Joseph Kosinski
Joseph Kosinski is an American director acclaimed for his work in film and advertising, particularly in the science-fiction genre. Born on May 3, 1974, in Iowa, he initially pursued a career in engineering and architecture before transitioning to filmmaking. Kosinski gained recognition for his visually striking commercials before making his directorial debut with "Tron: Legacy" in 2010, a sequel to the iconic 1982 film. Following this, he directed "Oblivion" (2013), starring Tom Cruise, which also received praise for its stunning visual effects. His filmography further expanded with the biographical drama "Only the Brave" (2017), depicting the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, and the much-anticipated sequel "Top Gun: Maverick" (2022), which brought back the beloved character Maverick, again played by Cruise. Kosinski's innovative approach to storytelling and visual design has established him as a prominent figure in contemporary cinema, blending technological advancements with compelling narratives. He is married to Kristin Kosinski, a patent attorney.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Joseph Kosinski
Director
- Born: May 3, 1974
Contribution: Joseph Kosinski is a director best known for his innovative commercials, the science-fiction films Tron: Legacy (2010) and Oblivion (2013), and the film Top Gun: Maverick (2022).
Background
Joseph Michael Kosinski was born on May 3, 1974, to Joel Kosinski, a doctor, and Patricia Kosinski. He was raised in Marshalltown, Iowa, his family having moved there when he was five years old.
After graduating from Marshalltown High School in 1992, Kosinski studied mechanical engineering at Stanford University in California. At the time, he intended to pursue a career as a racecar designer. For one term, he attended Oxford University in England, where he studied particle physics and astronomy.
While Kosinski was at Stanford, one of his professors was impressed by his knack for design and suggested he consider architecture. Kosinski subsequently entered the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at Columbia University in New York, where he learned to use the same type of digital design programs used by professional special effects designers.
After graduating, Kosinski and a friend started their own design firm in New York. During this time, Kosinski also pursued his interest in filmmaking by making several short films, most notably iSPEC (2003), which promotes a fictional electronic device that allows users to navigate through the sets of various movies.
Career
Kosinski began making commercials while still in New York, but his growing interest in filmmaking led him to relocate to Los Angeles, California. After some time struggling to get by, he was hired by the management company Anonymous Content, the partners of which were impressed by his talent for structuring images and visualizing camera movement using digital technology. Kosinski’s commercial career soon took off, and he made his name producing arty, high-concept advertisements for Nike, various car companies, and the video games Halo 3 and Gears of War.
In 2007, Walt Disney Studios producer Sean Bailey was trying to figure out how to breathe new life into Tron, the 1982 film that became a cult classic due to its cutting-edge special effects and imaginative look at computers and virtual reality. Bailey heard about Kosinki’s commercial work and was impressed by iSPEC. He met with Kosinski, and the two of them convinced Disney to give Kosinski a budget to put together some Tron test footage. When Disney screened the three minutes of footage at the San Diego Comic-Con in 2008, it was met with high praise.
Tron: Legacy, the sequel to Tron, began preproduction in 2008 and was released on December 17, 2010. It focuses on the son of the hero from the original Tron as he enters a virtual-reality world to stop a malicious computer virus. The film received mixed reviews, although the majority of critics were highly impressed by the film’s visual effects.
Kosinski’s background in architecture was crucial for conceptualizing and creating the look of Tron: Legacy. He has stated that he wished to make the audience feel like the film was actually shot inside the fictional universe. He also stressed that he did not want the film’s design to be influenced by the Internet or other virtual-reality films, such as The Matrix (1999).
Back when he moved to California in 2005, Kosinski had begun writing an original graphic novel called Oblivion. Disney bought the rights to the comic in August 2010 but later turned the rights over to Universal Pictures when they realized they could not make it into a PG-rated film. Universal approved a PG-13 rating, and Tom Cruise was cast in the lead role.
Set in the future on a desolated Earth, Oblivion (2013) follows Jack Harper (Cruise), who has been assigned the task of removing the planet’s lingering resources. As he suspects his superiors may have ulterior motives, he discovers Earth may still be inhabited. Much like Tron: Legacy, the film received mixed reviews but was lauded for its visuals, specifically the production design and special effects.
In a departure from the genre that marked Tron: Legacy and Oblivion, the next film project that Kosinski signed on to helm was the 2017 feature Only the Brave. Based on a true story, the dramatic, biographical film focuses on the Granite Mountain Hotshots, an elite unit of firefighters in Arizona. Nineteen members of the unit died attempting to fight a large wildfire in the summer of 2013. Overall, the film, which includes such stars as Josh Brolin and Miles Teller, received praise for the way in which it illustrates the personal growth of the firefighters and their development as a team.
After Only the Brave, Kosinski went on to direct Top Gun: Maverick (2022), the long-awaited sequel to the classic Top Gun (1986). Featuring Tom Cruise in a reprisal of his role as fighter pilot Maverick, the film follows the titular character as he trains a new group of Top Gun pilots that includes the son of his late flying partner, Goose. That same year, Kosinski also directed the science fiction psychological thriller Spiderhead.
Impact
After years of visionary and award-winning commercial work, Disney took a risk and gave Kosinski a $170 million budget for his directorial debut, Tron: Legacy. The film’s fresh vision and revolutionary aesthetic made a lasting impression in Hollywood and allowed Kosinski to take the reins of his pet project, Oblivion, as well as creating a high demand for his directorial skills.
Personal Life
Kosinski is married to Kristin Kosinski, a patent attorney.
Bibliography
Brooks, Barnes. “Cyberspace Gamble.” New York Times. New York Times, 3 Dec. 2010. Web. 21 Aug. 2013.
Carrillo, Jenny Cooney. “Back from the Brink.” Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media, 12 Apr. 2013. Web. 21 Aug. 2013.
"Joseph Kosinski." IMDb, 2024, www.imdb.com/name/nm2676052. Accessed 24 Sept. 2024.
Kosinski, Joseph. “Exclusive Interview: Joseph Kosinski on Oblivion.” Interview by Fred Topel. CraveOnline. CraveOnline Media, 16 Apr. 2013. Web. 21 Aug. 2013.
Kosinski, Joseph. “Interview: Oblivion Director Joseph Kosinski on Sci-Fi Filmmaking.” Interview by Alex Billington. First Showing. First Showing, 29 Apr. 2013. Web. 21 Aug. 2013.
Kosinski, Joseph. “Interview with Joe Kosinski (Director of Tron: Legacy).” Interview by Jeff Mottle. CGarchitect. CGarchitect Digital Media, 20 Feb. 2011. Web. 21 Aug. 2013.
Potter, Andrew. “The Building of a Legacy.” Times-Republican [Marshalltown]. Ogden Newspapers, 6 Dec. 2010. Web. 21 Aug. 2013.