From music videos and commercials to the Marvel Cinematic Universe
In short: Jake Schreier’s career path reflects a modern evolution of filmmaking, moving from the collaborative spirit of a Brooklyn collective to the massive scale of global blockbusters. His journey highlights how a foundation in music and advertising can pave the way for critically acclaimed independent cinema and superhero epics.
Jake Schreier was born in Berkeley, California, in 1981 and eventually moved into the creative hub of New York. After attending the NYU Tisch School of the Arts, he began his career in the high-paced world of music videos and commercial advertising. He notably played keyboard for the performer Francis and the Lights while also directing commercials for major brands like Verizon and Absolut Vodka. This period of his career allowed him to build a technical foundation before transitioning into narrative filmmaking.
In 2006, Schreier joined Park Pictures and co-founded Waverly Films, a Brooklyn-based collective. This era was defined by a balance of commercial work and artistic exploration. His breakthrough came in 2012 with his first feature film, Robot & Frank. Critics praised the movie, which received the Alfred P. Sloan Prize at Sundance. The award recognised its exploration of technology and science themes. Critics, including those from the Los Angeles Times and Rolling Stone, praised the film for its polish despite being a directorial debut.
Schreier's trajectory continued with diverse projects, including the 2015 adaptation of John Green's novel Paper Towns and a 2021 concert film for Chance the Rapper. The latter was a significant industry milestone, marking the first time an individual recording artist distributed a film exclusively through AMC Theatres. By 2022, his work reached the pinnacle of mainstream entertainment when he was hired to direct the Marvel Studios film Thunderbolts*. His success with the MCU led to his official confirmation in July 2025 to direct a new X-Men film.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Jake Schreier
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