John Wilson (filmmaker)

John Michael Wilson (born October 7, 1986) is an American documentary filmmaker. He is the creator and director of How To with John Wilson, a comedy-docuseries on HBO.[1][2][3]

John Wilson
Birth nameJohn Michael Wilson
Born (1986-10-07) October 7, 1986
New York City, U.S.
Medium
  • Documentary
  • television
Alma materBinghamton University
Years active2008–present
Websitejohnsmovies.com

Early life and education

Wilson was born in Astoria, Queens, and grew up on Long Island. He became interested in film as a teenager when his father gave him a movie camera. Wilson cites Les Blank, George Kuchar and Bruce Brown as influences.[1]

Shortly after graduating from high school, Wilson completed a feature film called Jingle Berry.[4] Wilson added the reference to Jingle Berry to his own Wikipedia page in season 2, episode 4 of How To with John Wilson.[5]

While attending Binghamton University, Wilson made a short documentary, Looner, about a balloon fetish community.[6][7] At Binghamton, Wilson joined an a cappella singing group, the Binghamton Crosbys.[8]

Career

In 2008, after graduating from college, Wilson worked for a private investigator. He has said this experience influenced his focus on the people and places of everyday life.[6]

In 2015, Wilson was asked to go on tour with David Byrne to make an original film about his performance.[9] Titled Temporary Color,[10] the film has been called a "true crime concert doc about David Byrne and a pair of violent criminals". The next year, Vimeo asked Wilson to make a documentary about the Sundance Film Festival. These works caught the attention of comedian and writer Nathan Fielder, and the two started collaborating after meeting in 2018.[2]

In October 2020, Wilson's comedy docuseries How To with John Wilson premiered on HBO.[2] The show is executive produced by Fielder, Michael Koman and Clark Reinking.[11] On December 9, 2020, HBO ordered a second season, which premiered on November 26, 2021.[12] The series' third and final season premiered on July 28, 2023.[13]

References
  1. Sepinwall, Alan (October 22, 2020). "'How to With John Wilson': Where Digression Meets Delight". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  2. Pemberton, Nathan Taylor (October 23, 2020). "John Wilson Reveals the Absurd Poetry of New York". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  3. "'How to With John Wilson' Is the Year's Best Nature Documentary". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  4. Zinoman, Jason (December 17, 2021). "The Most Adventurous Comedy Right Now Is Also the Most Real". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  5. Fienberg, Daniel (November 24, 2021). "HBO's 'How To With John Wilson' Season 2: TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 2, 2022. His own story is situated more clearly, whether it's introducing viewers to his embarrassing first film Jingle Berry — mentioned now on his Wikipedia page in an edit we watch him make — and his history with a cappella, which leads to a twist I wouldn't dare spoil.
  6. How to With John Wilson, retrieved November 24, 2020
  7. Twenty Five New Faces of Independent Film: John Wilson, July 25, 2016, retrieved November 28, 2020
  8. Desta, Yohana (December 3, 2021). "How To With John Wilson's Shocking NXIVM Connection Was Years in the Making". Vanity Fair. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  9. "John Wilson". Talkhouse.
  10. "Temporary Color" – via IMDb.
  11. Otterson, Joe (August 12, 2019). "Nathan Fielder Sets HBO Overall Deal, Docu-Series and Comedy Pilot (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  12. Porter, Rick (December 9, 2020). "'How To With John Wilson' Renewed for Second Season on HBO". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  13. Moreau, Jordan (May 25, 2023). "'How To With John Wilson' Ending With Season 3 on HBO, Gets Release Date and Quirky Trailer". Variety. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
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