I'm that guy who can make anything funny. Starting with my first short film, which was about a man with AIDS, I've managed to get people to laugh and feel uncomfortable all at once. I think I acquired that special gift while watching my parents have ridiculous arguments. Professionally, I'm the award-winning director of the comedy musical short film, IF WE TOOK A HOLIDAY, which won several festival awards. Prior to that, I directed the independent feature drama, I DO, starring Jamie-Lynn Sigler (THE SOPRANOS), Alicia Witt (THE WALKING DEAD, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS), and David W. Ross (QUINCEANERA). It had its World Premiere at the 30th Annual OUTFEST in Los Angeles and won 13 film festival awards. It was released theatrically in 2013 and is currently available on iTUNES and HULU.
I was the Writer/Producer/Lyricist on the indie musical smash, LEAVE IT ON THE FLOOR, which premiered at the 2011 Los Angeles Film Festival and was an official selection of the Toronto International and Berlin International Film Festivals, as well as Outfest, Frameline San Francisco, and Chicago International, to name a few. The film and its soundtrack are currently available iTUNES.
I made my feature directing debut in 2009 with the comedy, EATING OUT: ALL YOU CAN EAT, which was so successful, it spawned two more sequels. It is one of the most popular gay film series of all time...if you don't count LORD OF THE RINGS!
Tired of my gloating and just want to cut to the chase? Then click on My IMDB Page button for crying out loud!:
Can't get enough? Then let's continue...
An accomplished writer, I co-wrote the screenplay, DIRECTED BY DOROTHY ARZNER with filmmaker Chris J. Russo, which was a selection of Film Independent’s prestigious Screenwriters and Directors Labs. It is currently in development. Through my relationships with Scout Productions and World of Wonder, I've directed/produced numerous documentary and reality programs, including QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GIRL (Bravo), TORI AND DEAN (Oxygen), WHAT PEREZ SEZ (VH1), SHOW CHOIR (MTV), MY HUSBAND’S SECRET (A&E) and CAMP MICHAEL JACKSON (Sky TV), which followed the fans of the late superstar during his infamous child molestation trial. I wrote and directed the comedy pilot, LEZ BE FRIENDS, and made my mark on the international film festival circuit with the award-winning shorts, BOYCHICK, LOST CAUSE, LITTLE BFFs, and HIV BASICS FOR CORRECTIONS OFFICERS, an educational video made during a 4-year stint as a teacher in LA County Jail. Not to overstate the obvious, but my experiences with hardened criminals has amply prepared me for a career in Hollywood!
Born in Youngstown, Ohio, ranked by BUZZFEED as one of the 12 bleakest places on earth,, I was left with little to do but develop my imagination. As a child, my favorite pastime was going with my mom to the movies and becoming enthralled by such films as PAPER MOON, THE EXORCIST, and TAXI DRIVER. I credit those classics with fostering my passion for storytelling. I eventually got the hell out of Youngstown and attended the UCLA School of Film And Television. Upon graduation, I worked as a production accountant on over 25 feature films, including the much-loved basketball film, HOOSIERS, and Jodie Foster's directorial debut, LITTLE MAN TATE. Advised by the writer of that film, Scott Frank, to stop crunching numbers in order to concentrate on filmmaking, I did just that and have never looked back. My bucket list includes writing and directing movies in every genre...except for Westerns. They're ok, but Clint Eastwood has pretty much done everything you can with them. My latest scripts, INFEST and SHIVERS, features murders and rape, but, yes, they're also funny. Thanks for fighting in front of me Mom and Dad!
