Gabriel Campisi
Gabriel Campisi is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker who shot his first movies on Super-8mm and 16mm as a kid, the more elaborate ones going on to win national competitions. Proficient in creating practical and optical special effects at a time when computer-generated imagery was not yet prominent, he was recognized early on by national film festivals ...
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Gabriel Campisi is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker who shot his first movies on Super-8mm and 16mm as a kid, the more elaborate ones going on to win national competitions. Proficient in creating practical and optical special effects at a time when computer-generated imagery was not yet prominent, he was recognized early on by national film festivals and magazines for his stop-motion animation and split-beam cinematic techniques. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Campisi spent many years dealing in the high-stakes world of motion picture finance, subsequently writing the bestselling The Independent Filmmaker's Guide to Writing a Business Plan for Investors (McFarland Publishers) -- presently in its second edition. His book contains interviews with independent as well as high-profile filmmakers, including Oscar-winner Gerald R. Molen (producer of such notable hits as Jurassic Park, Minority Report, Twister, Hook and Schindler's List). Campisi studied with UCLA's screenwriting professor Richard Walter, and has written for industry publications and genre magazines, including Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and Fangoria Magazine. He is a partner at Traplight Pictures and a member of the Producers Guild of America (P.G.A.). Show less «
Breaking all the rules!
Breaking all the rules!
You have to be willing to give it your all and sacrifice to make your dreams come true.
You have to be willing to give it your all and sacrifice to make your dreams come true.
My tombstone would someday read I died keeled over at my computer writing a screenplay or a business plan.
My tombstone would someday read I died keeled over at my computer writing a screenplay or a business plan.
Get back up, shake the dust off and keep going. Keep going, because Hollywood is set up to make you fail.
Get back up, shake the dust off and keep going. Keep going, because Hollywood is set up to make you fail.
Several years ago, as I was transitioning from film finance to film production and writing again, someone asked me how long I would try to g...Show more »
Several years ago, as I was transitioning from film finance to film production and writing again, someone asked me how long I would try to get back into filmmaking before I gave up? My response was "giving up" was not an option. Show less «
I wrote several screenplays over the years to really polish my craft and learn from my mistakes.
I wrote several screenplays over the years to really polish my craft and learn from my mistakes.
There is truly no other business in the world like making movies. It's unique, it's extremely demanding and difficult, but it's also the mos...Show more »
There is truly no other business in the world like making movies. It's unique, it's extremely demanding and difficult, but it's also the most rewarding. Show less «
Dreams do come true. But it will involve a lot of hard work, a lot of dedication, a lot of studying.
Dreams do come true. But it will involve a lot of hard work, a lot of dedication, a lot of studying.
The original Star Wars ("A New Hope") has had the greatest impact on me of all the films I've ever watched. It's really what sparked somethi...Show more »
The original Star Wars ("A New Hope") has had the greatest impact on me of all the films I've ever watched. It's really what sparked something in me to want to make movies. Show less «
For as long as I can remember, I've always had a wild imagination and always enjoyed reading and writing.
For as long as I can remember, I've always had a wild imagination and always enjoyed reading and writing.
Most of the people I've been fortunate enough to work with all share the same passion for creativity, for ingenuity, for playing make-believ...Show more »
Most of the people I've been fortunate enough to work with all share the same passion for creativity, for ingenuity, for playing make-believe and really just having fun. It doesn't matter if we're blowing up cars, or shooting an emotional scene in a police station, deep inside we all know our imaginations are at work, and our imaginations are manifesting into reality - at least momentarily for the cameras to capture. Show less «
Growing up in the 80's, I think a lot of us saw things that were "new," an experience we don't get too much of these days. We saw things tha...Show more »
Growing up in the 80's, I think a lot of us saw things that were "new," an experience we don't get too much of these days. We saw things that were never done before. When Star Wars first came out, no movie before that had ever looked that way. Show less «
Today the challenge is not visuals, but to be able to tell a riveting emotional story, something that can reach deep down inside the audienc...Show more »
Today the challenge is not visuals, but to be able to tell a riveting emotional story, something that can reach deep down inside the audience's heart and twist it like a toy to make them laugh, cry or jump out of their seats to root for the hero. Show less «
Screenwriting and making movies is really playing make-believe like most of us did as children.
Screenwriting and making movies is really playing make-believe like most of us did as children.
I've already made several friends-for-life from the latest movies I've worked on, and I know I'll make several more in the years to come.
I've already made several friends-for-life from the latest movies I've worked on, and I know I'll make several more in the years to come.
I found my father's Super8mm film camera when I was around eight years old and started shooting with it. I had no idea what I was doing at t...Show more »
I found my father's Super8mm film camera when I was around eight years old and started shooting with it. I had no idea what I was doing at the time, but that's really where my filmmaking began. Show less «
I spent several years in the film finance business, but I returned to what I loved most about the industry - actual filmmaking, producing, w...Show more »
I spent several years in the film finance business, but I returned to what I loved most about the industry - actual filmmaking, producing, writing and directing. Show less «
Every film is a new adventure, and I always meet new cast and crew members that blow my mind.
Every film is a new adventure, and I always meet new cast and crew members that blow my mind.
Today, with computer-generated visual effects, everything is possible. So we've seen everything. If it can be imagined, it can be put on scr...Show more »
Today, with computer-generated visual effects, everything is possible. So we've seen everything. If it can be imagined, it can be put on screen. Show less «
In college I wrote for the university newspaper, and I had several short stories published in small press. I think it's just been a natural ...Show more »
In college I wrote for the university newspaper, and I had several short stories published in small press. I think it's just been a natural progression of where to go with the imagination and not have to grow up. Show less «
Gabriel Campisi's Photos
