Joe Robert Cole | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 1, 1980 |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of California, Berkeley |
| Occupation | Film director, screenwriter, film editor, actor, television writer, television producer |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Known for | The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story Black Panther |
Joe Robert Cole (born January 1, 1980) is an American film director, screenwriter, film editor, actor, television writer and television producer. He is best known for his Emmy Award-nominated and Writers Guild of America Award-winning work on the first season of the true crime anthology television series American Crime Story, titled The People v. O. J. Simpson, and for co-writing the film Black Panther.
Early life[]
Cole, an only child, moved around a lot growing up, which he felt "prepared" him to be a writer, a desire he only discovered during college. He soon applied to the University of California, Berkeley.[1]
Career[]
During his tenure at the university, Cole entered the film business, working as a writer on the 2006 film ATL, although not receiving a credit.[1] In 2011, he released his first feature film as a director and writer, Amber Lake.
Marvel Studios' program[]
After writing a "Chinatown-style cop script", Cole was invited to a meeting with Marvel Studios, where he was told that they had plans of doing a movie about the character War Machine. He pitched a story and was chosen to write the film, but, according to him, "they decided, based on what Iron Man 3 was going to be, they weren't going to do War Machine anymore." Marvel subsequently invited him to join its writers program.[2]
In regards to the program, Cole said:
- "The way it works—and I'm only speaking for myself here—is they give you an office and a character. You read all the comics with that character, then you come up with a story you see for that character. You present it, get notes and if everything moves along, you're greenlit to write the script.[2]"
In 2014, Cole wrote a script for a projected movie about the Inhumans.[3]
Television[]
In 2016, the television series American Crime Story was released. Cole served as co-producer of the first season, The People v. O. J. Simpson, and wrote two episodes, "The Race Card" (for which he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special) and "A Jury in Jail".
Black Panther[]
While working on The People v. O. J. Simpson, Cole was approached by Marvel Studios' producer Nate Moore, wanting to know if he was willing to write a film about Black Panther. He immediately accepted. Cole was part of a competition, but was ultimately chosen to write the screenplay with director Ryan Coogler.[2]
Filmography[]
Film[]
| Year | Title | Director | Producer | Writer | Editor | Actor | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Amber Lake | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||
| 2014 | White Dwarf | Yes | Role: Joe | |||||
| 2018 | Black Panther | No | Yes | Nominated–Saturn Award for Best Writing | ||||
| 2020 | All Day and a Night | Yes | Yes |
Television[]
| Year | Title | Director | Producer | Writer | Actor | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story | Yes | Yes | Co-producer (10 episodes) Writer (2 episodes): "The Race Card" and "A Jury in Jail" |
Black Reel Award for Outstanding Screenplay in a TV Movie or Limited Series ("The Race Card") Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Long Form – Adapted Nominated–Black Reel Award for Outstanding Screenplay in a TV Movie or Limited Series ("A Jury in Jail") Nominated–Image Award for Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series ("The Race Card") Nominated–Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special ("The Race Card") |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 E. Patterson, Brandon (February 6, 2016). "Oscars So White? Black Panther to the Rescue". Mother Jones. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Charisma, James (February 8, 2018). "'Black Panther' Screenwriter Reveals What Makes T'Challa One of the Most 'Unique' Characters in the MCU". Complex. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Goldberg, Matt (August 12, 2014). "Exclusive: Marvel Moving Forward on 'The Inhumans' Movie; Screenplay by Joe Robert Cole". Collider. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
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