John Ottman
John Ottman
Biography
John Ottman (born July 6, 1964) is an American film composer, director, and editor. He is best known for collaborating with director Bryan Singer, composing and/or editing many of his films, including Public Access (1993), The Usual Suspects (1995), Superman Returns (2006), Valkyrie (2008), and Jack the Giant Slayer (2013), as well as the X-Men film series. For his work on Singer's 2018 Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, Ottman won the Academy Award for Best Film Editing. Ottman was born in San Diego, California. Growing up in San Jose, Ottman made many amateur films garnering local attention in the community. He attended De Anza College and then transferred to the School of Cinematic Arts of the University of Southern California, where he graduated in 1988. One of his first assignments was to provide original music for the computer game I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream. In 2007, Ottman appeared in the documentary Finding Kraftland for his agent Richard Kraft. He is best known for his multitasking as editor and composer for Bryan Singer's films and, on a few occasions, producer roles to boot. The Usual Suspects, Apt Pupil, X2, Superman Returns (including adapting themes originally composed by John Williams), Valkyrie, Jack the Giant Slayer, X-Men: Days of Future Past, and X-Men: Apocalypse. Other notable films he worked on as a composer are Snow White: A Tale of Terror, the 2005 remake of House of Wax, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Fantastic Four and its sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, The Invasion, and Astro Boy. He also directed (in addition to editing and scoring) the 2000 horror film Urban Legends: Final Cut. He won a BAFTA Award for Best Editing for The Usual Suspects, as well as two Saturn Awards for Best Music for The Usual Suspects and Superman Returns. In 2019, he was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Editing and won the ACE Eddie Award and the Academy Award for his work on Bohemian Rhapsody, a film Ottman saw through on his own after both directors' departure (Bryan Singer being fired and Dexter Fletcher beginning pre-production on "Rocketman" shortly after finishing the shoot). Ottman navigated the film's development in post and the tricky waters between the filmmaker and studio, working with producer Graham King and Dennis O'Sullivan. Upon Bohemian Rhapsody getting nominated for and winning its Best Editing awards, a scene of the band outside a pub went viral online after a post by Youtuber Thomas Flight, who was critical of the editing style. Ottman, aware of the clip, explained that for a test screening, a heightened pace for the first act was asked for by the studio. After the test, Ottman returned the scene to its original pace and design. Ottman regretted that he missed returning the scene outside the pub closer to his original version. The scene (directed by Fletcher) contained no master shot of the band at the table. Description above from the Wikipedia article John Ottman, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known For
Personal Info
Known For
Sound
Known Credits
71
Gender
Male
Birthday
1964-07-06 (60 years old)
Place of Birth
San Diego, California, USA
Crew

2018

Bohemian Rhapsody Editor

2017

Star Trek: Discovery Director

2016

X-Men: Apocalypse Original Music Composer

2016

The Nice Guys Original Music Composer

2016

X-Men: Apocalypse Editor

2016

X-Men: Apocalypse Co-Producer

2014

Non-Stop Original Music Composer

2014

X-Men: Days of Future Past Original Music Composer

2013

Jack the Giant Slayer Original Music Composer

2011

Unknown Original Music Composer

2011

The Resident Original Music Composer

2010

The Losers Original Music Composer

2009

Orphan Original Music Composer

2009

Astro Boy Original Music Composer

2008

Valkyrie Original Music Composer

2008

Valkyrie Editor

2008

Valkyrie Executive Producer

2007

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer Original Music Composer

2007

The Invasion Original Music Composer

2007

The Invasion Orchestrator

2006

Superman Returns Original Music Composer

2006

Superman Returns Editor

2005

House of Wax Original Music Composer

2005

Hide and Seek Original Music Composer

2005

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Original Music Composer

2005

Fantastic Four Original Music Composer

2004

Cellular Original Music Composer

2004

Lonely Place Music

2003

Gothika Original Music Composer

2003

X2 Editor

2003

X2 Original Music Composer

2003

Gothika Orchestrator

2002

Trapped Original Music Composer

2002

Eight Legged Freaks Original Music Composer

2002

Pumpkin Original Music Composer

2002

Brother's Keeper Music

2002

Point of Origin Music

2002

Brother's Keeper Original Music Composer

2001

Bubble Boy Original Music Composer

2000

Urban Legends: Final Cut Original Music Composer

2000

Urban Legends: Final Cut Orchestrator

1999

Lake Placid Original Music Composer

1999

Goodbye Lover Music

1998

Apt Pupil Associate Producer

1998

Apt Pupil Original Music Composer

1998

Halloween H20: 20 Years Later Original Music Composer

1998

Apt Pupil Editor

1997

Snow White: A Tale of Terror Original Music Composer

1997

Incognito Music

1996

The Cable Guy Original Music Composer

1995

The Usual Suspects Editor

1995

The Usual Suspects Original Music Composer

1993

Public Access Editor

1993

Public Access Original Music Composer

1988

Lion's Den Editor

1988

Lion's Den Co-Director