Richard Schenkman is a multi-talented filmmaker, writer, director, and producer who has made a significant impact in the entertainment industry. With a career spanning over three decades, he has worked on a wide range of projects, including feature films, commercials, documentaries, and television shows.
Schenkman's feature film debut was "The Pompatus of Love" in 1995, which he co-wrote with Jon Cryer and Adam Oliensis. The film received critical acclaim and was a commercial success. He then went on to direct the action/drama "October 22" in 1998 and the romantic comedy "Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God... Be Back by Five" in 1998, which won numerous awards on the festival circuit.
In the early 2000s, Schenkman wrote and directed the VH1 original movie "A Diva's Christmas Carol," which became a holiday ratings blockbuster and continues to air annually. He also directed episodes of the TV series "Arrest & Trial" and wrote dialogue for the video game "007 Racing."
After taking a break from filmmaking to raise his daughter, Schenkman returned to work and wrote and directed the romantic comedy "And Then Came Love" in 2007, starring Vanessa Williams and Eartha Kitt. He also directed the cult phenomenon "Jerome Bixby's The Man from Earth" in 2007, based on the final screenplay by the legendary science-fiction author.
In the 2010s, Schenkman directed three films for the B-movie factory The Asylum, including the historical/horror mashup "Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies" in 2012. He also released the long-awaited sequel to "The Man from Earth," titled "The Man from Earth: Holocene," in 2017.
In addition to his work in film and television, Schenkman has also written two children's novels, "The Girl From Atlantis" and "The Empress's New Shoes." Prior to his feature-film career, he spent over a decade in the corporate media world, working at MTV: Music Television and producing and directing music videos, commercials, and on-air promos for various clients.
Throughout his career, Schenkman has received numerous awards and accolades for his work, including several Clio Awards and a Emmy nomination. He has also taught at several film schools and has served on the advisory board of the Rhode Island International Film Festival.
