Daniel Colella

Daniel Colella is an emerging filmmaker from Norfolk, Virginia. Although having had an affinity for critiquing and analyzing English Literature and Poetry, Daniel had only initially enjoyed films at surface value, as pure entertainment, never considering the multi-level meanings and elevated craft of the work. After what would be a pivotal screening of Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands in a high school film class, Daniel was asked to give meaning beyond what the film showed, to look at every aspect of the film from lighting, to acting, to set and beyond. It was as if a lightbulb went off in his head, a passion was born, and Daniel was propelled on his journey into a filmmaking career.

As an undergraduate student at The College of Charleston, Daniel earned his degree in English and Film Studies while also leading the school's Film Club in creating over 10 films in 3 years and Executive Producing productions at the school's independent media organization, CisternYard Media.

After graduating Daniel continued his journey, heading cross-country to Los Angeles, where he pursued a Master of Fine Arts in Film and Television Production (Directing Fiction) at top rated film school, Loyola Marymount University. Beside his own films, Daniel has worked as a 1st A.D., Cinematographer, Grip, and Gaffer on multiple productions during his time at LMU. With his MFA completed, Daniel has now moved back to the East Coast where he is currently working in Film Development while continuing his own creative pursuits as an independent filmmaker and videographer.

Daniel's artistic sensibilities have been profoundly influenced by the works of cinematic luminary David Lynch. He shares a profound resonance with Lynch's perspectives on striking a balance between the light and the dark and finding love and beauty within a harsh and embittered world. He has also found inspiration from the transcendental and the concept of deriving inner strength, a principle that holds a paramount place within his work.

In the words of Joseph Campbell, "The ground of being is the ground of our being, and when we simply turn outward, we see all these little problems here and there. But, if we look inward, we see that we are the source of them all." This profound insight serves as a guiding beacon for Daniel in his relentless pursuit to illuminate the human condition through the medium of cinema, no matter the genre.