In high school, Rejon would "borrow a friend's camera" and "make shorts in lieu of presenting a report in front of the class." He began his professional career as personal assistant to Martin Scorsese, Nora Ephron, Robert De Niro and Alejandro González Iñárritu before transitioning into a second unit director for feature films, and becoming a television and commercial director. Much of his time as a personal assistant was spent on the sets of major motion pictures. Gomez-Rejon then gained extensive experience as a second unit director, including such films as Babel, Julie & Julia and Argo. He cast most of the "unknown parts" in Babel, which earned him a chance to assist Ryan Murphy in finding authentic Balinese personnel for Eat Pray Love.
Television commercials
Prior to and during the September 21, 2010 season 2 premiere of Glee, American Express aired a commercial for its Members Project entitled "Don't Be A Sue", in reference to Glee character Sue Sylvester who has no regard for the arts and public service. On February 6, 2011, Chevrolet ran several Super Bowl ads. One was a 30-second ad in which the cast of Glee was asked to be spokespersons for the Chevrolet Cruze. This ad served as a teaser for a 2-minute-and-20-second ad featuring the Glee cast as singers and dancers during a Lea Michele-led rendition of "See the USA in Your Chevrolet" that aired during the Super Bowl lead-out program, which was "The Sue Sylvester Shuffle" episode of Glee. A 60-second version of the ad was aired along with movie trailers at nationwide movie theaters. The "See the USA" ad was directed by Gomez-Rejon. Russell Carpenter was the director of photography. On November 30, 2011, T-Mobile announced a surprise event at the Woodfield Mall. On December 1, 2011, Gomez-Rejon directed about six surprise singing and dancing mall performances of "Home for the Holidays" by Carly Foulkes and 100 Chicago-area women in magenta dresses. The performances were later edited into a music video with the hope that it would go viral. The full video that has been posted on YouTube has a run time of 3:48 and it will be presented in a 60-second national television commercial starting on December 12. The video was produced by Ridley Scott and Tony Scott's RSA Films. The musical director was Paul Mirkovich.
Television programs
Eventually Murphy sought Gomez-Rejon to direct Glee, where he earned his first episodic television directorial credits for executive producers Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Dante Di Loreto. He credits Murphy for nurturing his early development. In season 1, he directed "Laryngitis". In season 2, he directed "Grilled Cheesus", "A Very Glee Christmas" and "Born This Way". In season 3, he directed "Asian F". A new show by Murphy, Falchuk and Di Loreto as executive producers, American Horror Story, debuted in October 2011, and Gomez-Rejon has directed two episodes from the first season: "Home Invasion" and "Birth". Rejon later returned for the second and third season. Gomez-Rejon was among the creative contributors named in the Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries or Television Film nomination at the 71st Golden Globe Awards for American Horror Story: Coven as Co-Executive Producer/Director. His role as a producing director meant he had a more regular dialogue with Murphy because he was a creative contributor to all episodes whereas when he had been an episodic director, he had only been involved in the episodes that he shot. He also worked more closely with the showrunner on casting decisions. He was nominated for an Primetime Emmy at the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special for his work directing the American Horror Story: Coven episode "Bitchcraft". He is also credited with a nomination for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries since he served as Co-Executive Producer of the series.
Feature films
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, which he directed, was a selection for the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. It won the award as well as the US drama audience prize. Gomez-Rejon was attached to direct Will Smith in the New York-set indie drama Collateral Beauty, scripted by Allan Loeb. However, he later dropped out of the project due to creative differences. Gomez-Rejon directed the historical drama The Current War.
Personal life
Alfonso, who is of Mexican American descent, was born and raised in Laredo, Texas on the US/Mexico border where he attended St. Augustine High School. He received his BFA from New York University and his MFA from the AFI Conservatory. He dedicated Me and Earl and the Dying Girl to his father, Julio C. Gomez Rejon, MD.
Filmography
Gomez-Rejon's filmography is listed in the table below.
