Will is a Los Angeles based writer and director specializing in story-driven comedy and visual effects filmmaking. Will has written and directed six award-winning short films since 2006. His short film The Art of Karaoke premiered at the 2008 South by Southwest film festival and was named one of the year's "best short documentaries" by Moving Pictures magazine.

His short film Easy Pickins' won Best Short Screenplay at the 2007 Slamdance film festival, and a Jury Award for Production Excellence from the Chicago International Children's Film Festival in 2008. Will is also the first two-time Best Picture winner of the Duke City Shootout with the films Easy Pickins' (2007) and Food For Thought (2008).

Will's work has been profiled by The New York Times, NPR's Morning Edition, Los Angeles magazine, Indiewire, Filmthreat, and KROQ's Kevin and Bean show among other notable media. Comedic actors who've been in Will's films include Craig Robinson, Brian Baumgartner, Kevin Rahm, Elaine Hendrix, Jill Bartlett, Alexandra Holden, Josh Braaten, and Molly Ringwald.

Will won the 2008 FOX / MySpace Storyteller Challenge pitch competition, which resulted in the sale of his TV series pitch Tough Love to FOX Broadcasting.

Will's background is in advertising. He has been a copywriter and creative director for a number of agencies including Ogilvy & Mather, Young & Rubicam, Pittard Sullivan, and yU+co. Will has written dozens of broadcast commercials and has also directed several spots. He was profiled as an "up and coming director" in SHOOT magazine's annual Directors issue (March, 2008), and has twice had spots he directed featured in SHOOT's "Best Work" section.

 

FILMOGRAPHY

GREENER (2009) - Short comedy/fantasy - A depressed, overweight housewife gains a new perspective after spending an afternoon with her beautiful but lonely next-door-neighbor. Directed by Keith McDaniels and starring Natalie Canerday, Greener premiered at the 2009 Newport Beach Film Festival.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT (2008) - Short comedy/horror - Two impulsive teens get a lesson in abstinence after they are caught "in the act" by a disapproving teacher. Winner of the 2008 Duke City Shootout - an annual production grant given to seven screenwriters to produce their original short films. Each contestant is flown to the desert in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where they must film, edit and finish their short film in exactly seven days (this includes all post production, CGI, music, coloring and sound mix). At the awards ceremony, Food For Thought was named Best Picture of the competition. Elaine Hendrix also won Best Actress for role as the teacher. Food For Thought screened at film festivals including South By Southwest, Clermont-Ferrand, Barcelona, Santa Fe, Taos, and Newport Beach.

THE ART OF KARAOKE (2008) - Short documentary - Art Himmel, 82-year-old WWII veteran and Cancer patient, sings karaoke at nightclubs around Los Angeles. He does it for health, he does it for happiness. In our youth-obsessed culture, Art is living, singing proof that you're never too old to be as young as you feel. Named one of the best short documentaries of 2008 by Moving Pictures magazine, the Art of Karaoke premiered at the 2008 South By Southwest film festival.

EASY PICKINS' (2007) - Short comedy/suspense - After breaking into an old lady's house, two would-be robbers discover she's a lot less helpless than they thought. Winner of the 2007 Slamdance film festival short screenplay competition, and also the 2007 Duke City Shootout production grant. At the 2007 Duke City Shootout, Easy Pickins' won several awards, including Best Picture and The Audience Award.

THE FREQUENCY OF CLAIRE (2007) - Short comedy/fantasy - A guy incurs the wrath of Cupid after cheating on his "true love." Winner of the FOX / MySpace "Storyteller Challenge" competition. This short film, starring Craig Robinson, Josh Braaten and Alexandra Holden, was the genesis for the TV pilot pitch featuring Robinson and Braaten that Hartman sold to FOX Broadcasting in 2008 called Tough Love.

MC (2006) - Short comedy/mockumentary - A satiric look at the importance of substance and story in mainstream movie making. Starring Brian Baumgartner, Kevin Rahm, Jared Hilman and Vanessa Claire Smith.

THE LEAST LIKELY CANDIDATE (2004) - Independent feature comedy - Nebraska hayseed moves to Los Angeles and becomes embroiled in the big city politics. Starring Nathan Anderson and Angelica Bridges. Entire film was shot in 13 days.

THE BUS STOP (1999) - Short comedy/Fantasy - A bullied little boy faces a moment of truth when terrorists hijack his school bus. Will's first short film, The Bus Stop screened at more than two-dozen festivals, winning several awards. It was originally licensed for distribution by Dreamworks Pop.com in 2000, and then picked up by Atom Films.