Joe Pytka facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joe Pytka
Born	1938 (age 86–87) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation	Filmmaker, music video director
Years active	1959–present

Joe Pytka (born 1938) is an American director who has created famous films, commercials, and music videos. He is best known for directing the hit movie Space Jam (1996), starring Michael Jordan and the Looney Tunes. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he holds the record for the most nominations for the Directors Guild of America's award for commercials.

Early Life and Career

Joe Pytka studied fine arts and chemical engineering before starting his film career. He began working at a motion picture company while he was still in college. Later, he moved to New York but soon returned to Pittsburgh to make documentaries for WQED, a public television station. His work there won many awards.

He eventually started his own production company. During this time, he made a short film about motorcycle racing with the actor Steve McQueen. Pytka's love for jazz music influenced his work, and he often used it in his projects.

Professional Life

Pytka became famous for his unique documentary style, which he used in his commercials. He has worked with many celebrities and athletes, including pop star Michael Jackson and basketball legend Michael Jordan. He also directed many of Tiger Woods's famous commercials, such as the one called I Am Tiger Woods.

His work was so impressive that it even caught the attention of the famous film director Stanley Kubrick. Kubrick said Pytka's commercials for Michelob beer were "visual poetry" and some of the most brilliant work he had ever seen.

Pytka has directed over 80 commercials for the Super Bowl. His Pepsi commercial, "Security Camera," was voted the best Super Bowl ad ever in a USA Today poll. Another one of his commercials, "Hare Jordan" for Nike, was so popular that it was turned into the movie Space Jam, which Pytka also directed.

Famous Music Videos

Pytka directed some of the most memorable music videos of the 1980s and 1990s, especially for Michael Jackson and The Beatles.

• "The Way You Make Me Feel" (1987): This nearly 7-minute video for Michael Jackson shows the singer following a woman through city streets while dancing.
• "Dirty Diana" (1989): Another video for Michael Jackson, this one features a live concert performance. It won the "Viewers Choice No. 1 Video" at the World Music Awards in 1989.
• "Heal the World" (1991): This powerful video for Michael Jackson shows children from countries suffering from unrest and poverty.
• "Free as a Bird" (1995): Pytka directed this video for The Beatles. It was created for the first new song released by the band in 25 years. The video is shown from the point of view of a bird flying and includes many references to famous Beatles songs. It won a Grammy Award in 1997.

Well-Known Commercials

Besides his Super Bowl ads, Pytka directed other commercials that became famous.

• "Make a Wish" (1989): A two-minute Pepsi commercial starring Madonna. It shows her traveling back in time to her childhood.
• "Dreams" (1992): A Pepsi commercial featuring Michael Jackson. The ad used Jackson's song "Who Is It".
• "Chimps" (1996): An HBO commercial where chimpanzees, living with scientist Jane Goodall, act out famous movie lines. This ad won the first-ever Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Commercial.

Feature Films

In addition to his many short projects, Pytka has directed four feature films.

• Let It Ride (1989): A comedy film starring Richard Dreyfuss.
• Space Jam (1996): A live-action/animated sports comedy starring Michael Jordan, Bill Murray, and the Looney Tunes characters.
• He also directed two documentary films: Cannes Goods II (1987) and Lunch with George and Ed (2017).

Major Awards and Honors

Joe Pytka's work has earned him some of the highest awards in film, television, and advertising.

• He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Directors Guild of America (DGA) in 2016.
• He has won three DGA Awards and has been nominated fifteen times.
• He was added to the Advertising Hall of Fame in 2014.
• He won an Emmy Award for his HBO "Chimps" commercial.
• He won a Grammy Award for The Beatles' video "Free as a Bird".