BIOGRAPHY - RICHARD GALE

A three-time L.A. Area Emmy winner, Richard Gale graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in English literature, and went on to write and direct hundreds of programs for cable TV. He directed, produced, shot and edited the one-hour documentary, "Voices of Hope," which won the 1994 Local CableACE Award for Best Documentary: Cultural Affairs in national competition. His shows have received four CableACE nominations and five L.A. Area Emmy Nominations.

On his first feature, the suspense thriller "The Kidnapping," Mr. Gale served as writer, director, producer, director of photography, and editor. "The Kidnapping" won the award for Best Director at the Atlantic City Film Festival, and was featured at the Silver Images Film Festival in Chicago and the New York International Film and Video Festival.

Mr. Gale went on to direct and co-write the crime thriller "The Proposal," which was released by Miramax in 2001. After successful screenings at the American Film Market and Cannes, the film received favorable reviews and was distributed worldwide. Mr. Gale's next project, the suspense thriller "PRESSURE," was distributed by Blockbuster in North America and worldwide. In addition to directing "Pressure," Mr. Gale wrote the original story and co-wrote the screenplay with Craig Brewer ("Hustle and Flow").

In a change of pace, Mr. Gale followed "Pressure" with "It's a Wonderful City," a parody of Frank Capra's classic "It's a Wonderful Life," using digital effects to recreate the look and feel of the 1940's film. Nominated for an L.A. Area Emmy Award, the program was written, produced, directed, and edited by Mr. Gale, with music by award-winning composer Christopher Brady, and actor Brian Rohan in the Jimmy Stewart role (below).

Mr. Gale wrote, produced, directed, and edited "Earthquake Survival," a parody of "Survivor" designed to teach earthquake preparedness, which won the L.A. Area Emmy Award for Best Public, Municipal, & Operator Produced Cable TV Program. The following year, Gale won his second L.A. Area Emmy Award for Best Public Service Announcement, for "Do You Know CPR?" The following year, Mr. Gale won his third Emmy for the documentary "The Threat Is Real: Wildfire Awareness in Beverly Hills."

Gale made his debut in the horror genre with "CRITICIZED," which won the award for Best Short Film at Horror Fest UK, an Audience Award at the Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal, Scariest Movie at the DC Independent Film Festival, and has received top honors at over 19 film festivals, and been showcased at over 50 film festivals worldwide.

Currently, Mr. Gale is touring the film festival circuit with his award-winning comedy / horror short film "THE HORRIBLY SLOW MURDERER WITH THE EXTREMELY INEFFICIENT WEAPON," which has received 12 film festival awards for Best Short Film. He is a member of the Director's Guild of America and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Above: Director Richard Gale sets up a shot on the set of "The Proposal."

Above: scenes from "The Kidnapping."

Above: Richard Gale discusses a scene with Jennifer Esposito on the set of "The Proposal."

Above: Richard Gale directs a rehearsal with Lochlyn Munro and Kerr Smith on the set of "Pressure."

Above: Richard Gale with Mel Gibson at the Director's Guild of America after a screening of "The Passion."