Alfonso Gomez-Rejon | |
|---|---|
 Rejon in 2015 | |
| Born | (1972-11-06)November 6, 1972 (age 53) Laredo, Texas, US |
| Education | New York University (BFA) American Film Institute (MFA) |
| Occupation | Film director |
| Years active | 1991–present |
Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (sometimesAlfonso Gómez-Rejón; born November 6, 1972, inLaredo, Texas)[1] is an American film and television director. He made his directorial film debut with theslasher filmThe Town That Dreaded Sundown (2014). He has since directed thecoming of age filmMe and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015), and the historical dramaThe Current War (2017).
His television program credits include theFOX teen musical seriesGlee (2010-2012), theFXhorror seriesAmerican Horror Story (2011-2014), and theAmazon Prime limited seriesHunters (2020). He received a nomination for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing For a Miniseries or Movie forAmerican Horror Story: Coven.
In high school, Rejon would "borrow a friend's camera" and "make shorts in lieu of presenting a report in front of the class."[2] He began his professional career as personal assistant toMartin Scorsese,Nora Ephron,Robert De Niro andAlejandro González Iñárritu before transitioning into asecond unit director for feature films, and becoming a television and commercial director.[3] Much of his time as a personal assistant was spent on the sets of major motion pictures.[4] Gomez-Rejon then gained extensive experience as asecond unit director, including such films asBabel,Julie & Julia andArgo.[5] He cast most of the "unknown parts" inBabel, which earned him a chance to assistRyan Murphy in finding authentic Balinese personnel forEat Pray Love.[6]
Prior to and during the September 21, 2010season 2 premiere (episode "Audition") ofGlee, American Express aired a commercial for its Members Project entitled "Don't Be A Sue", in reference to Glee characterSue Sylvester who has no regard for the arts and public service.[7][8]
On February 6, 2011,Chevrolet ran severalSuper Bowl ads. One was a 30-second ad in which the cast ofGlee was asked to be spokespersons for theChevrolet Cruze.[9] This ad served as a teaser for a 2-minute-and-20-second ad featuring theGlee cast as singers and dancers during aLea Michele-led rendition of "See the USA in Your Chevrolet" that aired during theSuper Bowl lead-out program, which was "The Sue Sylvester Shuffle" episode of Glee. A 60-second version of the ad was aired along withmovie trailers at nationwidemovie theaters. The "See the USA" ad was directed by Gomez-Rejon.Russell Carpenter was thedirector of photography.[10]
On November 30, 2011, T-Mobile announced a surprise event at theWoodfield Mall.[11] On December 1, 2011, Gomez-Rejon directed about six surprise singing and dancing mall performances of "Home for the Holidays" byCarly Foulkes and 100 Chicago-area women in magenta dresses. The performances were later edited into amusic video with the hope that it would goviral.[12][13] The full video that has been posted onYouTube has a run time of 3:48 and it will be presented in a 60-second national television commercial starting on December 12. The video was produced byRidley Scott andTony Scott's RSA Films.[14] Themusical director wasPaul Mirkovich.[15]
Eventually Murphy sought Gomez-Rejon to directGlee,[6] where he earned his first episodic television directorial credits for executive producers Murphy,Brad Falchuk, andDante Di Loreto.[16] He credits Murphy for nurturing his early development.[6] Inseason 1, he directed "Laryngitis" (episode 18, May 11, 2010).[17] In season 2, he directed "Grilled Cheesus" (episode 3, October 5, 2010),[18] "A Very Glee Christmas" (episode 10, December 7, 2010)[19] and "Born This Way" (episode 18, April 26, 2011).[20] Inseason 3, he directed "Asian F" (episode 3, October 4, 2011).[21]
A new show by Murphy, Falchuk and Di Loreto as executive producers,American Horror Story, debuted in October 2011,[22] and Gomez-Rejon has directed two episodes from thefirst season: "Home Invasion" (episode 2, October 12, 2011)[23] and "Birth" (episode 11, December 14, 2011).[24] Rejon later returned for the second and third season.[4]
Gomez-Rejon was among the creative contributors named in theGolden Globe Award for Best Miniseries or Television Film nomination at the71st Golden Globe Awards forAmerican Horror Story: Coven as Co-Executive Producer/Director.[25] His role as a producing director meant he had a more regular dialogue with Murphy because he was a creative contributor to all episodes whereas when he had been an episodic director, he had only been involved in the episodes that he shot. He also worked more closely with the showrunner on casting decisions.[6] He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy at the66th Primetime Emmy Awards forPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special for his work directing theAmerican Horror Story: Coven episode "Bitchcraft".[26] He is also credited with a nomination forPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries since he served as Co-Executive Producer of the series.[27]
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, which he directed, was a selection for the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the2015 Sundance Film Festival.[28] It won the award as well as the US drama audience prize.[29]
Gomez-Rejon was attached to directWill Smith in the New York-set indie dramaCollateral Beauty, scripted byAllan Loeb.[30][31] However, he later dropped out of the project due to creative differences.[32]
Gomez-Rejon directed the historical dramaThe Current War.[33]
On November 13, 2015, Gomez-Rejon is set to directLet It Bleed, a crime thriller based on his early life in Laredo, Texas.[34] On March 31, 2016, Gomez-Rejon is set to direct the film adaptation ofDelia Ephron's novelSiracusa.[35] On May 6, 2016, Gomez-Rejon is set to direct the filmA Foreigner based onDavid Grann's 2011 articleA Murder Foretold, starringOscar Isaac.[36] On April 12, 2018, Gomez-Rejon is set to directLimelight, the biopic ofPeter Gatien the owner of thenightclub of the same name forAmazon Studios.[37] On November 7, 2019, Gomez-Rejon is set to direct theWalter Cronkite filmNewsflash withChris Pine set to portray Cronkite.[38]
On May 19, 2020, Gomez-Rejon is set to direct the series adaptation ofEdna Ferber's novelGiant.[39] On April 29, 2021, Gomez-Rejon is set to direct the pilot for the series adaptation ofXochitl Gonzalez's novelOlga Dies Dreaming starringAubrey Plaza.[40][41] On July 27, 2021, Gomez-Rejon is set to direct the film adaptation ofJonathan Lethem's novelThe Fortress of Solitude.[42] On April 28, 2023, Gomez-Rejon is set to direct the untitled pilot for a series based on the life and career ofFernando Valenzuela.[43] On March 27, 2025, Gomez-Rejon is set to direct the pilot for the seriesStowaway based on the life ofJuan Carlos Guzmán with Oscar Isaac set to portray Guzmán.[44]
Alfonso, who is of Mexican American descent, was born and raised in Laredo, Texas on the US/Mexico border where he attendedSt. Augustine High School.[2][45] He received his BFA fromNew York University and his MFA from theAFI Conservatory.[46] He dedicatedMe and Earl and the Dying Girl to his father, Julio C. Gomez Rejon, MD.[47]
Director
Second unit director
Other credits
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Grace of My Heart | Special Thanks |
| 2003 | 21 Grams | Assistant |
| Year | Title | Episode(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-2012 | Glee | "Laryngitis" | |
| "Grilled Cheesus" | |||
| "A Very Glee Christmas" | |||
| "Born This Way" | |||
| "Asian F" | |||
| "Michael" | |||
| "Britney 2.0 | |||
| "The Break-Up" | |||
| 2011-2014 | American Horror Story | "Home Invasion" | |
| "Birth" | |||
| "I Am Anne Frank (Part 2)" | |||
| "Spilt Milk" | |||
| "Madness Ends" | |||
| "Bitchcraft" | Nominated–Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing | ||
| "The Replacements" | |||
| "The Sacred Taking" | |||
| "The Magical Delights of Stevie Nicks" | |||
| "Go to Hell" | |||
| "The Seven Wonders" | |||
| "Massacres and Matinees" | |||
| 2013 | The Carrie Diaries | "Lie with Me" | |
| 2014 | Red Band Society | "Pilot" | |
| 2019 | Chambers | "Pilot" | |
| "Right to Know" | |||
| 2020 | Hunters | "Pilot" |
FOR MY FATHER, JULIO C. GOMEZ REJON, MD
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
