David M. O'Neill is a multifaceted creative professional, excelling as both a feature writer-director and producer. His most recent projects include the documentary "Mary, Life After Jesus" and the action-thriller "Passenger 58" for Warner Brothers.
O'Neill's screenplay "Saving MLK" is a significant work, born from his immersive experience with ScreenwritingU Master writer's series. The story revolves around Byron Middleton, an attaché to Martin Luther King Jr., who finds himself in Memphis on April 4th, 1968, caught in the crossfire between James Earl Ray and his mentor MLK, changing the world forever. This screenplay received recognition as a quarter finalist in the prestigious Santa Barbara International Screenwriting Awards in 2023. Additionally, his novel adaptation of Eric Higgs' thriller "The Happy Man" was recognized as a semi-finalist winner.
O'Neill's combined written and directed features include "Five Aces" for 20th Century and "Player 5150" for First Look Studios, a gambling action-thriller. His produced writing ventures include the Afghanistan family political-drama "The Black Tulip" for Snag Films and the Netflix ESX Production rural political action drama "The Stand at Paxton County".
As the sole writer on "The Black Tulip", O'Neill's film was shot entirely on location in Kabul, Afghanistan, and was selected by the Afghanistan Film Commission as its official entry for the 2011 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The film received favorable recognition, including being eligible for the 83rd Motion Picture Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay. Although it did not win, it was awarded the prestigious Freedom to Write Award by Pen USA in 2013, along with numerous international festival awards. The film premiered on September 23rd, 2010, at the Ariana Cinema Theater in Kabul, Afghanistan, and had advance screenings at the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force headquarters, the U.S. embassy in Kabul, and the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles.
O'Neill spends his time partnering with rights holders, creating, and executing new Intellectual Property content. His recent works include adaptations of Mary of Agreda's "The Mystical City of God", "Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden" - a golf comedy, St. Martin's Press psychological thriller "What Lies in the Valley Below", and Viking Press' Pulitzer Nominated Richard Jessup's action-thriller "Threat".
Awards and recognition include the Freedom to Write Award, Afghan Film Official Entry - Best Foreign Film, Motion Picture Academy Awards, Official Academy screenplay consideration, NY International Film Festival - Official Selection, Salento International Film Festival - Best Feature Film, Boston International Film Festival - Best Feature Film, Beverly Hills Film Festival - Golden Palm Grand Prize, Cinequest - Official Selection, International Digital - Screenwriter, Ft. Lauderdale Int. Film Festival - Writer-Director - Spirit of Independent Filmmaking Award, William Morris Agency - Writer of the Week, and Monte Carlo Charity - Best Feature.
O'Neill holds a graduate degree from the University of Oregon, Arizona School of Business, American Conservatory Theater of San Francisco, and the Screenwriting University master's certificate program.
