Gabriel Campisi, a Los Angeles-based filmmaker, embarked on his cinematic journey as a teenager, capturing his early films on Super-8mm and 16mm formats, with some of his more elaborate works going on to win national competitions. Skilled in creating practical and optical special effects during a time when computer-generated imagery was not yet available, Campisi's innovative techniques in stop-motion animation and split-beam cinematic techniques earned him recognition from national film festivals and magazines.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Campisi spent many years navigating the high-stakes world of motion picture finance. This experience led him to write the bestselling book, The Independent Filmmaker's Guide to Writing a Business Plan for Investors, which is now in its second edition. The book features interviews with both independent and high-profile filmmakers, including Oscar-winning producer Gerald R. Molen, who is responsible for notable hits such as Jurassic Park, Minority Report, Twister, Hook, and Schindler's List.
Campisi's most recent book, The Independent Filmmaker's Guide to the New Hollywood - Success in the Era of Netflix and Streaming Video, also contains interviews with industry executives and veteran filmmakers, including Val Hill, who worked on Blade Runner 2049 and 12 Strong, Larry Kasanoff, known for his work on the Terminator series, True Lies, and Mortal Kombat series, and Pen Densham, who directed Harriet and The Last Full Measure.
Campisi studied screenwriting under the guidance of UCLA's renowned professor Richard Walter and has contributed to industry publications and genre magazines, including the Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and Fangoria Magazine. He is a proud member of the Producers Guild of America (P.G.A.).
