Mission
The fundamental purpose of this business is to create and promote art for art’s sake as well as art as an agent of transformation and spiritual connection. To some extent also art as an agent of healing.
This business creates original work that expresses my unique vision as well as collaborative work that I bring my talents, abilities and style to. It also encompasses organizing, beautifying and promoting the work of festivals and artists on a similar track.
Our main endeavor is making inspired, original films written and directed by me. Additional work includes programming, graphic design, theater managing and consulting for a variety of clients, and in particular for independent film festivals; supporting and coaching other filmmakers; editing and script doctor work.
Bio
I was born in Los Angeles and lived in Italy as a kid. My home base has been Silver Lake for many years.
With extensive experience as both a graphic designer and filmmaker, I bring a unique blend of creativity and strategic planning to every project. Whether you need eye-catching graphics for your movie poster, expert media production, or comprehensive guidance in organizing a film festival, I have the skills and experience to help you succeed.
My multifaceted expertise ensures that I can provide life coaching tailored to your specific needs, making me the ideal choice for anyone seeking to elevate their creative projects.
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Film
I have been making short films and writing screenplays since the 90s. I started going to my local arthouse theater in my teens, soaking up anything and everything without much context. When I got my first VCR I started hitting the video stores hard and became obsessed with all the mid-century auteurs: Bergman, Antonioni, Visconti, Fellini, Kubrick, Bresson, Renoir, Kurosawa, Godard, Buñuel, Billy Wilder, Louis Malle, Kenneth Anger, etc., as well as my biggest inspirations from the 70s, Fassbinder and Lina Wertmüller, and 90s auteurs such as Wong Kar-Wai, Almodovar, Lars Von Trier, Zhang Yimou and Guy Maddin.
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I went to film school at L.A. City College in the 90s — it was a magical time there with lots of truly gifted emerging filmmakers working in the orbit of LA’s thriving underground arts scene. The leading light of the program was Prof. JP Geuens, a Belgian aesthete with eyes like scalpels and a caustic sense of humor. I was fortunate that he helped me immensely. My thesis film, “It Dwells in Mirrors,” played at a lot of festivals — including Slamdance.
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I like creating dark, dry comedies with big ensemble casts and stylized visuals. I've written numerous feature screenplays and continued to make shorts over the years. The screenplay nearest and dearest to my heart is "It's Raining Men," the story of a suburban high-school senior who discovers the gay world of 1981 in Hollywood and gets involved with a porn star who takes him for a very wild and dramatic emotional ride.
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Graphic Design
Modernism and mid-century design are my default, but I like exploring new and unexpected forms and color and finding the beautiful in the ugly. I like organizing information into artful, user-friendly layouts.
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I learned graphic design in the '80s, in a time of rubylith, T-squares and waxers, starting out designing ads at the Apparel News in downtown LA. I've been a freelance designer ever since. I worked for the Mouse for several years, working on style guides, merchandise and packaging for XGames, ESPN, and ABC Sports. ​After that I was a partner in my own company, Famous Design, where we specialized in DVD boxes, menus, posters and collateral for Sony Home Entertainment, Lions Gate Home Entertainment and others.
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In recent years I have been the designer and art director for the Slamdance Film Festival and the Mammoth Lakes Film Festival, designing program booklets, logos, badges, merchandise, step and repeats, banner ads and on-site signage.
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Festival Programming
I started programming after my short film "It Dwells in Mirrors" played at Slamdance, where the selections are made by festival alumni. I captained the shorts committee for many years, and moved over to narrative features in 2010. I also programmed for the L.A. Film Festival for four years and had programming stints at Outfest and AFI Fest. In 2015 I helped to launch the Mammoth Lakes Film Festival, where I have been director of programming for the past 11 years. I have also worked as a theater manager for Tribeca, L.A. Film Festival, AFI Fest, TCM Fest, Indian Film Festival of L.A., and others. I have served as Venue Manager and Theater Operations Manager at the Hamptons Film Festival. I have been a jury member for Nót Film Festival in Italy, Angaelica Film Festival in Big Bear, and Nonplussed Fest in L.A.
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Music
I've always been obsessed with discovering new bands, going to concerts and collecting vinyl for decades; I write a music blog and do a bit of DJing whenever I get a chance.