has expressed concern for environmental issues, human rights, cancer and poverty.[51]

He is married to journalist, writer, and LGBT activist Paola Lawton.[51]

Filmography

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Film

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Short films

[edit]
Title Director Writer Editor
The Artist Yes Yes Yes
Renaissance Yes Yes Yes

Feature films

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Year Title Director Writer Notes
1989 Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death Yes Yes Credited as J. D. Athens
1990 Pretty Woman No Yes
1991 Pizza Man Yes Yes Credited as J. D. Athens
1992 Mistress No Yes
Under Siege No Yes
1994 Blankman No Yes
1995 The Hunted Yes Yes
1996 Chain Reaction No Yes
2006 DOA: Dead or Alive No Yes
2008 Jackson Yes Yes

Television

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Year Title Director Writer Executive
producer 		Notes
1998-2002 V.I.P. Yes Yes Yes Directed 6 episodes, wrote 7 episodes


See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "J. F. Lawton Biography". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "J. F. Lawton". Variety. Archived from the original on February 29, 2008. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  3. ^ "Biography for J. F. Lawton". TCMDb.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ a b c "J. F. Lawton". BBC News. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  5. ^ Greenspan, Roger (December 19, 1969). "Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 15, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  6. ^ Dan Kapelovitz (April 28, 2005). "Pirates, Pimps, Artists and Anarchy". LA Weekly. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved May 17, 2009.
  7. ^ a b c d e Larry Getlen (March 23, 2010). "Inside Pretty Woman". New York Post. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
  8. ^ a b Kate Erbland (March 23, 2015). "The True Story of Pretty Woman's Original Dark Ending". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on January 28, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  9. ^ "Real Time with Bill Maher". HBO. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved May 20, 2009.
  10. ^ Mark Binelli (October 8, 2006). "A Man for Our Time". Rolling Stone Magazine. Archived from the original on October 21, 2006.
  11. ^ "Shannon Tweed". Hollywood.com. Archived from the original on May 4, 2009. Retrieved May 20, 2009.
  12. ^ "Adrianne Barbeau". Allmovie.com. Archived from the original on April 5, 2011. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  13. ^ "J. F. Lawton Bio". Film.com. Archived from the original on June 23, 2009. Retrieved May 20, 2009.
  14. ^ "Pizza Man". Variety Magazine. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
  15. ^ Pogrebin, Robin (2008). "Pizza Man (1992)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 1, 2008. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  16. ^ a b c "J. F. Lawton Biography". Hollywood.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2008. Retrieved May 18, 2009.
  17. ^ a b "Pretty Woman turns 20". Moviefone.com. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  18. ^ "J. F. Lawton Biography". Hollywood.com. May 27, 2022. Archived from the original on October 7, 2008. Retrieved May 18, 2009.
  19. ^ "Pretty Woman". AMC. Archived from the original on July 4, 2009. Retrieved May 20, 2009.
  20. ^ Janet Maslin (2012). "Pretty Woman". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012.
  21. ^ Richard Corliss (February 11, 1991). "New Thrills for Pretty Woman". TIME. Archived from the original on February 20, 2001. Retrieved May 20, 2009.
  22. ^ "Pretty Woman". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2009.
  23. ^ "Pretty Woman". Film.com. Archived from the original on April 10, 2008. Retrieved October 8, 2005.
  24. ^ "Pretty Woman". MTV. Archived from the original on April 23, 2008. Retrieved May 20, 2009.
  25. ^ "Unforgettable Woman". New York Post. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  26. ^ "Best Original Screenplay". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2009.
  27. ^ "Julia Roberts Awards". Golden Globes. Archived from the original on April 14, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
  28. ^ "Oscars". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
  29. ^ "Under Siege". Cinemax. Archived from the original on May 24, 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
  30. ^ "Under Siege". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012.
  31. ^ a b c Stephen Holden (August 7, 1992). "Mistress, Merrily Dealing and Double-Dealing in Hollywood". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 15, 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  32. ^ "The Howard Stern Show". Sirius Satellite Radio. Archived from the original on February 28, 2009. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  33. ^ Richard Corliss; Jeffrey Ressner (June 28, 1993). "Hollywood's Summer: Just Kidding". Time. Archived from the original on May 23, 2011. (Requires subscription)
  34. ^ Bill Carter; Nat Ives (November 10, 2004). "Howard Stern". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 28, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  35. ^ Jeffrey Wells (February 5, 1993). "A Look Inside Hollywood and the Movies". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  36. ^ Stephen Holden (August 20, 1994). "A Makeshift Superhero for Not-So-Super Times". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 15, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  37. ^ "The Hunted". film.com. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved October 2, 2008.
  38. ^ "The Hunted". HBO. Archived from the original on July 12, 2009.
  39. ^ NIX (June 1, 2002). "The Hunted (1995) Movie Review". Beyond Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved May 18, 2009.
  40. ^ "Kodo History". Sony Music. Archived from the original on August 26, 2005. Retrieved May 11, 2007.
  41. ^ "Chain Reaction". Showbizdata.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved May 18, 2009.
  42. ^ Janet Maslin (February 8, 1992). "A Scientist, a Discovery, a Plot: Let the Special Effects Begin!". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 15, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  43. ^ Joel Stein (October 31, 1999). "Babe Tube". TIME Magazine. Archived from the original on June 29, 2009.
  44. ^ Benjamin Svetkey (October 3, 2000). "The Squad". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on September 11, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  45. ^ "Pamela Anderson, Life in Pictures". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 15, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  46. ^ "V.I.P." Variety.
  47. ^ NIX (November 20, 2006). "DOA: Dead Or Alive (2006) Movie Review". Beyond Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 20, 2009. Retrieved May 18, 2009.
  48. ^ Ed Meza (November 3, 2004). "DOA deal makes Impact". Variety.
  49. ^ "Devon Aoki: Model Profile". New York Magazine. Archived from the original on April 27, 2009. Retrieved May 1, 2009.
  50. ^ "J. F. Lawton". Digital Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 20, 2009.
  51. ^ a b Denise Ames (April 24, 2015). "One-on-One with Screenwriter J. F. Lawton". The Tolucan Times. Archived from the original on June 10, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
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