Nickolas Perry
Encyclopedia
Nickolas Perry is an American
writer
, film director
, editor
, and photographer who worked as a camera assistant and assistant director
in San Francisco before becoming Francis Ford Coppola
’s editing assistant on Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
In 1994 Perry moved to Los Angeles
and began writing screenplays and directing short films. One of his short films, Must Be the Music, starring Milo Ventimiglia
and Michael Saucedo
as gay teens on a Friday night out in Los Angeles, premiered at the 1996 Sundance Film Festival
and was later distributed as part of Strand Releasing
's Boys Life 2
. The film got the attention of director Gus Van Sant
, who would go on to executive produce Perry's first feature film, Speedway Junky
.
Perry wrote and directed Speedway Junky
in 1999. The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival
and starred Daryl Hannah
, Jesse Bradford
, and Jonathan Taylor Thomas
. In 2004, Perry co-wrote, co-directed, and edited The Hunting of the President
, a feature documentary narrated by Morgan Freeman
.
Perry is a member of the Directors Guild of America
and a member of the Non-Fiction Writers Caucus at the Writers Guild of America
. He works as a script doctor
and as a consultant on low-budget features, advising first-time directors on independent film
completion, distribution, and marketing.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
, and photographer who worked as a camera assistant and assistant director
Focus puller
A focus puller, or 1st assistant cameraman, is a member of a film crew’s camera department whose primary responsibility is to maintain image sharpness on whatever subject or action is being filmed....
in San Francisco before becoming Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. He is widely acclaimed as one of Hollywood's most innovative and influential film directors...
’s editing assistant on Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
In 1994 Perry moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and began writing screenplays and directing short films. One of his short films, Must Be the Music, starring Milo Ventimiglia
Milo Ventimiglia
Milo Anthony Ventimiglia is an American television actor best known for his role of Peter Petrelli on the TV series Heroes...
and Michael Saucedo
Michael Saucedo
Michael Saucedo is an American actor best known for his role as Juan Santiago on the soap opera General Hospital from 1999 until 2001. He is also a musician.-Personal life:...
as gay teens on a Friday night out in Los Angeles, premiered at the 1996 Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
and was later distributed as part of Strand Releasing
Strand Releasing
Strand Releasing is a theatrical distribution company founded in 1989 and is based in Culver City, California. The company has distributed over 300 auteur driven titles from acclaimed international and American directors such as Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Gregg Araki, Francois Ozon, Jean Luc...
's Boys Life 2
Boys Life 2
Boys Life 2 is a compilation of 5 short films about being gay in America.*"Must Be the Music" offers a frank depiction of urban gay youth.*"Nunzio's Second Cousin" finds a gay policeman getting even with homophobic people....
. The film got the attention of director Gus Van Sant
Gus Van Sant
Gus Green Van Sant, Jr. is an American director, screenwriter, painter, photographer, musician, and author. He is a two time nominee of the Academy Award for Best Director for his 1997 film Good Will Hunting and his 2008 film Milk, both of which were also nominated for Best Picture, and won the...
, who would go on to executive produce Perry's first feature film, Speedway Junky
Speedway Junky
Speedway Junky is a 1999 film written and directed by Nickolas Perry. It stars Jesse Bradford, Jordan Brower, Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Daryl Hannah.-Plot:The film stars Jesse Bradford as Johnny, a young man with dreams of becoming a stock car racer...
.
Perry wrote and directed Speedway Junky
Speedway Junky
Speedway Junky is a 1999 film written and directed by Nickolas Perry. It stars Jesse Bradford, Jordan Brower, Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Daryl Hannah.-Plot:The film stars Jesse Bradford as Johnny, a young man with dreams of becoming a stock car racer...
in 1999. The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
and starred Daryl Hannah
Daryl Hannah
Daryl Christine Hannah is an American film actress. After making her screen debut in 1978, Hannah starred in a number of Hollywood films throughout the 1980s, notably Blade Runner, Splash, Wall Street and Roxanne and Kill Bill.-Early life:Hannah was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Susan...
, Jesse Bradford
Jesse Bradford
- Early life :Bradford was born Jesse Bradford Watrouse in Norwalk, Connecticut, the only child of actors Terry Porter and Curtis Watrouse, who appeared in commercials, soap operas, and industrial films. His mother also played his character's mother in Hackers...
, and Jonathan Taylor Thomas
Jonathan Taylor Thomas
Jonathan Taylor Thomas is an American actor, voice actor, former child star, and teen idol...
. In 2004, Perry co-wrote, co-directed, and edited The Hunting of the President
The Hunting of the President
The Hunting of the President is a 2004 English language documentary film about Bill Clinton. Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton appear in archived footage...
, a feature documentary narrated by Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman is an American actor, film director, aviator and narrator. He is noted for his reserved demeanor and authoritative speaking voice. Freeman has received Academy Award nominations for his performances in Street Smart, Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption and Invictus and won...
.
Perry is a member of the Directors Guild of America
Directors Guild of America
Directors Guild of America is an entertainment labor union which represents the interests of film and television directors in the United States motion picture industry...
and a member of the Non-Fiction Writers Caucus at the Writers Guild of America
Writers Guild of America
The Writers Guild of America is a generic term referring to the joint efforts of two different US labor unions:* The Writers Guild of America, East , representing TV and film writers East of the Mississippi....
. He works as a script doctor
Script doctor
A script doctor, also called script consultant, is a highly-skilled screenwriter, hired by a film or television production, to rewrite or polish specific aspects of an existing screenplay, including structure, characterization, dialogue, pacing, theme, and other elements...
and as a consultant on low-budget features, advising first-time directors on independent film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
completion, distribution, and marketing.
Select filmography
- The Hunting of the PresidentThe Hunting of the PresidentThe Hunting of the President is a 2004 English language documentary film about Bill Clinton. Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton appear in archived footage...
(2004) (co-writer, co-director, editor) - Speedway JunkySpeedway JunkySpeedway Junky is a 1999 film written and directed by Nickolas Perry. It stars Jesse Bradford, Jordan Brower, Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Daryl Hannah.-Plot:The film stars Jesse Bradford as Johnny, a young man with dreams of becoming a stock car racer...
(1999) (writer, director) - The Creed (1998) (director)
- Boys Life 2Boys Life 2Boys Life 2 is a compilation of 5 short films about being gay in America.*"Must Be the Music" offers a frank depiction of urban gay youth.*"Nunzio's Second Cousin" finds a gay policeman getting even with homophobic people....
(1997) (writer, director, segment "Must Be the Music") - Must Be the Music (1996) (writer, director)