Jonathan Wysocki

Jonathan Wysocki (born November 13, 1976) is an American writer, director and producer of independent films. He is known for his feature film Dramarama (2020), and for his award-winning short films A Doll's Eyes (2016) and Adjust-A-Dream (2014).

For American football player, see John Wysocki.
Jonathan Wysocki
Born
Jonathan Wysocki

(1976-11-13) November 13, 1976
Escondido, California
Education
Occupation(s)Film Director, Film Producer, Screenwriter
SpouseJosé Aparicio (2018-)
Websitewww.jonathanwysocki.com

Early life and background

Wysocki was born and raised in Escondido, California. He became involved with theatre from a young age, frequently performing at his local community theatre, Patio Playhouse, as well as in many high school productions.[1] He graduated from Orange Glen High School in Escondido in 1994,[2] and earned a bachelor's degree in Theatre Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1998. While in college, Wysocki spent a year studying drama at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, and following his graduation from the college, he spent a year working with the Amakhosi Theatre in Zimbabwe. Wysocki went on to complete an MFA in Film Production at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. While completing his film degree, Wysocki wrote and directed two award-winning short films, The Way Station (2004) and The Vessel Pitches (2005).

Career

While completing his master's degree, Wysocki was selected as a fellow for the Film Independent Project Involve mentorship program, where he was paired with the film and television director Charles Herman-Wurmfeld, known for the film Kissing Jessica Stein. Wysocki worked as Herman-Wurmfeld's executive assistant on Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde.

Wysocki's next project, a feature film entitled All Fall Down about a young boy who dresses up as Osama Bin Laden for Halloween soon after the September 11th attacks, was selected for the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program Screenwriters Lab in 2008,[3] and Directors Lab in 2009.[4][5] Wysocki was awarded the Lynn Auerbach Screenwriting Fellowship,[6] and two Annenberg Grants for the project. The project was selected for the Independent Filmmaker Project No Borders marketplace in 2009,[7] but has yet to be produced.

Wysocki went on to write and direct Adjust-A-Dream (2014), a short film that premiered at the LA Film Festival and screened at an additional 40 film festivals, including in the American Pavilion Emerging Filmmakers' Showcase at the Cannes Film Festival in 2015[8] and the Palm Springs International ShortsFest in 2015.

He subsequently wrote and directed Alibi Nation (2015), a short film which won the Best Independent Short-Suspense/thriller award at the Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival[9]

His 2016 short film, A Doll's Eyes, premiered at the Frameline Film Festival and screened at more than 50 film festivals. The film won 10 awards including the Cinephile Award at the Busan International Short Film Festival.[10] In this short documentary, Wysocki explores his experience with queer shame through the lens of a childhood obsession with the 1975 movie, Jaws.[11]

Wysocki released his first feature, Dramarama, in 2020. Wysocki wrote and directed the semi-autobiographical story, based on his own experience growing up as a deeply religious, sexually repressed, closeted drama kid in Escondido, California.[12] The film premiered at the San Francisco International Film Festival, and has screened at 21 festivals and has won three awards since its debut.

In addition to writing, directing and producing his own films, Wysocki has worked as a producer on the feature films The Hammer (2007) and Thrasher Road (2018), and as a feature programmer for the Los Angeles Film Festival. He is a Fellow of the Berlinale Talents[13] and an advisor for Sundance Co//ab.[14] Wysocki is a lecturer at Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, Occidental College and California State University, Long Beach.

Filmography
  • Dramarama (2020)-writer/director/producer
  • Thrasher Road (2018)-producer
  • A Doll's Eyes (2016) (documentary short film)-writer/director/producer
  • Alibi Nation (2015) (short film)-writer/director/producer
  • Adjust-A-Dream (2014) (short film)-writer/director
  • The Hammer (2007)-associate producer
  • The Vessel Pitches (2005) (short film)-writer/director
  • The Way Station (2004) (short film)-writer/director/producer

Awards
Year Award Category Work Result Ref
2016 Iris Prize Festival Iris Prize Best Documentary Short A Doll's Eyes (short) Nominated [15]
Oslo/Fusion International Film Festival Jury Prize: Best Short Film Won [16]
2017 Busan International Short Film Festival Cinephile Award Won [10]
2020 Tallgrass Film Festival Outstanding Screenplay Dramarama Won [17]
Woods Hole Film Festival Jury Award: Best Comedy Feature Won [18]

Bibliography

References
  1. "The New Current Interview Series 2020: Jonathan Wysocki". Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  2. Bell, Diane (2019-06-28). "The show much go on--just not in Escondido". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  3. Jones, Michael (2008-04-30). "Sundance Lab announces projects". Variety. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  4. Brooks, Brian (2009-05-06). "A Dozen Filmmakers to Receive Sundance Attention in Annual Labs". IndieWire. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  5. Macaulay, Scott (2009-04-28). "Sundance Announces Projects for the June Directors and Screenwriters Labs". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  6. Kay, Jeremy (2008-10-31). "Wysocki to receive 2008 Sundance screenwriting fellowship". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  7. Hernandez, Eugene (2009-08-10). "116 Films for IFPs Project Forum". IndieWire. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  8. "Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at the Cannes Film Festival". The American Pavilion. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  9. "WorldFest Houston REMI Winners". WorldFest Houston International Independent Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2015-10-15. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  10. "BISFF2017-Winners of International Competition". Busan International Short Film Festival. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  11. Wysocki, Jonathan (2017-10-27). "Taming the Beast of Queer Shame". The Advocate. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  12. Anders, Eric (2020-08-22). "Exclusive Interview: Teen Comedy Dramarama Filmmaker Jonathan Wysocki-"I feel like there's a secret society of us"". The Queer Review. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  13. "Berlinale Talents". Berlinale-talents. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  14. "Sundance Co//ab People". Sundance Co//ab. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  15. "Iris Prize 2016 Film Archive". Iris Prize. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  16. Klaveness, Hilda (2016-09-16). "26th Oslo/Fusion Film Festival Jury Awards". OsloFusion International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2016-10-27. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  17. "Tallgrass Announces 2020 Festival Award Winners". Tallgrass Film Association. 26 October 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  18. "2020 Award Winners". Woods Hole Film Festival. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
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