Rate My Professor Kevin Jones

Kevin Jones is an accomplished film producer, studio executive, and educator who served as Associate Professor and Chair of Graduate Programs at Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts from August 2021 to August 2024. Bringing decades of hands-on experience from Hollywood, Jones has significantly contributed to both commercial blockbusters and independent cinema, while mentoring the next generation of filmmakers through academia.

Jones's career began humbly sweeping soundstages before ascending to executive roles at leading studios including the Ladd Company, Warner Bros., Columbia Pictures, and Paramount Pictures, where he served as Vice President of Production. In these capacities, he contributed to the development and production of landmark films such as Coming to America (1988), Ghost (1990), Groundhog Day (1993), The Hunt for Red October (1990), Forrest Gump (1994), and Multiplicity (1996). He also produced independent features Duets (2000), starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Andre Braugher, and Love and Sex (2000), which was featured at the Sundance Film Festival.

In academia, Jones held the position of Head of Creative Mentors at the American Film Institute Conservatory, overseeing the creation of award-winning student thesis projects. He established the MFA program in Creative Producing and Screenwriting at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, integrating industry practices with creative training. At Chapman’s Dodge College, he led graduate programs, providing students with practical insights into film production, screenwriting, and emerging tools like AI. Jones has engaged in public discourse through CILECT panels on using AI as a tool in the classroom and diversity hiring for film and media faculty. Quoted in the Los Angeles Times, he advised aspiring directors on building careers through repetition, low-budget features, and festival exposure. His career bridges high-stakes production with educational leadership, profoundly influencing film education and aspiring talents.