Joel Souza

Not to be confused with Joel Sousa.

Joel Souza (born June 14, 1973)^[1] is an American film director and screenwriter.^[2]

Joel Souza
Born	(1973-06-14) June 14, 1973 (age 51) Fremont, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Film director, screenwriter
Years active	2010–present
Children	2

Career

Souza was initially inspired to become a filmmaker after viewing the Indiana Jones film Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981).^[3]

As a writer and director, Souza debuted in 2010 with the family adventure film Hannah's Gold, starring Luke Perry. The thriller Crown Vic, which featured the life behind the wheel of a patrol car, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival,^[4][5] and received mixed reviews from critics, who noted substantial similarities between Crown Vic and the 2001 film Training Day.^[6]

2021 Rust shooting incident

Main article: Rust shooting incident

On October 21, 2021, Souza was injured by a discharge from a prop gun fired by actor Alec Baldwin while filming Rust. Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins died in the incident.^[7][8]

Personal life

Souza lives in the San Francisco Bay Area,^[7] and is married with two children.^[9][10]

Filmography

Year	Title	Director	Writer	Producer	Ref.
2010	Hannah's Gold	Yes	Yes	No	[11]
2015	Ghost Squad	Yes	Yes	No	[12]
2015	Christmas Trade	Yes	Yes	No	[13]
2017	Break Night	Yes	Yes	Yes	[11]
2019	Crown Vic	Yes	Yes	No	[14]
2024	Rust	Yes	Yes	No	[15]