James Bobin is an English film director, writer, and producer. He has worked as a director and writer on The 11 O'Clock Show and Da Ali G Show, and helped create the characters of Ali G, Borat, and Brüno. In 2003 and 2004, he directed and co-wrote all of the 12 episodes of Ali G in da USAiii for HBO.
With Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, he co-created Flight of the Conchords, also for HBO. Bobin had previously seen Clement and McKenzie perform and signed on to co-create the show.
He has also directed campaigns for Diet Coke and Lloyds TSB.
His feature film directorial debut, The Muppets, a musical-comedy film written by Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller, was released in 2011 and became a critical and commercial hit. The film earned him his second BAFTA nomination at the 66th British Academy Film Awards. He directed a follow-up, Muppets Most Wanted, which was released in 2014. Bobin has also signed on to direct the sequel to the 2010 film Alice in Wonderland.
Early life and family
Bobin was raised in Titchfield, near Fareham and educated at Titchfield Primary School and Portsmouth Grammar School.
In 1995, he was the star of the early reality television series Modern Times: Flatmates. He was a member of a household searching for a flatmate, screened on UK's BBC2.
His wife Francesca Beauman gave birth in late July 2007 to baby Madelaine. His father David Bobin is a sports broadcaster currently employed by Sky Sports, and was formerly with Southern Television and Meridian TV South. His brother is a vice president at Magnolia Pictures.
Awards
Bobin received his first BAFTA nomination (British Academy of Film and Television Award) for "Best Comedy Series" in 2000. He also won an award from the Royal Television Society, as well as a Silver Rose from the Monteux Television Festival. He won a Writers Guild of America Award in 2007.
James was nominated for Outstanding Writing and Directing Emmys for Da Ali G Show in 2003, and again in 2005. In 2008, he was nominated for Outstanding Writing, Directing, and Original Music for Flight of the Conchords.
Filmography
Feature films
- The Muppets (2011) â€" director
- Muppets Most Wanted (2014) â€" co-writer, director
- Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass (2016) â€" director
Television
- The 11 O'Clock Show (1998) â€" writer, associate producer, director
- Da Ali G Show (UK: 2000, US: 2003â€"2004) â€" writer, director
- Comedy Lab (2004) â€" producer, director
- Flight of the Conchords (2007â€"2009) â€" writer, executive producer, director
- Enlightened (2011) â€" director
References
External links
- James Bobin at the Internet Movie Database
- Biography on HBO.com
- New York Times bio