Biography
Born and raised in New York, Mr. Castaldo launched his professional career in the casino industry, spending a combined 10 years in Atlantic City and Las Vegas as both a croupier and an executive. He later moved to Los Angeles to follow his passion for storytelling.
An award-winning film producer, Mr. Castaldo is known for his strong work ethic and keen ability to identify and develop compelling screenplay material. Through his company Destiny Pictures, he is experienced in all aspects of film development, production, post-production, festivals, talent management, and distribution.
Mr. Castaldo produced the mystery thriller Dose Of Reality, starring Fairuza Balk, Rick Ravanello, and Ryan Merriman. The film premiered at the esteemed Cinequest Film Festival and is available on DVD, VOD platforms, and internationally. He also produced the inspirational documentary My Run, narrated by Academy Award winner Billy Bob Thornton, which screened in 535 theaters nationwide. The documentary earned 10 best documentary awards on the festival circuit, including the Audience Award at the Austin Film Festival, Outstanding Achievement in Documentary at Newport Beach Film Festival, and the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the Las Vegas Film Festival.
As co-executive producer, Mr. Castaldo worked on the thriller Psych 9 in partnership with IPC International (known for Hostel and The Pink Panther). The film premiered theatrically in the UK and was released domestically by Lions Gate, featuring stars Sara Foster, Cary Elwes, and Michael Biehn. He also produced The Perfect Tenant, a dark tale of passion and revenge directed by Doug Campbell, starring Linda Purl and Maxwell Caulfield, which premiered on HBO and Lifetime. Additionally, he produced The Perfect Nanny, a domestic thriller reminiscent of The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, directed by Rob Malenfant and starring Bruce Boxleitner and Tracy Nelson, which premiered on the USA Network with a $1.1 million licensing fee. Both "perfect" films are original stories developed by Mr. Castaldo.
Mr. Castaldo served as a judge for five years for the Academy of Motion Pictures’ prestigious Nicholl Fellowship in screenwriting and spent three years as a development executive with American New Wave Films. He has also participated as a panelist for UCLA Advanced Screenwriting, Sherwood Oaks Film School, and ScreenwritingU.
Films in development for 2025 include the powerful drama For Allison, to be directed by two-time Oscar-nominated Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy, Breaker Morant, Tender Mercies), and the Black List Recommended screenplay Rage Against The Night.
Website: destinypictures.biz
