What a great afternoon I had today, beautiful breeze with 2 gorgeous golden retriever pooches, and the Icon himself – Jonathan Baker. Checking out his documentary “Becoming ICONIC”, that I saw once on my laptop and ¾ on his big screen in his screening room at his house. His screening room is fully equipped with comfortable adjustable lounge chairs and licorice. Jonathan is a throw back from the 70’s but with a fresh fun twist, but he is a one mighty promotion machine. Super young outlook on life, but claims that he was just a bit late or early for most of the major historic movements in his lifetime. But Jonathan Baker is a true storyteller. He is emotional about his life and his family, and his friendships with Hugh Hefner and Warren Beatty. Jonathan is all things and really knows how to get his point across. Writer, director, producer, actor, like I said before, a talent from another time period where everything is contained by him and his elegant wisdom. He is movie star handsome with a timeless quality about him. I was completely taken by him, he really had my attention, and I know I am just gushing….
The documentary “Becoming ICONIC” – originally released in 2018, directed by Neal Thibedeau, completely held my attention, it was entertaining without being too Hollywood. He has some great interviews with amazing cast members from his directorial debut “Inconceivable,” as well as other very notable Hollywood Icons; Jodi Foster, Taylor Hackford, Adrian Lyne, John Badham, Michael Bay, Nicolas Cage, and Faye Dunaway. There is a twist in the doc, but it doesn’t take away from all of information that you as the viewer will get about Hollywood, studio execs, and what it is to be a first time director. This doc should be viewed by all students and first time filmmaker/directors for the first hand knowledge of what kind of backbone and stamina you need to be able to pull off a major successful theatrical release.
The screening and luncheon was held at his most tasteful home, which used to be the party house that once belonged to Warren Beatty. The home got a bit on the tamer side when he was married to Annette Bening, who lived there with him until they sold it to Jonathan. Jonathan made offers to Warren about the house for many years, Warren told him he had never sold any property and just was not sure how to do it. Jonathan wore him down and the rest is history. Except for the fact that Jonathan changed everything to a modern glamorous hillside palace, with an amazing outdoor area and stylish interiors.
Jonathan is so down to earth; he is kind and just wants to be a creative storyteller at the end of the day. He says he just wants to be “Recognized for The Breath of The Journey”. There is a Zen spirit about him that is otherworldly and yet he manages to be able to make every one relate to him and his stories, he is just relevant without trying.
I was told that his chef prepared the lunch that we had, which was lovely; grilled salmon, mashed potatoes, guacamole, quesadilla and salsa, so delicious, flavorful and healthy. You can tell that Jonathan is really into health, he is very thin and super stylish.
All of this from a man who Has a tomb stone with his name on in next to Marilynn Monroe in Westwood, CA. – that says “Stay Tuned” on it. He is the only living person in the cemetery.
About Jonathan Baker:
Jonathan Baker has always been enthralled by smart storytelling and larger-than-life figures, taking inspiration from greats like Ernest Hemingway to guide his own sensibilities as a writer, producer, director and adventurer. Studying film in his native New York City and at USC in his undergraduate years, Jonathan Baker began his entertainment industry career as a writer, director and producer of projects such as Through Scavullo’s Eyes, a Warner Bros. documentary on controversial fashion photographer Francesco Scavullo; Dorf on Golf, a sports spoof with Tim Conway; and Dirty Tennis, a comedy starring Dick Van Patten, Nicolette Sheridan and Bruce Jenner that aired on HBO and Cinemax, winning the VSDA and the New York Film Festival Award for Best Comedy Video of the Year. More recently he founded Baker Entertainment Group, a multimedia development and production company based in Hollywood.
Baker is also a successful entrepreneur who grew a start-up venture, SkinSpa, into the leading full-service day spa in the U.S. before selling that brand
in 2011. While focusing on Baker Entertainment Group and his evolving work as a film director, he remains active in the personal care field and has currently developed a new signature brand, Jonathan Baker EST 1962, which introduces its first line of many pure aromatherapy products. Jonathan’s men casual clothing line is due out next.
Filmography: FATE, American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally, Force of Nature, Survive the Night, Inconceivable Dirty Tennis Dorf on Golf, producer credit. Fate, Inconceivable, both director credit. IMDb Mini Biography By: Baker Entertainment Group
“I can wave my hand and make the impossible happen”, Jonathan Baker.
* Some content taken off the internet.
