Biography
Brian Herskowitz Brian produced the feature films BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT (co-writer), BUCKY AND THE SQUIRRELS (Producer, Line Producer, Co-director - Uncredited), a comedy from director-writer Allan Katz (M*A*S*H*, BIG MAN ON CAMPUS), MUSICAL CHAIRS, directed by Susan Seidelman (DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN), and TIO PAPI directed by Fro Rojas, which he co-wrote.
Brian wrote an unproduced pilot for Artists/Media Cooperation (CoOp - THE GUITAR, THIS REVOLUTION) in New York, where he served for a decade as their Senior V.P. of Production and the head of their West Coast Office. Working with Co-Op Productions, Brian line produced Candace Bushnell's web series THE BROADROOM, which starred JENNY GARTH, JENNIFER ESPOSITO, and TALIA BALSAM, and the aforementioned BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. Brian spent five years as the Chief Creative Officer for Horror Equity Fund (HEF) and was a Co-Executive Producer on STAR LEAF and ZBURBS as an Executive Producer. While at Horror Equity Fund, he oversaw the script reading and development department, created pitch decks, proposals, and did breakdowns, schedules, and full budgets for projects (both Union and Non-union, for productions in the U.S. and Canada). He vetted all projects that were reviewed for commercial viability.
Brian left HEF to pursue his passion for writing and directing. He recently came on board Blockchain Media Concepts, an investor relations/marketing firm in the crypto, blockchain, and NFT space. Brian also consults with several production companies on creative and film finance issues. He currently runs Hard G, Inc. A production company he formed with his wife, actress Gina Hecht.
As a writer, Brian has completed well over a dozen feature films. His first screenplay, KAMI HITO E (THE THIN LINE), was based on his experience as an international Judo champion training in Tokyo. From there, he continued to write, and his first produced feature was a low-budget slasher titled DARKROOM. He's just completed his first novel and is working on his second. Brian donated his time to write, direct, and produce the documentary 1736: SOMEWHERE TO TURN - about a family crisis center for domestic abuse victims. He also participates in the volunteer program L.A. Works where he has filled school supplies for underprivileged children, worked food banks, and mentored high school students. He wrote and directed the award-winning short film ODESSA OR BUST starring SEINFELD'S Jason Alexander, ACADEMY AWARD WINNER Red Buttons, and RUSHMORE'S Jason Schwartzman, the short film JOANNE - a revenge tale of a woman going through hard economic times and a mid-life crisis, SNOUT a short about the dangers of farmyard animals, and IT TAKES BRAINS - a horror/comedy short. His new short content series MURRAY GHOST, which he directed, produced, wrote, and edited, is currently making the rounds on the festival circuit and has been honored at Festigious Fest and Just4Shorts festivals. As director/writer/producer, he is slated to begin production on a new low-budget horror film BEFORE MOONRISE in the late fall 0f 2022. In T.V., his credits include a staff writing position on the N.B.C. sit-com BLOSSOM, multiple episodes of the syndicated series HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS, and ACAPULCO HEAT. The HBO hit comedy DREAM ON, C.B.S.'s RENEGADE, THE EXILE, MURDER, SHE WROTE, the T.V. movie MURDER OF MY AUNT, the FOX Network's YOUNG HERCULES, and C.B.S.'s critically acclaimed series TOUR OF DUTY (associate producer) where he was recognized by the T.V. Academy for his contribution to the show by the Emmy winning post-production sound department. Brian co-wrote the FOX pilot MANTIC with Jason Alexander. Also, he worked as a punch-up writer on BOB PATTERSON and LISTEN UP.
In 2022, Brian completed his first novel based on his crime-thriller CONCEPTUS and is working on his second book in the series.
Brian's theatrical directing credits include the world premieres of I.A.N. (THE ITALIAN AMERICAN NETWORK), CONFESSION AND AVOIDANCE (based on the book of the same name written by his father, prolific biographer Mickey Herskowitz), JESSICA AND THE COUCH POTATO, the west coast premiere of SHUFFLE OFF THIS MORTAL BUFFALO, and CIRCLE OF WILL.
Brian has taught screenwriting for the last thirty years, first with WRITER'S BOOT CAMP. Then with UCLA EXTENSIONS, and for the previous eighteen years, he has held the post of Lead Faculty for the prestigious BOSTON UNIVERSITY in LOS ANGELES WRITER IN HOLLYWOOD graduate degree program. His scriptwriting textbook, PROCESS TO PRODUCT: A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR THE SCREENWRITER, is available on Amazon.com and in bookstores.
He has a nine-episode podcast, IDENTITY THEFT, running on Spotify. This is the first offering from the THRILLING STORIES podcast series.
His articles on screenwriting, producing, and film finance have appeared on Stage 32, MovieMaker Magazine, HorrorNews.Net, and numerous other blogs and publications.
Brian has been a member of the Writer's Guild of America West, the Producer's Guild of America, a producing member of the Television Academy, and SAG-AFTRA.
Brian gives much of the credit for his love of writing to his father, who, at the age of 89, is still at it. Mickey Herskowitz has written over 60 books. Many of them have gone on to become bestsellers, including Self Portrait (with Gene Tierney), This and That (with Bette Davis), The Camera Never Blinks, and The Camera Never Blinks Twice (with Dan Rather), All My Octobers (with Mickey Mantle).
Brian is a world champion in Judo and Jiujitsu and holds a black belt in Kenpo Karate as well. He is married to actress Gina Hecht who can be seen in the F.X.X. hit comedy DAVE, and has two beautiful and talented daughters, both of whom work in the entertainment industry.
Websites: www.BrianHerskowitz.com www.MurrayGhost.com
