From Cult to Classics

Even before he finished his schooling Tom DeSimone was an award winning director.  In his junior year of graduate school at UCLA Toms short film, WOODEN LULLABY, was awarded the Golden Eagle for best directing at the Cine Film Festival in Washington DC.  In his final year at UCLA he was awarded a scholarship for his film, THE GAME.  Upon completing his graduate work Tom accepted the position of Post Production Supervisor at Bosustow Productions in Los Angeles where he wrote, directed and edited the short film, ONE SPECIAL DOG, starring Jay Silverheels, for Bailey Film Associates.

Tom was responsible for the editing on all productions at Bosustow's including WACKY WORLD OF NUMBERS, a Columbia Pictures release and on the Academy Award winning short, RIGHT TO BE RIGHT.
Following his two years at Bosustows Tom formed his own production company where he wrote and directed shorts and features for the independent film market.  His first Industry break came when he directed the musical comedy, CHATTERBOX, the film that all of Hollywood is whispering about.  Released by AIP, it became an instant cult 
classic.

The title, Cult Film Director seemed to follow Toms career.  His horror feature, HELL NIGHT, starring Linda Blair, and his send-up of womens prison films, REFORM SCHOOL GIRLS, starring Wendy O. Williams, remain on everyones list of genre classics. 

Under a two-year development deal at New World Pictures Tom wrote and directed, ANGEL III, THE FINAL CHAPTER, the last of the successful Angel series at New World.  Other feature films include THE CONCRETE JUNGLE, starring Jill St. John, and TERROR IN THE JUNGLE, for Crowne International Pictures.

Moving from features to television Tom continued to bring his special approach to series television on shows such as:  DARK JUSTICE, THE BIG EASY, PENSACOLA WINGS OF GOLD, SUPER FORCE, FREDDYS NIGHTMARES,  SWAMP THING, ACAPULCO BAY and SHE SPIES.

As an experienced editor, Tom prides himself on his ability to prep his films and series with extensive scene breakdowns and shot lists which allow for maximum coverage of pages within a minimum amount of time.  His ability to work alongside actors and crew in a nurturing and congenial atmosphere earned him a best director statuette from the cast and crew for his three seasons on Dark Justice.   An accomplished writer as well, Tom wrote the screenplays for his films REFORM SCHOOL GIRLS, ANGEL III and the New World feature, WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE, PART 2.

His thriller, MEDIA DARLING, was optioned by Blue Andre Productions.