His
first directed and produced theatrical feature film, “Shame, Shame.. Everybody
Knows Her Name,” was made a permanent part of The Museum of Modern Art’s archives.
He next directed, wrote, and produced his first major motion picture, “Hurry
Up, Or I'll Be 30” with Danny DeVito - DeVito's first feature film. It was
honored at the USA Film Festival as one of the Best Directed Films of the
Year. Many more films followed.
Returning
to his roots in the mid-90s, Mr. Jacoby founded Children’s
Video Theater® with the purpose of producing high-quality family programming
for television and video. “Davy Jones’ Locker,” a family musical starring The
Bil Baird Marionettes, was seen nationally on the PBS stations and Japan’s
NHK, to both critical and ratings success. The film was awarded The Unima
Citation of Excellence and, in 2002, was chosen for the Ten Years Winner’s
Circle by Unima and The Puppetry Arts Center in Atlanta.
“Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves” is currently in development.
In
March 2006, The
Museum of Modern Art in New
York City honored Mr. Jacoby
with a one-week retrospective of his film work to date, which coincided with
the publication of his memoir.
Joe
Jacoby recently completed his one-hour documentary A Case of
MisTaken Identity? having to do with his search for the
father he never knew. This film is based, in part, on his acclaimed memoir Boy On A String,
with an Introduction by his longtime friend and NYU colleague, Martin
Scorsese. It is a prequel to Jacoby’s feature film to be based on his book.
A Case of
MisTaken Identity? is distributed nationally through American
Public Television. (Please check your local PBS station listings for time
and date).
As
a direct outgrowth of his experiences while investigating his own biological
roots, Jacoby became convinced of the universality of his search (“when it’s
personal, it’s universal”) and the waiting audience for an ‘Everyman’ reality
series that would enable and empower the individual. Search for Identity is a
projected one-hour reality show now in development.
Purchase Joe's Book
The
Power Of Your Dreams
Joseph
Jacoby was born and raised in Brooklyn.
From age 7, when his mother was institutionalized, he spent the remainder of
his youth in seven foster homes and two institutions, one intended for
emotionally disturbed children. No relatives, no siblings. Just dreams.
From
as far back as he can remember, he loved the camera, he loved movies, he loved
what was then, in the late 40’s-early 50’s, the new medium of television, and
he loved puppetry. From childhood on, he dreamt of becoming a part of this
world of entertainment, although he had no specific agenda. Only intent,
passionately and deeply felt. It was a dream he would keep secret,
sensing its fragility, and suspecting that it would be taken if exposed, since
loss was a conditioned reflex, as was the expectation of its inevitability.
If
a child with no structural or familial underpinning can succeed—working in live
network television beginning in his teenage years, and making his first
theatrical movie by age 27, all while attending NYU full-time and majoring in
film on a partial scholarship—then this is testimony to the power of the will
and one’s deeply felt dreams.
How
this works is something Mr. Jacoby talks about. He does not believe it is
accidental or coincidental, although he does believe in what the psychologist
Carl Jung called Synchronicity — things that happen in one’s life
through acausal events. Jacoby believes these are brought about through
intent.
His
lecture is directed at corporate executives, university students, and the
general public. The lecture is punctuated by Power Point visuals, including
Behind-the-Scenes visuals of his films. While his presentation is not strictly
a theatrical one, it can be tailored to groups that prefer an entertainment
business emphasis.
Mr.
Jacoby is the owner of Jacoby Entertainment, Ltd.—a privately held company in
business since 1976.
Topics include:
- The
upside of early childhood deprivation and loss.
- The
power of Intent
- Accessing
inner resources at the earliest age.
- The
downside of patience.
- The
crippling effect of conformity.
- The
non-conformist as entrepreneur
- The
value of the contrarian—not caring about what other people think.
- Anger
as a useful fuel.
- Follow
your passions, never money. Let money follow you.
- Discipline
born out of Passion.
- Motivation
is the key.
- RISK. Embrace it: There is risk in
not taking chances.