Joel Hopkins
Encyclopedia
Joel Hopkins is a British
independent
film director
and screenwriter
best known for his films Jump Tomorrow
(2001) and Last Chance Harvey
(2008).
, England
, though he moved to New York
to attend university. His first feature film
, 2001's Jump Tomorrow
, was based on his 1998 short film "Jorge", which he filmed in New York while attending New York University
's (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts
. For "Jorge", Hopkins won NYU's Wasserman Award—a US$
100,000 grant towards filming another project—which went towards the production budget for Jump Tomorrow. The film received positive reviews from critics, but was only granted a limited release
and never reached a wider audience. Hopkins was nominated for two British Independent Film Awards
for his work on the film: The Douglas Hickox Award for debuting filmmakers and the Best Screenplay Award. He won 2002's British Academy of Film and Television Arts
(BAFTA) Carl Foreman Award for the Most Promising Newcomer, as well as a number of other awards at film festival
s where the film was screened.
After writing and directing Jump Tomorrow, Hopkins said, "I'd been attached to films that haven't happened, as a director. I've had scripts I've written that have almost happened." When Hopkins was being considered to direct the 2005 children's film Nanny McPhee
, for which he was ultimately unsuccessful, he met with Emma Thompson
, who had written the script and would star as the title character. After seeing her in a Broadway
production opposite Dustin Hoffman
, Hopkins decided to write a script to emulate the interpersonal chemistry which he had seen between the two actors. He has said that the story was inspired by one of his parents' friends who was ageing but still "finding his feet". Overall, Last Chance Harvey was received favourably by critics.
partner and has produced both Jump Tomorrow and Last Chance Harvey.
Hopkins is the son of Michael and Patricia Hopkins of the prominent British architectural firm Hopkins Architects
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
independent
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
best known for his films Jump Tomorrow
Jump Tomorrow
Jump Tomorrow is a 2001 independent film and romantic comedy written and directed by Joel Hopkins, starring Tunde Adebimpe, Hippolyte Girardot, and Natalia Verbeke. It concerns George , a shy, bespectacled man who is about to marry a fellow Nigerian American woman named Sophie Ochenado, played by...
(2001) and Last Chance Harvey
Last Chance Harvey
Last Chance Harvey is a 2008 American romantic drama film written and directed by Joel Hopkins. The screenplay focuses on two lonely people who tentatively forge a relationship over the course of three days...
(2008).
Career
Hopkins was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, though he moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to attend university. His first feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
, 2001's Jump Tomorrow
Jump Tomorrow
Jump Tomorrow is a 2001 independent film and romantic comedy written and directed by Joel Hopkins, starring Tunde Adebimpe, Hippolyte Girardot, and Natalia Verbeke. It concerns George , a shy, bespectacled man who is about to marry a fellow Nigerian American woman named Sophie Ochenado, played by...
, was based on his 1998 short film "Jorge", which he filmed in New York while attending New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
's (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts
Tisch School of the Arts
Tisch School of the Arts is one of the 15 schools that make up New York University ....
. For "Jorge", Hopkins won NYU's Wasserman Award—a US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
100,000 grant towards filming another project—which went towards the production budget for Jump Tomorrow. The film received positive reviews from critics, but was only granted a limited release
Limited release
Limited release is a term in the American motion picture industry for a motion picture that is playing in a select few theaters across the country ....
and never reached a wider audience. Hopkins was nominated for two British Independent Film Awards
British Independent Film Awards
The Moët British Independent Film Awards is an annual award ceremony celebrating achievement in independently funded British film and cinema. Nominations and jury are announced at the beginning of November with the award ceremony taking place in late November or early December.-History:The British...
for his work on the film: The Douglas Hickox Award for debuting filmmakers and the Best Screenplay Award. He won 2002's British Academy of Film and Television Arts
British Academy of Film and Television Arts
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is a charity in the United Kingdom that hosts annual awards shows for excellence in film, television, television craft, video games and forms of animation.-Introduction:...
(BAFTA) Carl Foreman Award for the Most Promising Newcomer, as well as a number of other awards at film festival
Film festival
A film festival is an organised, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theaters or screening venues, usually in a single locality. More and more often film festivals show part of their films to the public by adding outdoor movie screenings...
s where the film was screened.
After writing and directing Jump Tomorrow, Hopkins said, "I'd been attached to films that haven't happened, as a director. I've had scripts I've written that have almost happened." When Hopkins was being considered to direct the 2005 children's film Nanny McPhee
Nanny McPhee
Nanny McPhee is a 2005 fantasy film starring Emma Thompson and Colin Firth. Thompson also wrote the screenplay, which is adapted from Christianna Brand's Nurse Matilda books.-Plot:...
, for which he was ultimately unsuccessful, he met with Emma Thompson
Emma Thompson
Emma Thompson is a British actress, comedian and screenwriter. Her first major film role was in the 1989 romantic comedy The Tall Guy. In 1992, Thompson won multiple acting awards, including an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award for Best Actress, for her performance in the British drama Howards End...
, who had written the script and would star as the title character. After seeing her in a Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production opposite Dustin Hoffman
Dustin Hoffman
Dustin Lee Hoffman is an American actor with a career in film, television, and theatre since 1960. He has been known for his versatile portrayals of antiheroes and vulnerable characters....
, Hopkins decided to write a script to emulate the interpersonal chemistry which he had seen between the two actors. He has said that the story was inspired by one of his parents' friends who was ageing but still "finding his feet". Overall, Last Chance Harvey was received favourably by critics.
Personal life
Hopkins' domestic partner is Nicola Usborne, who is also his producingFilm producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
partner and has produced both Jump Tomorrow and Last Chance Harvey.
Hopkins is the son of Michael and Patricia Hopkins of the prominent British architectural firm Hopkins Architects
Hopkins Architects
Hopkins Architects Partnership LLP is a prominent British architectural firm established in 1976 by Sir Michael and Lady Patricia Hopkins. The practice has won many awards for its work and has twice been shortlisted for the Stirling Prize, including in 2011 for the 2012 London Velodrome and in...
.