Joe Alves

Born: 1936-05-21

Joe Alves (born 21 May 1936, San Leandro, California) is an American film production designer, perhaps best known for his work on three of the Jaws films. He directed Jaws 3-D. Alves has designed three features for Steven Spielberg, firstly for The Sugarland Express. He designed the three mechanical sharks for the movie Jaws (1975) with mechanical effects man Bob Mattey supervising their physical construction in Sun Valley CA. After the sharks were completed, they were trucked to the shooting location, but unfortunately they had not been tested in water causing a series of delays that have become quite legendary over time. He was nominated for the Academy Award and won the BAFTA for Best Art Direction for his work on Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Alves worked on Jaws 2 (1978) in the capacity of both production designer and as second unit director. After John D. Hancock, the initial director of Jaws 2, was sacked, it was suggested that Alves co-direct it with Verna Fields (who edited the original Jaws). Jeannot Szwarc was hired, however, to complete the film. The model of New York he created for John Carpenter's Escape from New York (1981) has been described as "memorably derelict", and he was visual consultant on Carpenter's Starman (1984).


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The Shark Is Still Working: The Impact & Legacy of "Jaws"

as Self
Released: 2009-05-02

After three decades, Jaws continues to intrigue, thrill and frighten viewers. This documentary...

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The Making of 'Jaws'

as Self
Released: 1995-11-28

A documentary on the making of one of the greatest films ever made, filled with trivia,...

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Sharksploitation

as Self
Released: 2024-10-12

The ultimate deep dive into the world of shark cinema: filmmakers, critics, scholars and...

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The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'

as Self
Released: 2001-05-08

A documentary film on the making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'

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3D: A Brief History

as uncredited
Released: 2004-09-07

A look at how Dial M for Murder (1954) was produced for 3-D viewing.

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Purgatory: Entering John Carpenter's 'Escape From New York'

as Self
Released: 2018-11-26

A brand new retrospective documentary produced by Ballyhoo Motion Pictures and featuring...

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Viaggio nel cinema in 3D: Una storia vintage

as uncredited
Released: 2016-09-05

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Not Your Average Joe

as Self
Released:

A documentary about the career of legendary production designer Joe Alves and his four decades...

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