Biography

Edward Jones is an Academy Award-winning filmmaker known for his pioneering contributions to global entertainment and immersive experiences. He advanced the integration of animation and live action, notably developing hybrid animation techniques for "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" and promoting digital visual effects at ILM. Jones has produced projects in Australia, London, Latvia, Kazakhstan, and Canada. His honors include an Academy Award® as Executive Producer for "Happy Feet," an Academy Award® and BAFTA for "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?," a BAFTA for "The Witches of Eastwick," and an Annie Technical Achievement Award for "Space Jam."

Before becoming a producer, Jones spent over 13 years in key roles at Industrial Light and Magic (ILM). He led the integration of animation and live action for "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" and introduced digital compositing and CGI pipelines, overseeing the transition from optical to digital workflows. These innovations were critical for films such as "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," "Hook," and "Jurassic Park." He also contributed artistically and technically to projects including "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back," "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial," "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi," "Ghostbusters I and II," "Ghost," "Hunt for Red October," the "Back to the Future" trilogy, and "Indiana Jones I, II, and III."

In 1992, Jones founded CINESITE, an Eastman Kodak subsidiary, serving as CEO and President. He launched studios in Hollywood and London and was Visual Effects and Animation Supervisor for Michael Jordan's "Space Jam."

In 2001, Jones became CEO of ESC Entertainment, leading the visual effects studio behind "The Matrix Reloaded," "The Matrix Revolutions," "Catwoman," and "Constantine." Under his leadership, ESC Entertainment became a global leader in visual effects, fostering technical innovation and creative problem-solving. Jones oversaw rapid growth, built effective international teams, and ensured timely, on-budget delivery of large-scale projects. He is recognized for promoting cross-cultural collaboration, transparent communication, and empowering team members, which were key to managing international teams and complex productions. In 2005, Warner Bros. invited him to join its Australia-based team as Executive Producer for "Happy Feet," which won an Oscar® for Best Animated Feature and a Golden Globe.

In 2008, Jones became CEO of Reel FX Studios, where he led the development of its first original animated projects, "Freebirds" and "Book of Life." He also collaborated with James Cameron and Adam Adamson to produce Cirque du Soleil's 3D stereoscopic film "Worlds Away."

Jones is a member of AMPAS, PGA, and BAFTA, a founding member of VES, and a former President of the Motion Picture Industry Technology Council. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Film and Television from Montana State University.
- IMDb mini biography by: Ed Jones