About the Author

JOSEPH JACOBY, Screenwriter/Author, Director-Producer, began his career as a creator of game shows and as a puppeteer for the famed Bunin Puppets and The Bil Baird Marionettes, both of whom he watched as a child of early television. He has written-directed 5 motion pictures to date. His first theatrical feature, "Shame, Shame...Everybody Knows Her Name," was made a permanent part of the Museum of Modern Art's film collection. In 2006, MoMA mounted a weeklong retrospective of his film work, coinciding with the publication of his first book, a memoir, "Boy On A String" (Carroll & Graf), with an Introduction by his longtime friend and NYU film school classmate, Martin Scorsese. He was the recipient of the "Best New Director" award at the Virgin Islands Film Festival for "The Great Bank Hoax" (Warner Bros.) and honored for the picture at The Festival De Deauville Du Cinema Americain. His original Family Musical, "Davy Jones' Locker," starring the famed Bil Baird Marionettes, was the recipient of the Gold Award at Worldfest Houston and awarded the UNIMA-USA Citation of Excellence in the Art of Puppetry by The American Center of the Union Internationale de la Marionette, founded by Jim Henson. His documentary, "A Case of MisTaken Identity?" was seen nationally on the PBS stations in 2008-09. In December 2009, The New York Times reprinted its film critic's reviews, citing 3 of the best independent pictures of the 70s, including Jacoby's second theatrical feature, "Hurry Up, Or I'll Be 30," featuring Danny DeVito in his first theatrical film performance. Jacoby lives in New York City.

Reviews

Though primarily a Scrceenwriter-Director, Jacoby's first book - "BOY ON A STRING: From Cast-Off Kid to Filmmaker" (A memoir) recieved enthusiastic reviews: "A compelling narrative...a uniquely 20th century story."- RON MAGLIOZZI, Curator, Dept. of Film - The Museum of Modern Art"Engrossing, offbeat...account of Jacoby's lonely childhood and how his imagination led him into the world of film and television - LIBRARY JOURNAL.