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Tobias Daniels is an LGBTQ Filmmaker of Color. Born Justin Tobias Daniels to a financial advisor father, and former computer programmer mother in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey across the George Washington Bridge from New York City.
Tobias grew up in Iowa and Colorado. As a child, he spent most of his time at the local pool or Camp Wapsie; whenever he could save enough allowance money to go to the movies he'd immerse himself in the world of fantasy and magic. It was at this early age that his aspirations of becoming a filmmaker began. Entertaining audiences has always been in his blood, his Father once, because of faulty music equipment lost a singing competition to Lionel Richie, who would go on to "Dancing On The Sealing" fame. His mother was the high school lead in Guys and Dolls, and to this day sings at her church.
In elementary and middle school, Tobias was a member of swing choir and state children's choir. One of his earliest experiences as a public story teller came in the fifth grade when he wrote, directed, and staring in his first play: Birds Fly North about a gaggle of geese that fly north to New York City for the winter.
Though born in New Jersey, the Midwest heavily influenced his work ethic, and to this day is reflected in the way he carries himself on set.
After High School, at The Stella Adler Academy in Los Angeles, where he was studying acting Tobias started his filmmaking career. One day during his apprenticeship in the light-and-sound booth of their Equity theatre Tobias realized he enjoyed every part of the acting process except for delivering the lines, he was much happier creating the story, placing and lighting the actors, and then watching it all play out.
Tobias has never been one to follow traditional conventions; in college he custom tailored a Liberal Studies degree of Media Communication at The University of Illinois, while simultaneously opening his first digital media production company. Tobias served on the board of Denver Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless annual meeting planning committee.
Tobias counts his blessings to be living his dream of working in the entertainment industry after 10 years of rejection, failed projects, and growth both personal and professional. He co-founded Dance Kids, a woman and minority owned children's media company which created America's first Salsa dance instructional DVD for kids-Salsa with Me-winner of a 2009 Preferred Choice Award from Creative Child Magazine. In 2012 he executive produced "Janked" which screened at the Cannes Film Market.
Tobias has lived in Los Angeles since 2011, is the former West Coast videographer for PopStar! Magazine Online, and has been featured on Indiewire and AFROPUNK. Tobias has worked with Talent from Heart at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony to Lady Gaga at The VMA's.
