Patty Jenkins facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Patty Jenkins
Jenkins at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con
Born	Patricia Lea Jenkins (1971-07-24) July 24, 1971 (age 54) Victorville, California, U.S.
Education	Cooper Union (BFA) AFI Conservatory (MFA)
Occupation	Film director screenwriter film producer
Years active	1995–present
Spouse(s)	Sam Sheridan ​ (m. 2007)​
Children	1

Patricia Lea Jenkins (born July 24, 1971) is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. She is well-known for directing the movies Monster (2003), Wonder Woman (2017), and Wonder Woman 1984 (2020).

For Monster, she won the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature. She also received an award from the American Film Institute (AFI). In 2011, she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for directing the pilot episode of the TV series The Killing. She also won a Directors Guild of America award for her work on that show. In 2017, Time magazine recognized her as one of their top people of the year.

Early Life and Education

Patty Jenkins was born in Victorville, California. Her father, William T. Jenkins, was an Air Force officer and pilot. Her mother, Emily Roth, later became an environmental scientist. Patty has two sisters, Elaine and Jessica.

Because her father was in the military, her family moved often. They lived in Thailand and Germany before settling in Lawrence, Kansas. When Patty was seven, her father passed away during a military exercise. Later, on a road trip, her mother took Patty and her sister to see the original Superman movie. Patty found the film very inspiring, and it made her want to become a filmmaker.

She finished most of her schooling in Lawrence, Kansas. Her family then moved to Washington, D.C., where she completed high school. Patty studied painting at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, graduating in 1993. She then earned a master's degree in directing from the American Film Institute's AFI Conservatory in 2000. While at AFI, she made a short film called Velocity Rules (2001). It was about a housewife who discovers she has superpowers.

Patty became interested in photography and painting in junior high. At age 20, she interned at a company that made commercials. She started working on film sets for free to learn more. She worked her way up to being a camera person for eight years. While working on a music video, her director of photography suggested she go to the American Film Institute to learn directing. There, she met people who helped her get the chance to direct her first big movie, Monster (2003).

Career Highlights

Early Films and TV Work (2001–2014)

Patty Jenkins began her directing career with short films like Just Drives (2001) and Velocity Rules (2001). Velocity Rules was about a housewife who finds out she is a superhero. This film received a special grant from Warner Brothers.

Her first major film was Monster (2003). Patty initially wanted someone else to direct it, but she ended up writing the script herself. She wrote to the film's subject, Aileen Wuornos, who was in prison. Wuornos eventually gave Patty her personal letters, which convinced Patty that she was the right person to direct the movie.

Monster was made with a budget of $1.5 million. It starred Charlize Theron and became a big success, earning $64.2 million. Charlize Theron won an Oscar for her role. Famous film critic Roger Ebert called Monster one of the best films of 2003. For this movie, Jenkins won the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature. She also received an award from the American Film Institute.

After Monster, Jenkins worked on several TV projects. In 2011, she directed a segment in the TV movie Five, which earned her an Emmy nomination. She also directed episodes of popular TV shows like Arrested Development and Entourage. She received another Emmy nomination for directing the pilot episode of AMC's The Killing. In 2011, she was chosen to direct Thor: The Dark World, a superhero movie, but she left the project due to creative differences.

Worldwide Success with Wonder Woman (2015–Present)

In 2015, Jenkins became the director for the DC Extended Universe film Wonder Woman. The movie starred Gal Gadot as the superhero. It was released in June 2017 and broke records for a female director's opening weekend. Jenkins became the first female director of an American studio superhero film. She was also the third female director to direct a movie with a budget over $100 million.

The film was praised by critics and audiences. It earned over $800 million worldwide. Wonder Woman became the highest-grossing film directed by a woman at the time. However, later films like Frozen II (directed by Jennifer Lee) and Captain Marvel (directed by Anna Boden) surpassed it.

Jenkins at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con

After Wonder Woman, Jenkins worked on a horror TV series called Riprore with her husband. In 2017, she also directed the first episodes of the TV drama I Am the Night, which starred Chris Pine from Wonder Woman. She also helped produce this show.

In September 2017, it was announced that Jenkins would direct Wonder Woman 2, later titled Wonder Woman 1984. She worked hard to ensure she received a fair salary, similar to what male directors would earn for a big movie like this.

Wonder Woman 1984 was released on December 25, 2020. It received mixed reviews and did not perform as well at the box office as the first film.

In October 2020, it was announced that Gal Gadot and Jenkins would work together again on a film about Cleopatra, the ancient Egyptian pharaoh. However, in December 2021, Jenkins decided to focus on a third Wonder Woman film and a Star Wars movie called Rogue Squadron instead. She remained a producer for the Cleopatra film.

In 2021, Warner Bros. announced a third Wonder Woman movie with Jenkins writing and directing. However, in December 2022, reports said that this film would not be made. It did not fit with the new plans for the DC Universe.

In December 2020, Disney announced that Jenkins would direct Rogue Squadron, a Star Wars spin-off film. This would have made her the first female director to lead a Star Wars movie. The film was planned for release in December 2023. However, in November 2021, production was delayed due to Jenkins' other projects. In September 2022, Disney removed Rogue Squadron from its release schedule, and the film was later put on hold in March 2023. In March 2024, Jenkins shared that she had returned to Rogue Squadron after the third Wonder Woman film was canceled.

Other Work and Influence

Patty Jenkins, along with Wonder Woman actresses Gal Gadot and Lynda Carter, and other leaders, appeared at the United Nations in 2016. They were there to celebrate Wonder Woman being named an "Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls." This was meant to help raise awareness for gender equality. However, some UN staff protested, saying the character was not suitable. As a result, Wonder Woman's role as ambassador ended in December 2016.

Directing Style

In her film Monster, Jenkins explored ideas about right and wrong, and what it means to be a woman. For Wonder Woman, Jenkins wanted the audience to see the world through the main character Diana Prince's eyes. Diana is shown as a universal human character. Jenkins believes a main theme of the film is that humans themselves are the only villains. She has said that the original Superman movie influenced her own superhero film.

Connie Nielsen, who plays Hippolyta in the Wonder Woman movies, said that Jenkins strongly supported including feminist themes in Wonder Woman. Jenkins did not want to include an origin story for the Amazons that showed them as victims. Instead, she wanted them to be seen as strong warriors.

Jenkins has been influenced by other directors like Kathryn Bigelow. She also enjoys discussing how music is used in films with musicians. She believes that the way music is organized is similar to how stories are told in movies. As a director, she uses this idea of rhythm to help guide how actors deliver their lines.

Personal Life

In 2007, Patty Jenkins married Sam Sheridan. He is a former firefighter and an author. They have one son and live in Santa Monica, California.

Filmography

Short films

Feature films

Television

Awards and Recognition

Patty Jenkins has received many awards for her directing work.

• In 2004, for Monster, she won the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature. She also received the Franklin J. Schaffner Award from the American Film Institute.
• In 2011, she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for the pilot episode of The Killing.
• In 2012, she won a Directors Guild of America Award for her directing on The Killing.
• In 2018, Wonder Woman won a Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation – Long Form.

See also

In Spanish: Patty Jenkins para niños