Jared and Jerusha Hess

2025-11-03T03:36:46Z

2601:603:167F:1C60:C54C:2D5B:A96D:8DE7:

{{Short description|American filmmakers}}
{{Redirect|Jared Hess|the mixed martial arts fighter|Jared Hess (fighter)}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Jared Hess (cropped).jpg
| name = Jared Hess
| caption = Jared in 2009
| birth_name = Jared Lawrence Hess
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|07|18}}
| birth_place = [[Glendale, Arizona]], U.S.
| years_active =
| occupation = {{hlist|Filmmaker|voice actor}}
| children = 4
}}
{{Infobox person
| image = File:Jerusha Hess 2013 Sundance.jpg
| caption = Jerusha in 2013
| name = Jerusha Hess
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|05|12}}
| birth_place = [[Omaha, Nebraska]], U.S.
| birth_name = Jerusha Elizabeth Demke
| years_active =
| occupation = Filmmaker
| spouse = Jared Hess
| children = 4
}}

'''Jared Lawrence Hess''' (born July 18, 1979) and '''Jerusha Elizabeth Hess''' ({{née}} '''Demke''', born May 12, 1980) are husband-and-wife American filmmakers known for their work on ''[[Napoleon Dynamite]]'' (2004), ''[[Nacho Libre]]'' (2006) and ''[[Gentlemen Broncos]]'' (2009), all of which they co-wrote and which were directed by Jared. (''Nacho Libre'' was co-written with [[Mike White (scriptwriter)|Mike White]].) Jared also directed ''[[A Minecraft Movie]]'' (2025). For their film ''[[Ninety-Five Senses]]'', they were nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Lottie Elizabeth |title='We make big, dumb comedies': 'Napoleon Dynamite' creator on 'sheer shock' of scoring first Oscar nomination |url=https://www.deseret.com/2024/1/23/24048472/napoleon-dynamite-creators-jared-hess-jerusha-hess-oscar-nomination-ninety-five-senses#:~:text=The%20duo%20received%20their%20first,%E2%80%9CNinety%2DFive%20Senses.%E2%80%9D&text=In%20a%20year%20that%20marks%20two%20decades%20since%20the%20release,celebrate%3A%20their%20first%20Oscar%20nomination. |website=Deseret News |date=January 25, 2024 |access-date=January 27, 2024}}</ref>

They also produced music videos for [[The Postal Service]]'s third single, "[[We Will Become Silhouettes]]", and [[the Killers]]' Christmas charity single "[[Boots (song)|Boots]]".

==Personal lives==
Jerusha was born in [[Omaha, Nebraska]], and Jared was born in [[Glendale, Arizona]]. Jared attended [[Manhattan High School]] in [[Kansas]] for two years before transferring to [[Preston High School (Idaho)|Preston High School]] in [[Idaho]], from which he graduated in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|title=We visit Preston, Idaho, hometown of Napoleon Dynamite (and director Jared Hess)|url=https://www.avclub.com/we-visit-preston-idaho-hometown-of-napoleon-dynamite-1798163378|access-date=March 30, 2021|website=Music|date=August 15, 2013|language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Hollingshead|first=Natalie|date=June 17, 2016|title=Preston residents look back on 'Napoleon Dynamite'|url=https://universe.byu.edu/2016/06/17/preston-residents-look-back-on-napoleon-dynamite-2004/|access-date=March 30, 2021|website=The Daily Universe|language=en-US}}</ref> Many scenes from ''Napoleon Dynamite'' were filmed there. As a teenager Jared worked in film production with [[T. C. Christensen]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Toone|first=Trent|date=December 3, 2015|title=BYU grad, 'Napoleon Dynamite' creator talks new religious comedy, family business and mentors|url=https://www.deseret.com/2015/12/3/20578149/byu-grad-napoleon-dynamite-creator-talks-new-religious-comedy-family-business-and-mentors|access-date=March 30, 2021|website=Deseret News|language=en}}</ref>

The Hesses have four children.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 26, 2022 |title=Filmmakers look to go beyond 'Napoleon Dynamite' |url=https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/entertainment/filmmakers-look-to-go-beyond-napoleon-dynamite/ |access-date=March 17, 2024 |website=Peninsula Daily News |language=en-US}}</ref> The family are members of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Strause |first=Jackie |date=February 4, 2021 |title=Netflix Sets 'Murder Among the Mormons' Docuseries on 1985 Utah Bombings (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/netflix-sets-murder-among-the-mormons-docuseries-on-1985-utah-bombings-exclusive-4127326/ |access-date=March 16, 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="NPR-Cohen09">{{Cite news |last=Cohen |first=Alex |date=November 2, 2009 |title=In 'Broncos,' An Atypical Hollywood Team Rides Again |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114095335 |access-date=March 16, 2024 |work=[[NPR]]}}</ref>

==Career==
Jared met Jerusha while attending [[Brigham Young University]]'s (BYU) film school. Together they co-wrote the film ''Napoleon Dynamite'', which was produced and edited by their classmate [[Jeremy Coon]].

While at BYU, Jared wrote and directed a student film entitled ''Cardboard Only'', which is about a seven-year-old Idaho farm boy who struggles to escape boredom while wearing a cardboard box over his head. While at BYU, Jared also wrote and directed a short film entitled ''[[Peluca]]'', which became a prototype for ''Napoleon Dynamite'' and featured much of the same cast and plotline, including [[Jon Heder]] as Seth, "super nerd extraordinaire."<ref>{{Citation|last=Hess|first=Jared|title=Peluca|date=January 20, 2003|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0398259/|type=Comedy, Short|others=Jon Heder, Greg Hansen, Chris Sanchez, Bracken Johnson|access-date=March 30, 2021}}</ref>

Besides ''Napoleon Dynamite'' and ''Peluca'', Jared has worked as a camera assistant in a number of films and has played minor roles in a few [[LDS cinema|Latter-day Saint]] comedies. These include ''[[The Singles Ward]]'', ''[[The R.M.]]'' and ''[[Pride and Prejudice: A Latter-day Comedy]].'' Their second movie ''Nacho Libre'', starring [[Jack Black]], was released on June 16, 2006.

The third major film made by the Hesses, ''[[Gentlemen Broncos]]'', was released in 2009. It is about a teenager who aspires to be a writer, but after attending a fantasy-writer's convention, he finds that his idea has been stolen by an established novelist. The film stars [[Michael Angarano]] as the teenager, [[Jemaine Clement]] as the established novelist, and [[Sam Rockwell]] as the story's fictional title character who appears in book-come-to-life sequences.<ref>{{cite news|title="Napoleon Dynamite" Helmer's New Comedy|publisher=Worst Previews|date=January 31, 2008|url=http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=7408&count=0|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080201235045/http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=7408&count=0|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 1, 2008|access-date=January 31, 2008}}</ref>

In 2010, Jared created ads for the [[Utah State Fair]] which were run on the radio, but refused on television. The Utah State Fair representatives claimed they refused to run them due to sexual overtones, while Hess claimed the failure to run the ads was because the main actor in them, Markus T. Boddie, was an African-American.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.adweek.com/creativity/utah-hates-jared-hesss-utah-state-fair-ads-12230/|title=Utah hates Jared Hess's Utah State Fair ads|date=September 15, 2010 }}</ref>

In 2011, Jerusha directed a [[Austenland (film)|film adaptation]] of the book ''[[Austenland]]'', which was released in 2013. She also co-wrote the screenplay.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kit |first=Borys |date= July 5, 2011|title=Jerusha Hess to Direct Romantic Comedy with 'Twilight' Author Stephenie Meyer Producing (Exclusive)|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/jerusha-hess-direct-romantic-comedy-208036|work=[[Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=December 20, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/01/20/austenland-starring-keri-russell-is-a-delightful-hoot|title='Austenland' Starring Keri Russell, Is A Delightful Hoot|first=Marlow|last=Stern|newspaper=The Daily Beast|date=January 20, 2013|via=www.thedailybeast.com}}</ref>

Jared and Jerusha Hess are also among the executive producers of the [[Napoleon Dynamite (TV series)|''Napoleon Dynamite'']] series that aired in 2012. In addition, Jared voiced Don Moser, a returning character originally portrayed by Trevor Snarr in the film.

Jared directed the comedy heist film ''[[Masterminds (2016 film)|Masterminds]]'' (2016).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lussier |first=Germain |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/524788/loomis-fargo-is-a-go-jim-carrey-stars-and-jared-hess-directs-real-life-heist-comedy/|title='Loomis Fargo' Is A Go, Jim Carrey Stars And Jared Hess Directs Real Life Heist Comedy|date=January 31, 2013|website=[[Slash Film|/Film]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Chitwood|first=Adam|url=https://collider.com/jim-carrey-loomis-fargo-jared-hess/|title=Jim Carrey Confirmed to Star in NAPOLEON DYNAMITE Director Jared Hess Action-Comedy LOOMIS FARGO|date=January 31, 2013|website=Collider|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406024137/https://collider.com/jim-carrey-loomis-fargo-jared-hess/|archive-date=April 6, 2023|access-date=May 20, 2021}}</ref>

Jared was among the executive producers for the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] TV series ''[[Making History (TV series)|Making History]]'', which premiered in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comingsoon.net/tv/news/802259-fox-2017-spring-premiere-dates|title=FOX 2017 Spring Premiere Dates Announced|date=January 11, 2017|access-date=January 12, 2017}}</ref>

In 2019, it was announced that Jared would direct with Lynn Wang an animated musical movie adaptation of ''[[Thelma the Unicorn]]'' for [[Netflix]]. Both Jared and Jerusha would write it.<ref name="NMC">{{cite press release|url=https://about.netflix.com/en/news/jared-and-jerusha-hess-to-adapt-acclaimed-childrens-novel-thelma-the-unicorn-by-aaron-blabey-into-animated-musical-feature-film-for-netflix|title=Jared and Jerusha Hess To Adapt Acclaimed Children's Novel "Thelma the Unicorn" by Aaron Blabey Into Animated Musical Feature Film For Netflix|date=June 5, 2019|website=Netflix Media Center}}</ref><ref name="Deadline">{{cite news|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|url=https://deadline.com/2019/06/thelma-the-unicorn-netflix-napoleon-dynamite-jared-hess-jerusha-hess-animated-movie-musical-aaron-blabey-childrens-book-1202627468/|title=Netflix Sets ''Napoleon Dynamite''{{'}}s Jared & Jerusha Hess To Turn Children's Book ''Thelma The Unicorn'' Into Animated Musical|date=June 5, 2019|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=June 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605194617/https://deadline.com/2019/06/thelma-the-unicorn-netflix-napoleon-dynamite-jared-hess-jerusha-hess-animated-movie-musical-aaron-blabey-childrens-book-1202627468/|archive-date=June 5, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

Jared co-directed (with Tyler Measom) a true crime docu-series ''[[Murder Among the Mormons]]'', which premiered on Netflix on March 3, 2021.<ref name="HWR">{{cite news|last1=Strause|first1=Jackie|date=February 4, 2021|title=Netflix Sets 'Murder Among the Mormons' Docuseries on 1985 Utah Bombings (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/netflix-sets-murder-among-the-mormons-docuseries-on-1985-utah-bombings-exclusive|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref>

In 2025, Jared directed ''[[A Minecraft Movie]]'' for [[Warner Bros. Pictures]], with [[Jason Momoa]] and [[Jack Black]] starring.<ref name="Couch">{{Cite web|last=Couch|first=Aaron|date=April 18, 2022|title=Jason Momoa to Star in 'Minecraft' Movie for Warner Bros.|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/minecraft-movie-jason-momoa-1235131605/|access-date=April 19, 2022|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|language=en-US}}</ref> The film reunited Jared with Black after the two previously worked on ''Nacho Libre'' (2006).

==Filmography==
===Short film===
'''Jared Hess'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Director
! Writer
! Notes
|-
| 2002
| ''[[Peluca]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Also cinematographer
|-
| 2022
| ''[[Ninety-Five Senses]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| Co-directed with Jerusha
Nominated—[[Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film]]
|}

===Feature film===

{| style="width:100%;"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| style="width:60%;"|
'''Jared Hess'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Director
! Writer
! Notes
|-
| 2004
| ''[[Napoleon Dynamite]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Nacho Libre]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Gentlemen Broncos]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Also executive producer (With Jerusha)
|-
| 2015
| ''[[Don Verdean]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 2016
| ''[[Masterminds (2016 film)|Masterminds]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
| 2024
| ''[[Thelma the Unicorn]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Co-directed with Lynn Wang
|-
| 2025
| ''[[A Minecraft Movie]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
| 2027
| ''Untitled A Minecraft Movie Sequel''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| <ref>https://deadline.com/2025/10/minecraft-2-release-date-1236574896/</ref>
|}
|}

{| style="width:100%;"
| style="width:40%;"|
'''Jerusha Hess'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Director
! Writer
|-
| 2004
| ''[[Napoleon Dynamite]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Nacho Libre]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Gentlemen Broncos]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 2013
| ''[[Austenland (film)|Austenland]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 2015
| ''[[Don Verdean]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 2024
| ''[[Thelma the Unicorn]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|}
|}

===Television===
'''Jared Hess'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Director
! Executive<br>Producer
! Notes
|-
| 2012
| ''[[Napoleon Dynamite (TV series)|Napoleon Dynamite]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| 6 episodes (With Jerusha)
|-
| 2016–2017
| ''[[The Last Man on Earth (TV series)|The Last Man on Earth]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| 2 episodes
|-
|rowspan=2| 2017
| ''[[Making History (TV series)|Making History]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| 3 episodes
|-
| ''[[Son of Zorn]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Episode "The Quest for Craig"
|-
| 2021
| ''[[Murder Among the Mormons]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Documentary miniseries, co-directed with Tyler Measom
|-
| 2023
| ''[[Muscles & Mayhem: An Unauthorized Story of American Gladiators|Muscles & Mayhem:<br>An Unauthorized Story of American Gladiators]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Documentary miniseries
|}

===Acting roles===
'''Jared Hess'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 2002
| ''[[The Singles Ward]]''
| DJ V'dob
| Uncredited
|-
| 2003
| ''[[The R.M.]]''
| LD3 Nerd
| Uncredited
|-
| 2003
| ''[[Pride & Prejudice: A Latter-Day Comedy]]''
| Reverend Steve Two-Trees Green
| Uncredited
|-
| 2012
| ''[[Napoleon Dynamite (TV series)|Napoleon Dynamite]]''
| Don, Felipe, Starla
| Voice roles, 6 episodes
|-
| 2013
| ''[[Austenland (film)|Austenland]]''
| Travel Agent
| Uncredited
|-
| 2018
| ''[[The Unexpected Race]]''
| Deputy
| Uncredited
|-
| 2024
| ''[[Thelma the Unicorn]]''
| Gerald, Additional Voices
| Voice role
|-
| 2025
| ''[[A Minecraft Movie]]''
| General Chungus
| Voice role
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0381478|Jared Hess}}
* {{IMDb name|1415801|Jerusha Hess}}
* [http://www.pixelsurgeon.com/interviews/interview.php?id=159 PixelSurgeon interview with Jared Hess] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041214031629/http://www.pixelsurgeon.com/interviews/interview.php?id=159 |date=December 14, 2004 }}

{{Jared and Jerusha Hess}}
{{authority control|additional=auto}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jared And Jerusha Hess}}
[[Category:American comedy film directors]]
[[Category:Filmmaking duos]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Married couples]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

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Jared and Jerusha Hess