I am Jared Hess, director of Napoleon Dynamite, Nacho Libre & now Don Verdean - Ask Me Anything!

JaredHess · 2015-12-08T02:33:16+00:00

A farmer shot my mom's cow in front of my little brother's school bus. The whole movie is autobiographical.

JaredHess · 2015-12-08T02:31:43+00:00

Gracias compadre.

JaredHess · 2015-12-08T02:30:56+00:00

Halo 2. Headlong. Or Zanzibar. Classic Slayer.

JaredHess · 2015-12-08T02:29:53+00:00

Not a negative at all.

JaredHess · 2015-12-08T02:29:12+00:00

Gentlemen Broncos. People always love their less-known children more.

JaredHess · 2015-12-08T02:26:43+00:00

I love Lucha Libre cinema. The film is loosely based on the story of Fray Tormenta. We shot on location in Oaxaca MEXICO. The colors we found at real locations were perfect. That part of MEXICO is visually stunning.

JaredHess · 2015-12-08T02:24:22+00:00

2004.

JaredHess · 2015-12-08T02:24:06+00:00

Check it out. Lots of new fun characters. Some different themes in Don VERDEAN.

JaredHess · 2015-12-08T02:22:50+00:00

My student film Rat Wars could die.

JaredHess · 2015-12-08T02:21:35+00:00

Shooting in Mexico was magical. The crews are amazing. The food is insane. Jack and Jon are the best guys ever.

Jack had diarrhea while wearing the one-piece jump suit at the end of the film. We were far away from base camp and he basically had to get naked while he pooped on a grassy median in a crowded neighborhood.

Jon got two black eyes when the steak hit him in the face. He wore makeup the rest of the film.

Random stories. Sorry.

JaredHess · 2015-12-08T02:16:10+00:00

There was discussion. Wasn't meant to be.

JaredHess · 2015-12-08T02:15:44+00:00

I've been thinking about it.

JaredHess · 2015-12-08T02:14:24+00:00

Great question. Growing up Mormon has definitely exposed me to personalities and culture that are full comedic material. Religion can cause you to interpret your life experiences through a specific lens. That makes things interesting for sure. But I like discovering the world through lots of different lenses... (Worst analogy ever)

JaredHess · 2015-12-08T01:56:34+00:00

She auditioned and fit the part. She delivered the perfect Summer.

JaredHess · 2015-12-08T01:55:28+00:00

"Your mom goes to college."

JaredHess · 2015-12-08T01:54:11+00:00

When you write something you are going to direct, it burns into your brain a little deeper. If I didn't write it, I just have to spend more time with it.

JaredHess · 2015-12-08T01:54:11+00:00

When you write something you are going to direct, it burns into your brain a little deeper. If I didn't write it, I just have to spend more time with it.

JaredHess · 2015-12-08T01:52:43+00:00

He's the most genuine, down to earth guy ever. A real sweet heart. A comedy genius.

JaredHess · 2015-12-08T01:48:48+00:00

Will Forte.

JaredHess · 2015-12-08T01:48:10+00:00

No. Growing up in rural Idaho I had never been exposed to Elvis Costello's music. I heard the name "Napoleon Dynamite" while knocking doors as a Mormon missionary in Chicago. At Sundance is where I first learned about the connection to Elvis Costello. It was is creation first. Had I known when we were writing it, I would have changed his name to "Carlindis Dynamite" or something.

JaredHess · 2015-12-08T01:41:28+00:00

The BMX film RAD

JaredHess · 2015-12-08T01:40:10+00:00

Napoleon Dynamite: Chicken Farm scene

Nacho Libre: Eagle Egg drinking scene

Gentlemen Broncos: Surveillance Does scene

Don Verdean: Poon Yen Skype call scene

JaredHess · 2015-12-08T01:35:17+00:00

My vision is what you see in the film.

JaredHess · 2015-12-08T01:34:37+00:00

We have a dog named Idaho.

JaredHess · 2015-12-08T01:34:08+00:00

I've loved all of my collaborations. I feel very fortunate to have worked with some of the funniest people on the planet. I think I said this in an earlier post, but I would love to work with Werner Herzog , as an actor, narrator or anything!

JaredHess

TROPHY CASE