John received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater & American Studies from Yale University, after which he pursued his passion for filmmaking at New York University's Graduate Film Program. During his time at NYU, his first short film, "Shame No More", garnered significant attention, playing over 70 film festivals worldwide. His second short film, "Slo-Mo", premiered at prestigious film festivals such as Telluride and Sundance, and was later broadcast on HBO, PBS, and the Sundance Channel.
John made his feature film debut with "Kill Your Darlings", a critically acclaimed drama starring a talented ensemble cast including Daniel Radcliffe, Ben Foster, Elizabeth Olsen, Dane Dehaan, Jack Huston, Michael C Hall, David Cross, and Jennifer Jason Leigh. The film premiered at Sundance and went on to screen in competition at Toronto and Venice before receiving a theatrical release from Sony Pictures Classics.
In addition to his work in film, John has also directed television shows for major networks such as ABC, CBS, and FOX. He has also written screenplays for prominent studios including Universal, Fox 2000, Lionsgate, and Miramax. His upcoming project, "Tunnels", starring a talented cast including Susan Sarandon, Anna Faris, Patrick Wilson, Alicia Silverstone, and Jaeden Martell, is eagerly anticipated.
Throughout his career, John has received numerous accolades, including being named one of Variety's "Top Ten Directors To Watch", The Advocate's "Top 40 Under 40", and one of Out Magazine's Out 100. He is also a committed advocate for diversity and inclusion in the film industry, serving as a Co-Chair of the Directors Guild of America's LGBTQ+ Committee and one of its original founders.
John has also given back to the community through his work as a judge and mentor for various film festivals, including the Hamptons International Film Festival, the Nantucket Film Festival's Screenwriter's Colony, and Outfest's Screenwriters Lab. He has also taught filmmaking at several prestigious institutions, including the University of Southern California, New York University, the New School, and Yale University.
