J.J. Abrams

J.J. Abrams

Jeffrey Jacob Abrams was born in New York City and raised in Los Angeles, the son of TV producer parents. Abrams planned on going to dental school, but decided to study film at Sarah Lawrence College. At 15, he wrote the music for Don Dohler's Nightbeast (1982). In his senior year, he and Jill Mazursky teamed up to write a feature film, which became Taking Care of Business (1990). He went on to write and produce Regarding Henry (1991) and Forever Young (1992). He also co-wrote Gone Fishin' (1997) with Mazursky. Along with other Sarah Lawrence alumni, he experimented with computer animation and was contracted to develop pre-production animation for Shrek (2001). Abrams worked on the screenplay for Armageddon (1998) and co-created (as well as composing the opening theme of) Felicity (1998), which ran for four seasons. He founded the production company Bad Robot in 2001 with Bryan Burk. He created and executive-produced Alias (2001) and Lost (2004), composing the theme music for both, and co-writing episodes of "Lost". He also co-wrote and produced thriller Joy Ride (2001). He made his feature directing debut with Mission: Impossible III (2006), reinvigorating the series. He produced the hit mystery film Cloverfield (2008) and co-created Fringe (2008). He directed the Star Trek (2009) reboot, proving successful with fans and newcomers to the franchise. He next directed Super 8 (2011), co-produced by Steven Spielberg and produced Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011). He returned to direct the follow-up to his reboot, Star Trek Into Darkness (2013). Disney and Lucasfilm announced J.J. as their choice for director of the first episode in the new 'Star Wars' trilogy, Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015). He initially resisted, as he didn't want to travel away from his family to London, but Kathleen Kennedy convinced him that his voice would be the best to reinvigorate this franchise, as he had done with two others before. He also produced Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015) and Star Trek Beyond (2016), and executive-produced Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017). When it was announced that Colin Trevorrow would no longer direct Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019), it was announced that J.J. would return to complete the trilogy he started.
J.J. Alani

J.J. Alani

Based in Paris & Los Angeles, J.J. Alani aka J. Jonroy Alani has been a member of the Directors Guild of America (DGA), and Writers Guild of America (WGA) in New York since 1997. Alani is the writer, producer, director of David & Layla (2005), a political romantic comedy distributed by Warner Bros., and Beyond Paradise (2015), a drama love story distributed by Marvista Entertainment. Beyond Paradise (2015) was nominated for two Imagen Awards: Best Actor Ryan Guzman vs. Antonio Banderas, and Best Actress Francia Raisa vs. Juliette Binoche. Both films were Official Selection at the world's top two Amour film festivals: Mon International Films d' Amour in Belgium; and the Cabourg Romantic Films Festival in France. Alani Executive Produced Margreet (2015), a story about the legend of Mata Hari set in Paris. It was an Official Selection at Cannes Film Festival 2015, where it held its World Premiere. Official Selection at 29 International Film Festivals, David & Layla (2005) won 8 Awards, including Mons Festival International Du Film D'Amour's Grand Prix Du Public vs. La Vie en Rose, 2 Days in Paris, and Lady Chatterley. David & Layla (2005) received notable praise from the Nobel Laureate, Oscar nominee Screenwriter and acclaimed Playwright, Harold Pinter: "A bold, politically relevant film made against impossible odds." Plus, critical reviews in the New York Times, Variety, Washington Post, LA Times, Jewish Chronicle, etc. In Paris, where he studied at the Sorbonne University, 1990-1994, receiving a "Diplôme Supérieur de Langue et Civilisation Française", Alani is in pre-production of a feature entitled Au-Delà du Paradis, a French-UK-Georgia co-production. Eying a Netflix or an Amazon production, he has adapted his three film scripts of the Epic of Gilgamesh to a 12-episode TV Series inspired by man's first written epic, etched 5000 years ago on clay tablets. He worked briefly as a Fashion Photographer in London and Paris. Later, Alani lived in New York, where he taught and worked for 15 years Alani studied at the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and TV ( Adult Education), and at the USC School of Cinematic Arts (Advanced Screenwriting) in Los Angeles, 1987-1990. In New York, he coached graduate students at the Graduate Department of New York University Film School on their final thesis projects. 1996-2000. A dual American and British citizen, Alani was born in Sulaymani. Fluent in English and French, he understands and speaks Spanish and some Portuguese, plus the ability to converse in three Middle Eastern languages. He has lived and worked in Paris, London, Rio de Janeiro, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York.
J.J. Alfieri

J.J. Alfieri

James (JJ) Alfieri (born July 4, 1978) is a successful American restaurateur and nightclub operator who transitioned to acting, directing, producing and writing for film and television He is best known for a featured role in the True Adventures of Wolfboy, supporting role in Clover and a lead role and producer credit in the award winning Givers of Death, with several more projects in development and pre-production. JJ Alfieri was born on July 4, 1978 in Buffalo at Woman and Children's Hospital, the son of Amy Francis Millard a childhood actress from New York City and James Salvatore Alfieri a well known restaurateur and nightclub owner. His mother is of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage and his father is of Sicilian origin. His father's family hails from Vittoria, Sicily where His paternal cousin Arianna Occhipinti is one of Sicily's preeminent organic winemakers. JJ attended the prestigious St Joseph's Collegiate Institute college preparatory high school and went on to study English & Media Studies at SUNY Buffalo. He also attended the UB Summer Institute in Media Production, studying under film industry professionals including: Peter Riegert - actor (Animal House, Oscar, Sopranos) Alan Zweibel - writer (Saturday Night Live, Larry David Show, Curb Your Enthusiasm) Linda Reisman - producer (The Virgin Suicides, Affliction, Waking The Dead, Jeepers Creepers, Assasination Tango) Shep Gordon - Supermensch JJ worked as an intern at UBC2C Hollywood Media Symposium for industry professional Christine LaMonte, a former studio executive at Orion Pictures, Touchstone Films, Universal Pictures and Walt Disney Studios, and member of both the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences and the Television Academy of Arts and Sciences. For years, Alfieri has excelled in the Buffalo hospitality industry, beginning his career as a restaurant and nightclub operator in 2006 at the legendary family owned Crocodile Bar in Buffalo's world famous Chippewa entertainment district. From there he struck out on his own and over the next decade expanding his portfolio to include the Iconic Duke's Bohemian Grove Bar in Buffalo's historic Allentown entertainment district, and along with partner Paul Tsouflidis brought the food hall concept to Buffalo with the Expo Market food halls on Hertel Avenue and Main Street, as well as the first franchise of the locally famous Bocce Club Pizza, a nearly 75 year old Buffalo pizzeria. Alfieri also produced concerts featuring 30 plus Grammy winning or nominated musical acts and international recording artists including EPMD, Rob Bass, Afrika Bambaataa, Moe, Soulive, Snarky Puppy, Devon Allman and Rob Wasserman. It was his success in the restaurant and nightlife industry coupled with his background in Media Studies and production that led to his big break in the Summer of 2017. JJ Alfieri's love of acting began when he played the part of Laertes in a 5th grade production of Hamlet. In 2005 he started his own production company 3C Multimedia, where he produced a pilot called Discs with Norman Toy a writer on the MacGyver TV show. It was during the production of Discs that JJ first met Addison Henderson who would later become an important influence on JJ's cinematic career. JJ's love of music led him to produce early music videos for Dipset, Purple City Bird Gang, Conway, Westside Gunn, and Benny the Butcher who went on to become highly acclaimed international recording artists. After limited success, he closed 3C Multimedia and focused on the restaurant and nightclub business. JJ's first on-screen appearance happened in 2006 when he landed a scene-stealing day-player role as a TV news reporter in Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead, a cult classic by the king of low budget horror, Lloyd Kaufmen, founder of Troma Entertainment Film Studio. Years later, Alfieri caught his first big break in the movie business during the summer of 2016, when longtime friend and collaborator Addison Henderson came to Duke's Bohemian Grove Bar along with Chadwick Boseman as part of the Marshall film production in Buffalo. Alfieri reconnected with Henderson and made fast friends with Boseman. Suddenly his longtime interest in and desire to make movies became a real possibility. The next big break came in the summer of 2017. Czech director Martin Krejci met Alfieri when Krejci began frequenting JJ's nightclub, Duke's Bohemian Grove Bar while The True Adventures of Wolfboy crew was finishing up preproduction in Buffalo. And after a couple weeks of hanging around with Alfieri, Krejci offered Alfieri the opportunity to audition for a small part in Wolfboy. Alfieri was cast as a gas station clerk robbed at gunpoint by characters portrayed by Eve Hewson and Jaeden Martell. The part was small but memorable, as Krejci threw away the script and had Alfieri improvise all of his lines. Alfieri's strong performance led to him being cast as Gus, in Clover directed by Jon Abrahams starring Ron Perlman and Chazz Palminteri among other high profile Hollywood stars. Alfieri was fortunate to play opposite Chazz Palminteri in a one on one scene that propelled him from day player type roles to a leading role in his next film Givers of Death aka G.O.D. an award winning indie Sci-Fi thriller set in Buffalo during a pandemic in the future. Alfieri also produced with and starred alongside his old friend Addison Henderson. And he reunited with Clover co-star Louis Lombardi for a fantastic fight to the death scene. G.O.D. was critically acclaimed at film festivals and lead to Alfieri and Henderson collaborating on two projects in preproduction: a film, Haunted by Dr King, based on the MLK assasination conspiracy civil trial and a television series biopic, My Brother's Keeper, about the King of Punk Funk, Buffalo's own Rick James. Alfieri lives in Buffalo, NY his hometown while spending time in both NYC and LA. He was once married to Gabrielle Mattina but was divorced after a short period of time. Alfieri collaborates with his sister Gabrielle Millard Alfieri on various projects including co-writing the script of Haunted by Dr King with Addison Henderson. Alfieri's father is the owner of the 31 Club in Buffalo, a high end Supper Club. Alfieri's maternal cousin Jenny Gering was the costume designer for the third season of The Deuce. Alfieri's paternal cousin Christine LaMonte was an executive at Orion pictures and Walt Disney Corporation in the 1980's and 90's. Alfieri's maternal grandmother was the maid of honor in film critic Leonard Maltin's mother's bridal party.
J.J. Arends

J.J. Arends

JJ is not a traditional Actor of modern time, but rather that of an old soul. She has chosen to serve her nation first. After over a decade of service and two overseas deployments JJ charges forward with her compassionate drive to entertain. JJ's motivation is; " I like to create something which causes people to smile, laugh, or feel a calm. We can't always get what we want, but we sure as hell can try!" Arends grew up in between Montana and Wyoming. She was always lost in her imagination, but found focus as the years went on. She attended a community college in Cheyenne, Wy where she first set foot on a stage. This stage performance (Lead; 'Anton In Show Business')brought her to a scholarship which afforded Arends to achieve her Associates of Art degree. (The first college degree of her family.) Degree in hand, Arends moved to Montana to attend MSU. After a semester of playing Trombone with the College Marching band and Jazz Band, she decided to serve her Country. Arends served the Montana National Guard for a year before moving to Oklahoma and interstate transferring to Oklahoma's National Guard. Upon arriving in Oklahoma, Arends signed up to audition for the University of Oklahoma Pride marching band. She made the cut and studied Architecture at OU as she played her Trombone in The Pride all the way to the Tostito's Fiesta Bowl. Arends halted her college when an Iraq deployment came up. After returning to America, she returned to her civilian work and struggled to re-integrate. Within the next 2 years she married her best friend Randy Dunning and she supported an Afghanistan mission from America for a year and a half as Randy served overseas in Afghanistan. At completion of their mission, she went back to college at Southern Nazarene University. Arends achieved her Bachelor's degree (first Bachelor's degree of her family) and left the enlisted side of the Army at the rank of Staff Sergeant and accepted the new challenges and responsibilities of being an Army Officer. She deployed again overseas (this time to Kuwait) in the spring of 2017, two weeks after wrapping on set of Christmas In The Heartland. JJ has played diverse roles on the Stage with Oklahoma City community theatre before she transitioned into film. JJ adored being on set with Garrett Hedlund during the filming of the Kings of Leon's Beautiful War. She knew at that moment this [acting] is where she is meant to be. JJ resides in Norman, OK with her Husband Randy and their Basset Hound named Sasha. She and her husband continue to serve their Country to this day.

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