I’m talking to you about George because he’s a friend of mine. My best friend. We get each other. We’re basically the same person. The following is a true story except for the made-up parts.

George grew up in the South Bronx and instead of going outside, he watched movies all day. When he was nine, George saw Ocean’s Eleven and decided to rob casinos. That didn’t work out too well. (He wasn’t as suave as George Clooney, suits are expensive, and he was always on the run.)

George sat and thought about what attracted him to robbing casinos in the first place. He wanted to collaborate with cool people and pull off something near impossible. George came to the realization that a movie moved him so profoundly, that he was willing to become a gentleman thief and he wanted to do that for other people. Not turn them into thieves. To move them. He met some friends and they started making movies. It was through these shorts that George figured out the type of filmmaker he wanted to become: He wanted to make movies with people from neighborhoods like his. And he wanted to help them make movies too. So, he started producing and teaching while writing and directing his own films.

He’s had some success. A film he produced, “Ovals” was selected to Issa Rae’s Short Film Sunday. Another short he produced, “Like Salt”, was an Oscar-qualifying short. He directed a short, “Rebirth”, that premiered for Jerome Lamaar’s clothing line at New York Fashion Week. His character-driven genre shorts, “Eavesdropping”, and “Children of the Night” have played in numerous festivals and even got George some writing, directing, and acting awards. Check them out. I know I’m biased but the guy can make a movie. As you can see from his headshot, George understands drama and storytelling. He’s also trying really hard to be as cool as Danny Ocean. If you’re in New York, you should hit him up. He loves talking movies.