- 7 months ago
Many of our favorite on-screen stars are also powerhouses behind the camera, shaping the films and shows we love. Join us as we shine a light on incredible celebrities who have taken on roles as producers and directors, often with surprising and award-winning results. From crafting beloved comedies to helming critically acclaimed dramas, these stars prove their talent extends far beyond acting. Get ready to be surprised by their impressive filmographies and their impact on the film industry!
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most surprising celebrities
00:09who have also worked on movies as producers and directors.
00:2010. Elizabeth Banks, Producer and Director
00:24All the best producers have clout, which usually means they've made people money in the past,
00:30and now they have the clout to get other things done.
00:32If realizing that the actress who plays Effie Trinkett is also the director of both Pitch Perfect 2 and Cocaine Bear Shocks You,
00:39Elizabeth Banks has achieved her goal.
00:41After starting Brownstone Productions back in 2002,
00:45she has refused to be pigeonholed into any specific genre or career path,
00:50especially as a woman in the male-dominated film industry.
00:53She's such an experienced actress. She knows what we're going through.
00:57I'm just in this harness.
00:58Yeah, hold there, hold there.
01:00Oh, thanks.
01:01And there's a little shorthand between us all. She's great.
01:05Not only has she juggled big-budget acting and directing roles on both sides of the camera,
01:10but she's also worked as a producer for TV shows like Shrill and the comedy film Bottoms.
01:159. Forrest Whitaker, Producer and Director
01:19Not many Oscar-winning dramatic actors are also in the business of directing rom-coms,
01:24but the multi-hyphenate Forrest Whitaker can do it all.
01:27When I first started shooting her on the very first day of shooting,
01:30all I was shooting was Whitney Houston's eyes and lips.
01:33Really?
01:33Yeah, because I was trying to set up this thing called, you know,
01:35Chocolate Girl, where she's the most beautiful thing in the world.
01:38Yes.
01:39Since beginning his acting career in the 80s,
01:42he has delivered a long list of moving performances throughout the years.
01:46As a director, you might not know that he followed up the success of Waiting to Exhale
01:50with Hope Floats and First Daughter.
01:53Sometimes you gotta break the rules.
01:55You never know when you're gonna get something inspired.
01:58Go on, Mackenzie. Break the rules.
02:00Even beyond his own projects,
02:02Whitaker supports up-and-coming filmmakers through his company,
02:05Significant Productions,
02:06which has helped launch the careers of incredible artists like Chloe Zhao and Ryan Coogler.
02:12Number 8. Bradley Cooper
02:14Producer, Director, and Camera Operator
02:17A celebrity producer credit can mean anything from financially investing in a film
02:22to playing a more hands-on role.
02:24He's got such a great eye.
02:25He was a great collaborator on set.
02:27Even though he's in makeup for four hours,
02:29and he comes and he directs the scene and blocks it.
02:32In Bradley Cooper's case,
02:34not only has he actively produced and directed many of his own projects,
02:38but he also worked on the 2019 hit movie, Joker.
02:41From the initial phone call pitch with director Todd Phillips
02:44to helping out in the editing room,
02:46the well-known actor was involved from start to finish.
02:49Todd called me and he said,
02:50I have this crazy idea for this sort of alternate version of DC.
02:55And the first one is the origin story of Joker.
02:57I thought, this is just so bold.
02:59Even with his recent undertaking,
03:01Is This Thing On?,
03:02Cooper joined the crew as a B-camera operator,
03:05adding yet another on-set job to his impressive resume.
03:09Number 7.
03:10Angelina Jolie, Producer and Director
03:13If you only knew Angelina Jolie from her famous on-screen roles,
03:24you might not guess that she's also directed
03:26several international war dramas.
03:28The actress herself even shared that she ended up
03:31on the other side of the camera by accident.
03:33I was worried that it would be turned into something else
03:37by somebody else and so I volunteered to direct it
03:40and thought, oh, what am I doing?
03:41Wow.
03:42But just to protect the material
03:44and then realized that I loved it.
03:46After finding inspiration in her humanitarian work,
03:49Jolie felt compelled to tell the powerful stories
03:52in First They Killed My Father, Unbroken,
03:54and In the Land of Blood and Honey.
03:57The movies earned recognition for bringing the nuance
03:59and heart of war-torn stories to light
04:01and proved her range as both a leading lady and director.
04:05So how long were you in the Army now?
04:07Army for two and a half years.
04:09It was three and a half years.
04:10And I certainly learned from them as well
04:12and talk about, you know,
04:14what Louis' story has an effect on them.
04:16Number 6.
04:17Margot Robbie, Producer
04:19In 2014, Margot Robbie joined forces with her roommates,
04:23including her future husband,
04:25to create Lucky Chap Entertainment.
04:27Together, they've been behind some of the actresses'
04:30most popular films like I, Tonya, Birds of Prey, and Barbie.
04:34Greta was the first person and the only person we went to.
04:37I love her as a writer.
04:39I love her as a director.
04:40I knew that she would be one of those directors
04:42that could deliver something that would be a cinematic experience,
04:45but also have something to say about the world we live in.
04:48However, the company doesn't only work on projects featuring the Aussie star.
04:52With the goal of highlighting female storytellers,
04:56Lucky Chap has produced Dollface, My Old Ass,
04:59and director Emerald Fennell's movies,
05:01Promising Young Woman and Saltburn, just to name a few.
05:05After finding her own passion for film production,
05:08Robbie is now helping other creative women do the same.
05:11She's incredibly generous and thoughtful.
05:13Her and her whole company, Lucky Chap,
05:15they're just so amazing to work with.
05:17It's like no wonder they get so much repeat business from their directors.
05:20Number 5. Emma Stone, Producer
05:22Following her years of success in the acting world,
05:26Emma Stone made the leap to start a production company called Fruit Tree in 2020.
05:30Emma's been really so much part of it.
05:32She's a producer on the film.
05:34She's been very important in how we've developed the story
05:37and how we're talking about putting it out into the world
05:39and very much guiding that.
05:41Working alongside her husband, Dave McCary,
05:43the duo have since joined forces with A24 for several popular releases,
05:48including I Saw the TV Glow.
05:51They've also helped launch Jesse Eisenberg's directorial career.
05:54And thanks to Poor Things and A Real Pain,
05:57the company has produced two Oscar-winning films in just a few years.
06:01You know, we kind of started out as peers.
06:03I now think of her as like,
06:05I mean, I really do, it's cheesy to say this,
06:07but I think of her as like my fairy godmother
06:09because she's so beloved and she's, you know,
06:11she's really successful.
06:12But more than that, she's like beloved.
06:14With even more exciting projects lined up for the future,
06:17it looks like Stone is only just getting started.
06:20Number 4.
06:21Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson
06:23Producers
06:24Since its founding in 1998,
06:27Tom Hanks' production company Playtone
06:29has earned hundreds of award nominations
06:31and produced some of the beloved actor's most memorable films.
06:35However, Rita Wilson is the one to thank
06:38for convincing her husband to turn a one-woman show
06:40called My Big Fat Greek Wedding
06:42into the highest ever grossing rom-com in the U.S.
06:46So I asked to meet Nia, the playwright,
06:50after the play was done
06:53and she came out and I said,
06:54Nia, this would make an amazing movie.
06:56And she said, I have a script.
06:57A few years later,
06:58the couple then added another successful Greek franchise
07:01to their roster with Mamma Mia.
07:03Though it might not seem like an obvious match for Hanks,
07:07the actor still jokes that his lack of musical talent
07:09was the only thing that held him back
07:11from joining the star-studded cast.
07:14I actually tried out for the role
07:15as I wanted to hire myself.
07:18But my singing voice would have scared the children.
07:22Number 3.
07:23Whitney Houston
07:24Producer
07:25I'm such a fan of hers anyway.
07:27I think she's doing quite a lot of producing these days
07:30and she came down on the set a couple of times
07:32and set her low and she kept her eye on things.
07:35Whitney Houston was a celebrated actress
07:37and undisputed music legend.
07:40But it might surprise you to learn
07:41that she was also behind some of the biggest teen movies
07:44from the early 2000s.
07:46The star first formed Brown House Productions in 1996,
07:50taking on a new role in the industry as a film producer.
07:53I like this project because it consisted of a rainbow cast of people,
07:58Asian Americans, African Americans, Caucasian Americans,
08:01and you know, it's never been done that way before.
08:05After the company broke records
08:06with their diverse TV reimagining of Cinderella,
08:09Houston went on to back The Princess Diaries,
08:12which also became a smashing success.
08:15Then in 2003, she lent her magic touch
08:17to Disney Channel's The Cheetah Girls,
08:19while also applying her musical expertise
08:22to its popular soundtrack.
08:322. Brad Pitt, Producer
08:34Though he's best known for his acting career,
08:38Brad Pitt's biggest impact on Hollywood
08:40might be through his production company, Plan B.
08:42Well, to be honest, without Brad Pitt,
08:44this film wouldn't be made.
08:45That's just a fact.
08:47I mean, it's not an if or but or maybe.
08:49I just feel without Brad Pitt,
08:50this film would not have been made.
08:52Compared to the star's four Oscar nominations as an actor,
08:55Plan B films have collected more than 10 Academy Awards,
08:59including clinching three Best Picture victories.
09:02While you wouldn't initially connect projects
09:04like Selma, Moonlight, or Minari to Pitt himself,
09:08the industry veteran has said he believes
09:10every story needs some champion behind it.
09:13Are these stories that you think
09:14otherwise wouldn't get told?
09:16I mean, we look at what's happening with Hollywood.
09:18No, it's often the case.
09:19You know, every film needs some champion behind it
09:22to get it across the finish line.
09:24No question.
09:25More than just a name in the credits,
09:27his work as a producer has given his love
09:29for filmmaking a brand new avenue.
09:32Before we unveil our top pick,
09:34here are a few honorable mentions.
09:36Madonna, producer and director.
09:39The Queen of Pop was behind both
09:41Agent Cody Banks movies.
09:42Come on.
09:43Just tonight, I have to do two chapters of chickenometry.
09:46Plus, I have to write a essay on Henry V,
09:48not to mention my chores.
09:52Of course, I had a little help.
09:55I can't believe what we're talking about.
09:57Jodie Foster, director.
09:59The Oscar-winning actress directed
10:01Home for the Holidays and others.
10:03I said common sense, dammit.
10:04Nobody makes sense anymore.
10:06Nothing makes sense anymore.
10:07Right.
10:08This goddamn bird, I'm trying to get an angle.
10:10And so would you spot love this, Mom?
10:14Nicole Kidman, producer.
10:17The actress produced some of her own projects
10:19as well as Monte Carlo.
10:21Hello.
10:22Let's read all about you.
10:25Wait a minute, that's her?
10:26I don't look anything like that.
10:30Oh, no, she has a better nose.
10:32It's a better slope.
10:34Drew Barrymore, producer and director.
10:37The multi-talented star produced Charlie's Angels.
10:40Mission accomplished.
10:41Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel
10:53and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos.
10:56You have the option to be notified for occasional videos
10:59or all of them.
11:00If you're on your phone,
11:01make sure you go into your settings
11:03and switch on notifications.
11:04Will Ferrell and Adam McKay worked on both sides of the camera for years.
11:18On top of their recognizable hits like Step Brothers and Daddy's Home,
11:22the company is also behind more recent projects
11:25like Succession and The Menu.
11:27Be mindful, but do not eat.
11:32Our menu is too precious for that.
11:34However, thanks to a female-centric sister label
11:37headed by Jessica Elbum,
11:39Ferrell also has surprising credits on films like Booksmart and Hustlers.
11:44After parting ways with McKay in 2020,
11:47the comedian joined Elbum full-time,
11:49embracing her mission and continuing to produce
11:52unexpected titles like May-December.
12:08Which of these celebrities' behind-the-scenes roles
12:10were the most unexpected?
12:12Let us know which star surprised you the most
12:14in the comments below.
Comments