Stephan Szpak-Fleet
Encyclopedia
Stephan Szpak-Fleet was born on April 25, 1979 in Warsaw
, Poland
to Alina Szpak and Robert Fleet. As a child he starred in three feature films: "Brothers of the Wilderness", "Legend of the White Horse" (aka "White Dragon") and "The Friends of Harry." Stephan also worked regularly as a commercial actor and in the Los Angeles Theater scene. Stephan left film acting to pursue his formal education.
Graduating from Upland High School
in 1996, Stephan then went on to get a BA in Theater from UCLA in 2000. His emphasis was directing and while at UCLA he directed several original plays as well as "The Zoo Story" by Edward Albee and "Saved" by Edward Bond. During this time, Stephan also returned to Poland to perform in the Gombrowicz play "The Feast at Countess Kotlubay's" Translated to English by UCLA Professor Michael Hackett.
After college, Stephan found himself interested in multimedia art and graphic design. He worked as an Art Director for Virgin Entertainment for a few years and then went off on his own and developed multimedia backdrops for plays ("Cesar and Ruben" by Ed Begley, Jr.) andvarious award ceremonies. In 2003, Stephan put together and directed his first short film (The First Person) a black and white noir film foreshadowing the look of Miller/Rodriguez's "Sin City."
In 2004, Stephan entered the USC School of Cinematic Arts
as an MFA candidate in Production. Now in his third year, Stephan co-directed and co-produced the Coca-Cola Refreshing Filmmaker Award Finalist Six Degrees of Coca-Cola and has just recently written and directed, my silent sadness the story of how The Holocaust
brought two lost strangers together many years later.
Stephan continues to work as a film director, preparing several feature film projects for future production.
His film my silent sadness screened at the 2007 Sedona Film Festival from Feb 28th, 2007 to Mar 5th, 2007.
He was a "Development Executive" at Sander/Moses Productions where he worked in development of new television shows as well as internal marketing, new media, and internet promotions for the CBS
show Ghost Whisperer starring Jennifer Love Hewitt
.
He won a TV Guide Online Award for his work on Ghost Whisperer: The Other Side.
He produced Ghost Whisperer: The Other Side II.
In early 2008 Stephan produced the feature film "Player"
He is currently (2008) working on the new Knight Rider
television series as a Visual FX artist designing the new windshield H.U.D. for K.I.T.T. He is also the 2D lead for Master Key Visual Effects in Santa Clarita, California.
Most recently, his short film "The Outlaw Emmett Deemus" starring Larry Hankin
, Edie McClurg
. and Paul Willson
. The film opened the 2008 Hollyshorts film festival
.
His online portfolio is at raisethesteaks.com
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
to Alina Szpak and Robert Fleet. As a child he starred in three feature films: "Brothers of the Wilderness", "Legend of the White Horse" (aka "White Dragon") and "The Friends of Harry." Stephan also worked regularly as a commercial actor and in the Los Angeles Theater scene. Stephan left film acting to pursue his formal education.
Graduating from Upland High School
Upland High School
Upland High School is a public four-year secondary school located in the city of Upland, California. The school was established in 1955 as part of the Chaffey Joint Union High School District, and since 1991 it has been a member of the Upland Unified School District.-History:Just prior to the City...
in 1996, Stephan then went on to get a BA in Theater from UCLA in 2000. His emphasis was directing and while at UCLA he directed several original plays as well as "The Zoo Story" by Edward Albee and "Saved" by Edward Bond. During this time, Stephan also returned to Poland to perform in the Gombrowicz play "The Feast at Countess Kotlubay's" Translated to English by UCLA Professor Michael Hackett.
After college, Stephan found himself interested in multimedia art and graphic design. He worked as an Art Director for Virgin Entertainment for a few years and then went off on his own and developed multimedia backdrops for plays ("Cesar and Ruben" by Ed Begley, Jr.) andvarious award ceremonies. In 2003, Stephan put together and directed his first short film (The First Person) a black and white noir film foreshadowing the look of Miller/Rodriguez's "Sin City."
In 2004, Stephan entered the USC School of Cinematic Arts
USC School of Cinematic Arts
The USC School of Cinematic Arts, until 2006 named the School of Cinema-Television , is a film school within the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. It is the oldest and largest such school in the United States, established in 1929 as a joint venture with the Academy of...
as an MFA candidate in Production. Now in his third year, Stephan co-directed and co-produced the Coca-Cola Refreshing Filmmaker Award Finalist Six Degrees of Coca-Cola and has just recently written and directed, my silent sadness the story of how The Holocaust
The Holocaust
The Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
brought two lost strangers together many years later.
Stephan continues to work as a film director, preparing several feature film projects for future production.
His film my silent sadness screened at the 2007 Sedona Film Festival from Feb 28th, 2007 to Mar 5th, 2007.
He was a "Development Executive" at Sander/Moses Productions where he worked in development of new television shows as well as internal marketing, new media, and internet promotions for the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
show Ghost Whisperer starring Jennifer Love Hewitt
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Jennifer Love Hewitt is an American actress, producer, television director and former singer-songwriter. Hewitt began her acting career as a child by appearing in television commercials and the Disney Channel series Kids Incorporated...
.
He won a TV Guide Online Award for his work on Ghost Whisperer: The Other Side.
He produced Ghost Whisperer: The Other Side II.
In early 2008 Stephan produced the feature film "Player"
He is currently (2008) working on the new Knight Rider
Knight Rider (2008 TV series)
Knight Rider was a 2008 series that follows the 1982 TV series of the same title and the 2008 television movie. The series stars Justin Bruening as Mike Traceur, the estranged son of Michael Knight. The series also stars Deanna Russo as Sarah Graiman, Traceur's former girlfriend and love interest....
television series as a Visual FX artist designing the new windshield H.U.D. for K.I.T.T. He is also the 2D lead for Master Key Visual Effects in Santa Clarita, California.
Most recently, his short film "The Outlaw Emmett Deemus" starring Larry Hankin
Larry Hankin
Larry Hankin is an American actor, performer, director and producer.Hankin studied acting at Syracuse University. He is known for his roles in TV shows Friends and Seinfeld; as well as for his major role in the movie Escape from Alcatraz with Clint Eastwood...
, Edie McClurg
Edie McClurg
Edie McClurg is an American character actress. She is known for her perky North Central dialect , common to persons from Middle America.-Career:...
. and Paul Willson
Paul Willson
Paul Lee Willson is an American actor, most notable for his television work.Willson has played numerous guest characters on a variety of shows including Curb Your Enthusiasm, Boston Public, Caroline in the City, and Star Trek: Voyager...
. The film opened the 2008 Hollyshorts film festival
HollyShorts Film Festival
The HollyShorts Film Festival is an annual independent short film festival located in Hollywood, California.Founded in 2005, the yearly festival programmes feature an ecletic mixture of short films of various genres from around the world....
.
His online portfolio is at raisethesteaks.com