"Jaws" Production Designer Joe Alves on his Career, "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," "Escape from New York," & More
Description
In this episode, we welcome Oscar-nominated Production Designer Joe Alves. Joe made history for his work on Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jaws 2, and Escape from New York. In our chat, he shares on his career working alongside masters such as Walt Disney, Alfred Hitchcock, Rod Serling, Steven Spielberg, and John Carpenter. He talks about starting out as a young Art Director, working as a Production Designer, and other hats he wore. Joe also offers advice on the business, breaking down a script — and other insights from a life in the industry.
“The Making Of” is presented by AJA:
DIT Chris Bolton talks on-set live grading and routing
In on-set production, precise, real-time color management and conversion and reliable routing are essential, which is why DIT Chris Bolton leverages AJA ColorBox and KUMO 3232-12G across projects. Read this interview to get his perspective on what makes a great DIT and to learn more about his live grading setup.
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Inspiration from Embeth Davidtz:
Featured Documentary Project:
In 1990, environmental engineer Hugo Martínez Cazón discovered the last standing factory of the Lumière Brothers’, which had been lost to history for almost a century. This short documentary follows his journey of mystery and discovery, while uncovering the birthplace of color photography in America — and a forgotten landmark of early cinematic history. Learn more here
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Podcast Rewind:
July 2025 - Ep. 91…
“The Making Of” is created by Michael Valinsky.
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