Female directors aren’t exactly common in Hollywood. The few who have managed to hold their hearts and become directors have never been offered movies with a budget of more than $100 million. That all changed in 2015 when Patty Jenkins was named by the powers behind the DC Extended Universe to direct Wonder Woman.
Since the film’s worldwide success, Patty Jenkins’ name has become a mainstay in the minds and conversations of average audiences, a privilege usually reserved for superstar directors. Who is the woman behind the success of Wonder Woman ? Scroll below to learn more about Patty Jenkins.
Who is Wonder Woman’s Patty Jenkins?
As the daughter of an Air Force captain with a Silver Star and an environmental scientist, Patty Jenkins expected greatness. She was born in Victorville California on the 24th of July 1971.
Today, Patty lives her life as a beloved film director, but her life has been filled with tragedy and loss. She lost her father during a military training session when she was 7 years old. Interestingly, the universe is a mysterious place and sometimes what we perceive as a tragedy could be how the universe will lead us to destiny. The loss of his father caused his mother, Emily Roth, to move the rest of the family to San Francisco, change their environment and go to school and study to become an environmental scientist. Her mother usually dropped Patty and her older sister Elaine off at the movies while she went to school. It was at this time that the future director fell in love with cinema and decided to become a filmmaker.
Patty had always felt drawn to the arts in life. Since college, she has practiced photography, painting and screen printing. Although Patty Jenkins is known as a director, she began her career in the arts as a painter at the Cooper Union in New York. She attended the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and the Arts and received her bachelor’s degree in 1993.
At 20, Patty got into film production as an intern for a commercial production company. She worked her way up from second assistant camera and focus puller. After ten years of career, she attended the AFI Conservatory of the American Film Institute where she obtained her master’s degree. While a student at AFI, Patty Jenkins made several short films such as Velocity Rules.
A young Patty directed and released her first film, Monster in 2003. Following the success of Monster, which she also wrote, Patty attempted to direct two exciting projects, including a film starring Ryan Gosling called I Am Superman, which n has no relation to the iconic comic book character of the same name. However, the film was delayed when she became pregnant.
After the birth of her child, Patty Jenkins limited herself to television work in order to spend more time with her child. His television works include Arrested Development, Entourage, Five and The Killing.
Patty’s first major superhero film would have been Thor: The Dark World, but creative differences ultimately forced her out of the project. The DCEU then picked her up to lead Wonder Woman. Her direction and portrayal of Diana Prince’s journey was widely acclaimed and was followed by huge commercial success, earning her the title of highest-grossing film directed by a woman. She was tapped to direct the film’s sequel due to the overwhelming success of the film compared to other DCEU projects.
Despite having a smaller filmography than directors with a similar pedigree, Patty Jenkins has been nominated for more than 20 awards, including 10 of them. She was mainly awarded for her work on Wonder Woman, Monster and The Killing.
Here are facts you need to know about Patty Jenkins
1. she is married
Patty Jenkins’ name may have just been recognized around the world, but she’s lived a full life so far. She has been married to Sam Sheridan since 2007 and the couple have a son together.
2. She traveled well
Great directors are usually well traveled personalities. It’s a perk that comes with the job that requires scouting locations and meeting new talent, but Patty Jenkins earned the well-traveled title before she even knew she wanted to be a filmmaker. Due to her father’s profession, she had lived in 15 different countries before she was 6 years old.
3. Wonder Woman 1984 is a big payday
The gender pay gap is a major issue in the fight against modern feminism, but it’s not a battle Patty Jenkins will fight Wonder Woman ‘Sequel. She’ll get $9 million for the blockbuster sequel. , which is comparable to what male directors receive for sequels.
4. Patty is a big Pedro Almodóvar fan.
Administrators, regardless of size, usually have another administrator whose work inspires them. For Patty, that director is Pedro Almodóvar, the Spanish director of films like Broken Embraces and Law of Desire.
5. She enjoys working with Chris Pine
Having previously appeared in her Wonder Woman Chris Pine and Patty Jenkins have developed a strong working relationship. Chris Pine is set to star in another Patty Jenkins project, I Am the Night, a television series slated for 2019. The actor is also confirmed for the Wonder Woman sequel.