Alethea Jones is an Australian film and television director. She is best known for her films ''Lemonade Stand'' (2012) and ''

Fun Mom Dinner ''Fun Mom Dinner'' is a 2017 American comedy film directed by Alethea Jones, from a screenplay by Julie Rudd. It stars Katie Aselton, Toni Collette, Bridget Everett, Molly Shannon, Adam Scott, and Adam Levine. The film had its world premiere ...

'' (2017), and the TV series '' Queen America''.

Career

Jones's first short film, ''When the Wind Changes'' (which she directed and edited), premiered at the 2010 Melbourne International Film Festival and in 2011 won the prestigious Inside Film (IF) Award for Best Short Film as well as the Most Popular Film Award at Flickerfest and Best Comedy and People's Choice awards at the St Kilda Film Festival. Her big break was directing the short film ''Lemonade Stand'', which won first prize at the 2012

Tropfest Tropfest is the world's largest short film festival. It has also become known as the world's first global film festival. Founded by actor/director John Polson, Tropfest began in 1993 as a screening for 200 people at the 'Tropicana Caffe' in ...

Film Festival. Tropfest founder and director, John Polson said: "''Lemonade Stand'' is an incredibly well made film and a favourite amongst the judges. There was intense discussion in the judging room, and some really interesting debates. Alethea should be very proud to have been selected by some of the industry’s greatest talent." Her first feature film was ''

'', starring

Toni Collette Toni Collette Galafassi (born Toni Collett; 1 November 1972) is an Australian actress, producer, singer, and songwriter. Known for her work in television and independent films, she has received various accolades throughout her career, inclu ...

Paul Rudd Paul Stephen Rudd (born April 6, 1969) is an American actor. He studied theater at the University of Kansas and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, before making his acting debut in 1991. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame i ...

Molly Shannon Molly Helen Shannon (born September 16, 1964) is an American actress and comedian who was a cast member on ''Saturday Night Live'' from 1995 to 2001. In 2017, she won the Film Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in ...

, Adam Scott, and Adam Levine. The film had its world premiere at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, In August 2017, it was announced that Jones would develop and direct the live action ''

Barbie Barbie is a fashion doll manufactured by American toy company Mattel, Inc. and launched on March 9, 1959. American businesswoman Ruth Handler is credited with the creation of the doll using a German doll called Bild Lilli as her inspiration. ...

'' film, starring

Anne Hathaway Anne Jacqueline Hathaway (born November 12, 1982) is an American actress. The recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award, she was among the world's highest-paid actresses in 2 ...

based on a script from Olivia Milch and produced by

Sony , commonly stylized as SONY, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. As a major technology company, it operates as one of the world's largest manufacturers of consumer and professiona ...

. In October 2018, Sony lost the rights to the film and it moved across to

Warner Brothers Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...

with

Margot Robbie Margot Elise Robbie (; born 2 July 1990) is an Australian actress and producer. Known for her work in both blockbuster and independent films, she has received several accolades, including nominations for two Academy Awards, four Golden Glob ...

to star. A new creative team was assembled with the studio change and Hathaway, Jones and Milch did not go across for contractual reasons. Jones is also attached to direct the period musical ''Big Gay Jamboree'', to be produced by LuckyChap Entertainment, from a script being written by Maria Mindelle and Jonathan Parks-Ramage. In October 2022, Jones was announced as the producer and first episode director of '' Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies'' on streaming service

Paramount+ Paramount+ is an American subscription video on-demand service owned by Paramount Global. The service's content is drawn primarily from the libraries of CBS Media Ventures (including CBS Studios), Paramount Media Networks (formerly Viacom Media ...

Awards

* 2011 - ''When the Wind Changes'' - Best Short Film, Inside Film (IF) Awards * 2012 - ''Lemonade Stand'' - First Prize, Tropfest Short Film Festival * 2017 - Breakthrough Award (joint winner),

Australians in Film Australians in Film (AiF) is a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization that serves the Australian community working in the film and television industry. It awards the annual Heath Ledger Scholarship to emerging Australian actors, as well as sev ...

Personal life

Jones grew up in Northern

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

, Australia and graduated from the Victorian College of Arts in 2007. She currently resides in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

with her husband, Emmy-award nominated

sound designer In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave, through a transmission medium such as a gas, liquid or solid. In human physiology and psychology, sound is the ''reception'' of such waves and their ''perception'' by the ...

PK Hooker.

Filmography (as director)

References

External links

Official website
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Alethea Australian directors Australian women film directors Australian film directors Living people Victorian College of the Arts alumni Year of birth missing (living people)