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by Doug Jones
Like millions before him, Brian Herskowitz moved out to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. He soon learned that there was a dearth of roles for shorter leading men and began searching for other outlets for his creative passions. In 1980 he wrote his first screenplay, an action thriller about a young man who moves to Tokyo to train for the Olympics in Judo and gets caught up in intrigue with the Yakuza.
Through that script, based on his true-life experience as an international judo competitor, he uncovered a knack and passion for writing. As a writer, Brian has completed well over a dozen feature films. His first produced feature was a low budget slasher titled DARKROOM. He currently has several projects in active development including, THE ABDUCTION, THE EMPRESS OF ELSEWHERE (co-written with Theresa Nelson based on her best selling novel), PRIME EVIL, and FAIRIES (co-written with Pam Dawber and Andy Tobey). He wrote and directed the award winning short film ODESSA OR BUST starring Jason Alexander, Red Buttons, and Jason Schwartzman. Brian wrote, directed, and produced the documentary 1736: SOMEWHERE TO TURN – about a family crisis center for domestic abuse victims , and the short film JOANNE – the story of a woman going through hard economic times and a mid-life crisis. His theatrical directing credits include world and west coast premieres of JESSICA AND COUCH POTATO, SHUFFLE OF THIS MORTAL BUFFALO, CONFESSIONS AND AVOIDANCE, CIRCLE OF WILL. He recently took on the voice directing duties for the children’s educational program ANNIE SUNBEAM.
His TV credits include a staff writing position on the NBC sit-com BLOSSOM, multiple episodes of the syndicated series HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS, and ACAPULCO HEAT, the HBO hit comedy DREAM ON, CBS’s RENEGADE, THE EXILE, MURDER, SHE WROTE, the FOX Network’s YOUNG HERCULES, and CBS’s critically acclaimed was series TOUR OF DUTY (associate producer). Brian co-wrote the FOX pilot MANTIC with Jason Alexander. In addition, he worked as a punch-up writer on BOB PATTERSON, and LISTEN UP.
Brian currently holds the title of lead faculty in screenwriting for the prestigious LEAD FACULTY FOR THE BOSTON UNIVERSITY IN LOS ANGELES – WRITER IN HOLLWOOD PROGRAM. Brian has taught online for UCLA EXTENSTIONS, and has had students from every corner of the earth. Prior to that, he spent five years as the sit-com instructor for Writer’s Bootcamp. He’s been a featured speaker at the SCREENWRITER’S EXPO, and the DVD of his lecture on outlining your feature script is now available through Creative Screenwriting workshops and seminars. He has guest lectured and held seminars around the country including the famous Chautauqua Institute in Upstate New York.
In addition to writing Brian is the Senior Vice President for Artists Media Co-Operative (THE GUITAR, THIS REVOLUTION), and has several films in pre-production; Brian produced the hit web series THE BROADROOM, which starred Jenny Garth and Jennifer Esposito and was created by Candace Bushnell from SEX AND THE CITY fame. Brian produced MUSICAL CHAIRS, directed by Susan Seidelman (DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN), co-wrote and produced TIO PAPI, the soon to be released UNTIL SOMEONE GETS HURT, and BUCKY AND THE SQUIRRELS, a comedy scheduled for release summer of 2014.
Brian is a first degree black belt in karate and a fourth degree black belt in judo. He is the defending U.S. Masters Champion, and three time World Masters Judo Championships medalist. He also holds a blue belt in Ju Jitsu and is a three time Pan American Champion. He is married to actress Gina Hecht and has two amazing daughters, Maggie and Bailey.
ActorsE Chat is a Live Chat Show on Actors Entertainment, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, and ActorsE Chat is co-produced by Pepper Jay Productions LLC and Live Video Inc, with PR-Marketing-Sales by Live Video Inc.
