Joseph Francuz
(1953 - )Joseph Francuz
Los Angeles native Joseph Francuz knew he wanted to become an artist as a child and fulfilled that goal early in life. After graduating from Otis Art Institute in June 1975, he began working as a scenic artist by September. One year later, Francuz joined J.C. Backings, where he apprenticed under several of Hollywood’s finest journeyman scenic artists. His mentors included MGM-trained Harry Tepker and Bob Oberbeck, as well as perspective virtuoso Ben Ressella. Francuz worked alongside Ressella for twelve years before becoming a Journeyman Scenic Artist and later a lead artist.
Hollywood Scenic Artist Career
During more than three decades at J.C. Backings, Joseph Francuz contributed scenic artwork to numerous feature films, television productions, theaters, and theme parks.
His motion picture credits include Chaplin (1992), My Stepmother Is an Alien (1988), Rocky II (1979), Star Trek II (1982), Star Trek III (1984), Ghostbusters (1984), Men in Black (1997), Jurassic Park, Jurassic Park: The Lost World, Jurassic Park III, Independence Day (1996), Cocoon (1985), One from the Heart (1981), Hook (1991), Mystic River (2003), Stuart Little (2002), and The Terminal (2004).
His television scenic work includes Dallas, Knots Landing, L.A. Law, Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune, On Golden Pond, and numerous CBS productions.
Theater and Theme Park Projects
Beyond film and television, Joseph Francuz created scenic artwork for theater productions including David Copperfield’s Magic Show, the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Show, and The Three Tenors at Dodger Stadium.
He also painted backdrops and murals for Disney World, EPCOT Center, Tokyo Disneyland, MGM Studios Theme Park, Universal Theme Park Florida, the Universal Studios Fire Wall (Phoenix Project), and the Paramount Parks Top Gun ride.
Later Career
After 31 years at J.C. Backings, Francuz joined Marian Westall’s Hot Pepper Studio, where he primarily painted oil murals for Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruise Lines. After many years working primarily with water-based scenic paints, he welcomed the opportunity to return to oil painting, which he described as his first love.
Following a 38-year career as a Hollywood scenic artist, Joseph Francuz retired to Prescott Valley, Arizona. Today he continues painting in oil and watercolor while also pursuing photography. After retiring from the motion picture industry, Francuz continued sharing the techniques he learned through Hollywood’s apprenticeship tradition. In 2023, he returned as a Visiting Guest Artist for Texas Performing Arts, where he helped restore the MGM backdrop from The Law and the Lady (1951) while working alongside students and faculty on the Hollywood Backdrop Collection.
Joseph Francuz restoring the MGM backdrop for The Law and the Lady (1951) as Texas Performing Arts Visiting Guest Artist, 2023.
Joseph Francuz at J.C. Backings, lead scenic artist on the translucent backdrop for Chaplin (1992).
Guest scenic artist Joe Francuz working in the Hollywood Backdrops Collection studio during a visiting artist residency. The photograph documents Francuz creating scenic artwork using traditional theatrical painting techniques and drafting methods as part of educational programming for the collection.
Michael Denering, Karen Maness, and Joe Francuz repair an MGM backdrop from The Law and the Lady (1951). Conservation work such as cleaning, stabilization, and repair helps preserve historic Hollywood scenic art for research, exhibition, and public interpretation.
Texas Performing Arts, Photographer Robert Silver, Courtesy Francuz Collection