Thomas J. Churchill

Thomas J. Churchill is the writer, producer, director of Check Point, The Emerging Past, Lazarus:Apocalypse (aka Lazarus: Day of the Living Dead)A multi-award winning writer,producer,director, and radio host who founded Church Hill Productions. Born in Brooklyn, New York on his Mothers birthday. Thomas knew at an early age that he wanted to entertain the world. The youngest of four children to Italian/English/Irish blue collared parents. Born in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn as his family made their way into Queens (Ridgewood/Glendale) this is where Thomas would begin to plant his seeds in entertainment.Churchill who has always had dreams of becoming an actor/director since his trip to the movies with his father at the age of seven during a screening of Star Wars (Episode IV). That coming Fall, he was a runner up for a film entitled The Champ. Although the part went to actor Ricky Schroeder this did not discourage Thomas. Years later at 15, a trip out to Hollywood, CA with his sister for a vacation- was the gasoline needed to spark up the flame of the passion already burning inside of him.It was his sophomore year in Franklin K Lane High School that it came to him, to convince his father to buy him a video camera (Full size VHS RCA camera) so he can make his vision come to life, a little project known as The War Master. The War Master, a film about two teenage cops fighting the drug problem in their neighborhood went on to win several local awards in the neighborhood. Churchill convinced a few local video stores to carry his film as he watched the films become rentals to the neighborhood. This caught the attention of several newspapers The New York Daily News, New York Newsday, The Ridgewood Times, The Queens Tribune all carried stories on Churchill.Although Churchill does not credit his early years of neighborhood films such as The War Master (1988), Intrigue: The War Master (1989, a follow up and another award winning film), The Fear of Pain (1990, His first ever horror film), Emerging Past (1991 concept version) and A Distant Society (1994, his first drama) in his bio. But, credits the films as cutting his teeth...his schooling he likes to call them. The films that taught him how to tell a story and most of all how to start something and finish it.Upon returning back to New York after a short stay in San Diego, CA, Churchill would test his skills once again with another version of The War Master. This time a bit bigger, a tighter script. This time he spent more money than he ever spent on the so-called neighborhood films. A System Devoured aka Devoured put Churchill through the test of being creative. Even though there was a budget, it was very, very low. Again a personal challenge to test his own skill at writing, producing, directing, acting and even editing...Churchill completed something he set out to do. "Most people never finish a project, they usually run out of their budget midway through".. Churchill was quoted saying in one of his articles "I pushed myself.. if you are going to start something, you need to finish it". A System Devoured was entered in the New York City Independent International Film Festival and won Best video in 1999.It's the film credits that he has building recently that he considers his beginnings...Films that include Check Point, the 2 time Award winning Retro-Film Noir Zombie epic-Lazarus: Apocalypse (Best Horror Film at The New York City International Film Festival), the 8-time award festival winning horror film The Emerging Past Director's Cut, produced and played The Sheriff in a small film called Mr. Hush.Thomas was seen by millions on the SyFy Network's "Monster Man" a reality show, which showcased an episode of the director. The episode was #2 titled- The Forbidden Werewolf. The show which featured the special effects of Roy Knyrim, Cleve Hall and the SOTA FX team. Monster Man goes behind the scenes of one of Hollywood's most respected monster prop building workshops, SOTA FX. For more than thirty years, when studios want a bizarre creature or out-of-this world alien, they've turned to Roy's team their very unique family business. Only the horrifying monsters they build match the craziness of this extremely talented family. The Forbidden Werewolf focused on the behind the creature effects for the promo trailer for Churchill's werewolf project, "Hallow Pointe". The film is currently in the development stages. The Monster Man show is currently now running in some South America countries and throughout the world.Churchill would team up again with Roy Knyrim and his SOTA FX company to handle the effects for Lazarus: Apocalypse, in which they won BEST MAKE-UP at The New York City International Film Festival. Churchill and Roy Knyrim and SOTA FX will be teaming up yet again, with Marilyn: Zombie Hunter. This will mark the 3rd time the two has teamed up.If that wasn't enough, Thomas can be heard each week on his Internet based radio show - Church's Hollywood Moments. Every Tuesday Night 5pm PST/8pm EST, Broadcasting to over 195 countries on AllradioX.com, he has decided to bring his knowledge to radio with a show that is dedicated to the world of Independent /Hollywood movie magic. Show less «