Josh Eisenstadt, a native of Los Angeles, graduated from UCLA with high grades while working on a screenplay and raising start-up capital. He went on to direct and write his first feature film, Specter's Rock, a low-budget production. Two years later, he expanded his original short film concept into a second low-budget feature, Red Lightning.
In addition to screenwriting and directing, Josh learned every aspect of filmmaking, from lighting to sound design. His talents were featured in DVD extras for Season One and Season Two of the David Lynch television series Twin Peaks, as well as the prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. By 2005, Josh was eager to shoot on 35mm film.
He wrote a screenplay for a psychological thriller, Untitled Desert Project, and filmed the opening scene as a fund-raising package. With the help of cinematographer Ron Garcia, he assembled a cast and crew for a seven-minute short film, Inner Balance, which stars Dana Ashbrook and David Schroeder. The film was shot on a sound stage in Los Angeles in the fall of 2005.
While working on Inner Balance, Josh met screenwriter Aaron Pope, and they collaborated on the script for Dark Reel. The film was shot in Los Angeles in the winter of 2006-2007, starring Edward Furlong, Lance Henriksen, Tony Todd, and Tiffany Shepis. Dark Reel screened at various film festivals, garnering several awards, and was released domestically and internationally.
After producing some films, Josh directed his latest 35MM feature, Spreading Darkness, starring Oscar-nominated Eric Roberts, John Savage, and James Duval. The film was shot by cinematographer Will Barratt and edited by Duwayne Dunham. It premiered as part of the USC film school program and was distributed to stores and online streaming sites.
