Joe Alves
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).
Known for
ArtBirthday
May 21, 1936Gender
MaleKnown Movie Credits
30Place of birth
San Leandro, California, USAAlso known as
Joseph Alves Jr.Cast credits
The Making of 'Jaws'
SelfThe Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'
Self3D: A Brief History
Purgatory: Entering John Carpenter's 'Escape From New York'
SelfViaggio nel cinema in 3D: Una storia vintage
The Shark Is Still Working: The Impact & Legacy of 'Jaws'
SelfNot Your Average Joe
SelfSharksploitation
SelfCrew credits
Jaws
Production DesignJaws 2
Production DesignClose Encounters of the Third Kind
Production DesignEscape from New York
Production DesignThe Sugarland Express
Art DirectionJaws 3-D
DirectorIsn't It Shocking?
Art DirectionScream, Pretty Peggy
Art DirectionDouble Indemnity
Art DirectionFire Down Below
Production DesignDrop Zone
Production DesignGeronimo: An American Legend
Production DesignSee the Man Run
Art DirectionShadow Conspiracy
Production DesignSinbad: Beyond the Veil of Mists
Production DesignWinning
Art DirectionEverybody's All-American
Production DesignThe Young Country
Art DirectionStarman
Second Unit DirectorChange of Habit
Assistant Art DirectorSarge: The Badge or the Cross
Art Direction