Thomas Verrette
Encyclopedia
Thomas Patrick Verrette is an American
filmmaker, screenwriter
, director, editor
, and composer
. He is the founder of Skylight Cinema, Inc., an independent film production company located in Los Angeles, California
. Verrette is best known for writing, directing, and composing the feature film, Implanted, which is being distributed by Walking Shadows Entertainment.
, but grew up in Alpharetta, Georgia
, for most of his life. He attended Milton High School
and began his music career as a trombonist and pianist, but quickly adapted his musical talents to composing and orchestration
. As a lover of film music, he turned his focus to film making, with the sole intention to have an original film to score to. Verrette made his first film, In The Hands of the Enemy, an ambitious 55 minute war film about the Japanese invasion of the Philippines
during World War II
, at age 16. The film was promoted by Verrette and the film's cast and crew around town, and was screened in the High School auditorium. Profiting off his first film, Verrette invested in his next semi-feature, The Lost Soldiers, about AWOL soldiers in Vietnam
, which he wrote, produced, directed, shot, edited and composed. For that film, he followed the same distribution model as his previous film, and with more screenings and a growing word of mouth, the film turned a much larger profit. Additionally, Verrette was awarded a artistic scholarship for his film work by the Savannah College of Art and Design
.
His next directorial effort was Distant Walls, the story of two young brothers escaping from an abusive household. The feature was shot just prior to Verrette attending the Savannah College of Art and Design
, and over the next two years, was completed outside of the film program. While there, Verrette began relationships with a number of successful filmmakers, including Seth Iliff, Paul Gandersman, and Nabil Abou-Harb. Verrette also earned student awards for "Best Cinematography" and "Best Original Score. "
For his senior thesis film, Verrette wrote the screenplay for I Am The Bluebird, which would eventually become known as Implanted. The ambition, scope, and subject matter of the screenplay attracted many students and faculty members to dedicate their time and expertise to help Verrette turn his screenplay into a successful feature film. Verrette, along with producers Shaun Lynch and Katie Weiss, formed the production company Skylight Cinema, Inc. to finance and produce the film. Verrette directed the film in addition to taking on producing, editing, and composing duties. Verrette graduated with a Bachelor's Degree
in Film and Television from the Savannah College of Art and Design
.
, Rob Pralgo, Jason Turner, and Tara Jean Verrette, is a sci-fi drama about a young man's struggle to uncover the truth surrounding an illegal medical operation performed on him by his own father.
Implanted is set to be distributed in Spring of 2012 by Walking Shadows Entertainment.
and written and produced by Abou-Harb and Colin Ferri, Verrette became involved with Arab in America after the short debuted at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival
. Arab in America is the story of Osama Abou-Bakr, an Arab-American post-grad, who changes his name to Samuel Adam Baker to pursue the American Dream
, and in the process, discovers himself. With the short's success, Abou-Harb, Ferri, and Verrette adapted the short film into a feature screenplay. The team raised half of the films $2 million budget, but the film was put on hold once Osama Bin Laden
was killed.
web-series, The Ropes, written, directed, and executive produced by Vin Diesel
. Additionally, he edited the feature film Reach, starring Edward Furlong
and David Dorfman
, the feature documentary River Of Life, and many short films, including The Promotion, which premiered at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival
. Verrette’s commercial and corporate work includes Frontier Airlines
, Iams
, Prilosec, General Mills
, Sony Electronics
, Fox
, Comedy Central
, and Break Media
.
Verrette has composed music for a number of short films and features, including No Way Out, The Promotion, Blood and Water, Quiet Country, Number 74 in E-Flat, The Warden, among others.
Thomas Verrette on the Internet Movie Database
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
filmmaker, screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, director, editor
Editor
The term editor may refer to:As a person who does editing:* Editor in chief, having final responsibility for a publication's operations and policies* Copy editing, making formatting changes and other improvements to text...
, and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. He is the founder of Skylight Cinema, Inc., an independent film production company located in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. Verrette is best known for writing, directing, and composing the feature film, Implanted, which is being distributed by Walking Shadows Entertainment.
Early life and education
Verrette was born in Englewood, New JerseyEnglewood, New Jersey
Englewood is a city located in Bergen County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 27,147.Englewood was incorporated as a city by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1899, from portions of Ridgefield Township and the remaining portions of...
, but grew up in Alpharetta, Georgia
Alpharetta, Georgia
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 34,854 people, 13,911 households, and 8,916 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,631.6 people per square mile . There were 14,670 housing units at an average density of 686.7 per square mile...
, for most of his life. He attended Milton High School
Milton High School
Milton High School may refer to:*Milton High School *Milton High School *Milton High School *Milton High School *Milton High School...
and began his music career as a trombonist and pianist, but quickly adapted his musical talents to composing and orchestration
Orchestration
Orchestration is the study or practice of writing music for an orchestra or of adapting for orchestra music composed for another medium...
. As a lover of film music, he turned his focus to film making, with the sole intention to have an original film to score to. Verrette made his first film, In The Hands of the Enemy, an ambitious 55 minute war film about the Japanese invasion of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, at age 16. The film was promoted by Verrette and the film's cast and crew around town, and was screened in the High School auditorium. Profiting off his first film, Verrette invested in his next semi-feature, The Lost Soldiers, about AWOL soldiers in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, which he wrote, produced, directed, shot, edited and composed. For that film, he followed the same distribution model as his previous film, and with more screenings and a growing word of mouth, the film turned a much larger profit. Additionally, Verrette was awarded a artistic scholarship for his film work by the Savannah College of Art and Design
Savannah College of Art and Design
SCAD, the Savannah College of Art and Design, is a private, accredited and degree-granting university with locations in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia, Hong Kong, and Lacoste, France.-History:...
.
His next directorial effort was Distant Walls, the story of two young brothers escaping from an abusive household. The feature was shot just prior to Verrette attending the Savannah College of Art and Design
Savannah College of Art and Design
SCAD, the Savannah College of Art and Design, is a private, accredited and degree-granting university with locations in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia, Hong Kong, and Lacoste, France.-History:...
, and over the next two years, was completed outside of the film program. While there, Verrette began relationships with a number of successful filmmakers, including Seth Iliff, Paul Gandersman, and Nabil Abou-Harb. Verrette also earned student awards for "Best Cinematography" and "Best Original Score. "
For his senior thesis film, Verrette wrote the screenplay for I Am The Bluebird, which would eventually become known as Implanted. The ambition, scope, and subject matter of the screenplay attracted many students and faculty members to dedicate their time and expertise to help Verrette turn his screenplay into a successful feature film. Verrette, along with producers Shaun Lynch and Katie Weiss, formed the production company Skylight Cinema, Inc. to finance and produce the film. Verrette directed the film in addition to taking on producing, editing, and composing duties. Verrette graduated with a Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Film and Television from the Savannah College of Art and Design
Savannah College of Art and Design
SCAD, the Savannah College of Art and Design, is a private, accredited and degree-granting university with locations in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia, Hong Kong, and Lacoste, France.-History:...
.
Implanted
Implanted, starring Justice LeakJustice Leak
Justice Adam Leak is an American film, television and stage actor best known for his portrayal of Harland Osbourne in the 2007 film The Great Debaters.-Early life:...
, Rob Pralgo, Jason Turner, and Tara Jean Verrette, is a sci-fi drama about a young man's struggle to uncover the truth surrounding an illegal medical operation performed on him by his own father.
Implanted is set to be distributed in Spring of 2012 by Walking Shadows Entertainment.
Arab in America
Originally a comedic short film directed by Nabil Abou-HarbNabil Abou-Harb
Nabil Zouheir Abou-Harb is an Arab-American filmmaker, writer, producer, and director. He is also co-founder of "Five on Fifty Films" and has directed and produced a number of commercials.-Early life and education:...
and written and produced by Abou-Harb and Colin Ferri, Verrette became involved with Arab in America after the short debuted at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
. Arab in America is the story of Osama Abou-Bakr, an Arab-American post-grad, who changes his name to Samuel Adam Baker to pursue the American Dream
American Dream
The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States in which freedom includes a promise of the possibility of prosperity and success. In the definition of the American Dream by James Truslow Adams in 1931, "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each...
, and in the process, discovers himself. With the short's success, Abou-Harb, Ferri, and Verrette adapted the short film into a feature screenplay. The team raised half of the films $2 million budget, but the film was put on hold once Osama Bin Laden
Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden was the founder of the militant Islamist organization Al-Qaeda, the jihadist organization responsible for the September 11 attacks on the United States and numerous other mass-casualty attacks against civilian and military targets...
was killed.
Other work
In addition to directing, Verrette is also a film editor. He edited the promotional materials for upcoming FoxFox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
web-series, The Ropes, written, directed, and executive produced by Vin Diesel
Vin Diesel
Vin Diesel is an American actor, writer, director and producer. He became known in the early 2000s, appearing in several successful Hollywood films, including The Fast and the Furious and xXx...
. Additionally, he edited the feature film Reach, starring Edward Furlong
Edward Furlong
Edward Walter Furlong is an American actor whose best known film roles are John Connor in Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Daniel Vinyard in American History X. He is a two-time Saturn Award nominee, winning the 1992 Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor for his performance in...
and David Dorfman
David Dorfman
David Dorfman is an American teen actor. His most notable role was as Aidan Keller in the 2002 horror film remake The Ring, and its 2005 sequel The Ring Two. He has also appeared in the 2000 film Panic as Sammy. Some people may remember him as the character "Charles Wallace Murry" in the film...
, the feature documentary River Of Life, and many short films, including The Promotion, which premiered at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
. Verrette’s commercial and corporate work includes Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines, Inc., is an American airline headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The carrier, which is a subsidiary and operating brand of Republic Airways Holdings, operates flights to 83 destinations throughout the United States, Mexico, and Costa Rica and maintains hubs at...
, Iams
Iams
Iams is a brand name for dog food and cat food manufactured by Procter & Gamble . The company sells pet food for cats and dogs formulated for puppy/kitten, adult and mature. Its products are developed by nutritionists and veterinarians and can be found in three main formulas: ProActive Health,...
, Prilosec, General Mills
General Mills
General Mills, Inc. is an American Fortune 500 corporation, primarily concerned with food products, which is headquartered in Golden Valley, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. The company markets many well-known brands, such as Betty Crocker, Yoplait, Colombo, Totinos, Jeno's, Pillsbury, Green...
, Sony Electronics
Sony Electronics
Sony Electronics Inc., headquartered in San Diego, Calif., is the largest component of Sony Corporation of America, the U.S. holding company for Sony's U.S.-based electronics and entertainment businesses.-External links:***...
, Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
, Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
, and Break Media
Break Media
Break Media is a privately held company that owns several Internet properties targeted at men , including Break.com , ScreenJunkies, CagePotato, Chickipedia, HolyTaco, MadeMan, AllLeftTurns, TuVez and GameFront. The company claims to be profitable. It was founded in June 1998 by Keith Richman...
.
Verrette has composed music for a number of short films and features, including No Way Out, The Promotion, Blood and Water, Quiet Country, Number 74 in E-Flat, The Warden, among others.
External links
Thomas Verrette on the Internet Movie Database