Space Cowboy, a film about the life of skydiving cinematographer Joe Jennings, is coming to Arizona! Directed by Bryce Leavitt and co-directed by Marah Strauch, the film centers around a stunt that could only be performed at Skydive Arizona, while going back in history to tell Joe’s story about growing up, becoming a skydiver, and developing his passion for documenting human flight.
Joe Jennings built the kind of career that deserves to be on screen. And a story like this could only be filmed at Skydive Arizona. We are grateful to have been a part of Joe’s career —and even more grateful to have been a part of this amazing film.
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Skydiver or not, everyone should know the story of this man. It is a story of adrenaline, struggle, and success, driven by years of pushing boundaries in the sky and on screen.
The Man
From the beginning of his skydiving career, Joe wanted to find a way to share the experience of freefall with others. He turned that vision into a career that helped change how freefall is captured on screen: with precision, movement, and artistry.
Joe is a stunt coordinator and freefall cinematographer based in Los Angeles. He oversees everything a production needs to tell the story: locations, aircraft, pilots, skydivers, riggers, equipment, and the vision required to bring it all together.
He began his career in competitive skysurfing, where he became known for camera flying, framing, stability, and three-dimensional flight. In 1995, he and his partner, Rob Harris, won two world championship titles and first place at the ESPN X Games.
His work has shaped some of Hollywood’s biggest action moments, with credits including Charlie’s Angels, Triple-X, Air Force One, San Andreas, and Point Break. He has also brought his talent to television and major campaigns for NVIDIA, Dell, and KIA.
Joe also shot one of the most memorable Superbowl ads of all time for Pepsi, right here at Skydive Arizona.
Joe Jennings is a legend in the sport, but just as importantly, he changed what cinema could do in the sky.
The Drop Zone
Joe Jennings first came to Skydive Arizona when we hosted the 1994 Freestyle Skysurfing World Championship. Jennings and his partner, Rob Harris, emerged as champions, far ahead of second place.
Everyone was impressed by their talent, discipline, and chemistry.
They came, they jumped, they trained. Over time, Joe Jennings and Skydive Arizona built a partnership around the kind of aerial stunts that require exceptional aircraft, infrastructure, and expertise.
Where else can you throw a car from an airplane?
The Stunt
Space Cowboy shows Joe Jennings planning and executing his most thrilling stunt. Partnering with Skydive Arizona, Jennings threw a car from the sky into the Sonoran Desert. It wasn’t the first time—Joe’s hucked dozens of vehicles out of airplanes.
But this would be his first attempt at truly getting stable flight.
Cars tend to spin out of control during freefall, throwing off all the skydivers. This is not an ideal situation, either for the safety of the skydivers or for documenting the stunt. “You have to chase it aggressively, and also be prepared to back off aggressively,” Joe said of his prior attempts.
A stunt like this can only be performed at Skydive Arizona. Only we have the full combination of aircraft, people, equipment, and the Sonoran Desert to make a stunt like this possible.
Back to the Man
Space Cowboy tells Joe Jennings’ story: a life shaped by adrenaline, achievement, and struggle. It is definitely a story worth watching. It is also a life lesson: no matter if you are on top of the world, you are still someone who feels, who grieves, who can feel small.
Your story shapes you, but on the inside you remain the same. Joe Jennings is still the same man. He is just a cowboy who learned to ride the air.
Visit the film’s official website for more information.