Ken Mora
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Oscar "Ken" Mora (born December 17, 1960) is an American screenplay writer, director, producer, editor, and voice actor. He is best known for creating the computer-animated short films Magnum Farce: A Shot in the Park (2009) and Magnum Farce: Along Came a Sniper (2011). He is currently producing the feature film Magnum Farce under the aegis of his production company Bella Fe Films, in cooperation with Light Row Pictures with a release date of 2013. Mora is also executive producer of Adventures In Plymptoons the official biographical documentary of animator Bill Plympton
.
, Central America. His mother, Betty Paulina Wood y Meza, was also a native of Costa Rica, and emigrated to the United States in 1957. His parents met in Los Angeles, California
. The couple were married in April, 1959 and were divorced in September, 1961.
An avid comic book fan since childhood, when his father bought him How To Draw Comics, the Marvel Way, Mora began his relationship with art and storytelling.
in 1979, Mora studied variously at El Camino College
, worked a variety of jobs, often two at once, and later continued his studies at DeVry University
, Santa Monica College
, and various private non-accredited learning institutions.
In 1984, with the release of the Apple Macintosh personal computer, Mora began his parallel development of computer and artistic skills. After receiving a layoff from Hughes Spacecraft
, in El Segundo, CA, he work freelance with his graphic designer with MacTemps (now Aquent) and was ultimately hired away to the post of Art Director at The Verity Group, a management consulting firm in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles.
In 1995 Mora returned to Santa Monica College to major in Art and Art History, and under the advisement of Artist/Professor Ronn Davis, transfer to University of Southern California
(USC Roski School of Fine Arts) in 1997. At USC he earned his BFA, graduating with distinction with the class of 1999, where he shared speaking honors at the commencement ceremony during the tenure of then Dean, Ruth Weisburg.
won several screenwriting competition awards, gained him representation via the Jack Scagnetti literary and talent agency, and an option from Buzzmedia Network for the feature film to be directed by Heinrich Dams.
By the time rights to A Light Before The Darkness reverted to him, he had completed his second and third screenplays, Magnum Farce, and Ms. Valkyrie. After several near-misses with production of Magnum Farce, he established his own sole-proprietorship production company Bella Fe Films in 2008, to produce the short film adaptation Magnum Farce: A Shot in the Park which garnered top accolades at film festivals.
In 2010, Mora, who had been a long-time fan of Bill Plympton
who has been cited variously as "The King" or "Dean" of Indie Animmation" became Executive Producer of the documentary on Plympton, Adventures In Plymptoons, directed by Alexia Anastasio.
Bill Plympton
William "Bill" Calvin Plympton is an American animator, former cartoonist, director, screenwriter and producer best known for his 1987 Academy Award-nominated animated short Your Face. and his series of shorts Guard Dog, Guide Dog, Hot Dog and Horn Dog.- Biography :Bill Plympton was born in...
.
Early life
Mora was born in Hollywood, California, the youngest of two siblings. His father, Oscar Mora, is a native of Costa RicaCosta Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
, Central America. His mother, Betty Paulina Wood y Meza, was also a native of Costa Rica, and emigrated to the United States in 1957. His parents met in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. The couple were married in April, 1959 and were divorced in September, 1961.
An avid comic book fan since childhood, when his father bought him How To Draw Comics, the Marvel Way, Mora began his relationship with art and storytelling.
Education and Early Career
After graduating from North High School (Torrance)North High School (Torrance)
North High School is a four year public high school located at 3620 W. 182nd St. in Torrance, California. Of the four public high schools in the Torrance Unified School District, North High is the second oldest...
in 1979, Mora studied variously at El Camino College
El Camino College
El Camino College is a two-year public community college located partially in the unincorporated area of Alondra Park and partially in the City of Torrance in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is commonly referred to as "Elco" or "ECC"...
, worked a variety of jobs, often two at once, and later continued his studies at DeVry University
DeVry University
DeVry University and DeVry Institute of Technology are divisions of DeVry Inc , a proprietary, for-profit higher education organization that is also the parent organization for Keller Graduate School of Management, Ross University, American University of the Caribbean, Apollo College, Western...
, Santa Monica College
Santa Monica College
Santa Monica College is a two-year, public, junior college located in Santa Monica, California.Santa Monica College was first opened in 1929 as Santa Monica Junior College. Current enrollment is over 30,000 students in more than 90 fields of study...
, and various private non-accredited learning institutions.
In 1984, with the release of the Apple Macintosh personal computer, Mora began his parallel development of computer and artistic skills. After receiving a layoff from Hughes Spacecraft
Hughes Aircraft
Hughes Aircraft Company was a major American aerospace and defense contractor founded in 1932 by Howard Hughes in Culver City, California as a division of Hughes Tool Company...
, in El Segundo, CA, he work freelance with his graphic designer with MacTemps (now Aquent) and was ultimately hired away to the post of Art Director at The Verity Group, a management consulting firm in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles.
In 1995 Mora returned to Santa Monica College to major in Art and Art History, and under the advisement of Artist/Professor Ronn Davis, transfer to University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
(USC Roski School of Fine Arts) in 1997. At USC he earned his BFA, graduating with distinction with the class of 1999, where he shared speaking honors at the commencement ceremony during the tenure of then Dean, Ruth Weisburg.
Career in Entertainment Industry
In 2003 Mora's first screenplay A Light Before The Darkness, based on the volatile Baroque-era artist CaravaggioCaravaggio
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was an Italian artist active in Rome, Naples, Malta, and Sicily between 1593 and 1610. His paintings, which combine a realistic observation of the human state, both physical and emotional, with a dramatic use of lighting, had a formative influence on the Baroque...
won several screenwriting competition awards, gained him representation via the Jack Scagnetti literary and talent agency, and an option from Buzzmedia Network for the feature film to be directed by Heinrich Dams.
By the time rights to A Light Before The Darkness reverted to him, he had completed his second and third screenplays, Magnum Farce, and Ms. Valkyrie. After several near-misses with production of Magnum Farce, he established his own sole-proprietorship production company Bella Fe Films in 2008, to produce the short film adaptation Magnum Farce: A Shot in the Park which garnered top accolades at film festivals.
In 2010, Mora, who had been a long-time fan of Bill Plympton
Bill Plympton
William "Bill" Calvin Plympton is an American animator, former cartoonist, director, screenwriter and producer best known for his 1987 Academy Award-nominated animated short Your Face. and his series of shorts Guard Dog, Guide Dog, Hot Dog and Horn Dog.- Biography :Bill Plympton was born in...
who has been cited variously as "The King" or "Dean" of Indie Animmation" became Executive Producer of the documentary on Plympton, Adventures In Plymptoons, directed by Alexia Anastasio.
Screenwriter
- Magnum Farce (IMDb) (2013 - in production)
- Magnum Farce: Along Came a Sniper (IMDb) (2011)
- Magnum Farce: A Shot in the Park (IMDb) (2009)
- The Cook and the Thief (IMDb) (in development)
- A Light Before The Darkness (optioned, not produced)
Director
Producer
- Magnum Farce (IMDb) (2013 - in production)
- Magnum Farce: Along Came a Sniper (2011, short)
- Adventures in Plymptoons! (2011, documentary)
- Magnum Farce: A Shot in the Park (2009, short)
Consultant / Crew / Other
- Wong Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest Production Assistant (2010, drama)
- Townies Script Consultant (2009, short)
- A Mass of Wine Special Thanks (2010, short, documentary)
- The Other Side of Paradise Very Special Thanks (2009, feature film)
- Board Member, Burbank International Film Festival, 2011, 2012
Interviews & Articles
| Program | Episode Title | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'ActorsE' Chat Show | February 24th 2011 – ActorsE Chat with Writer/Producer Ken Mora, Host Brett Walkow | 2011-02-24 | Web Video |
| Man Vs. Art | Man vs. Art Episode 39! Writer, Artist, and Independent Animation Filmmaker Ken Mora | 2010-12-19 | Podcast |
| Animation Reporter | (feature) "A First Shot In The Dark" | 2011-01-09 | Print Magazine |
| Action On Film Festival YouTube Channel | AOF Award Winning Filmmaker Ken Mora of Magnum Farce Fame | 2009-12-09 | Web Video |
| GoMotion Magazine | Magnum Farce: a shot in the park - breaking the animation mold | 2009-03-01 | Print Magazine |