Thomas P. Mitchell Sr.

Short Biography

Born and raised in Rochester, New York, Tom attended East High School where he experienced film for the first time. The school was plagued by riots and civil disruption and the media was portraying the kids in a very unflattering light. With a group of fellow students, Tom documented the year, both the good and bad, to be viewed publicly. The publicity drew students, parents and community leaders including the Rochester Mayor, Steven May.He attended Monroe Community College for a semester before deciding to join the U.S. Navy. Winning awards as a photographer, his creative path was started.As a commercial/portrait studio manager in both Florida and Indiana, he won awards from the state guilds and the national Professional Photographers of America.In 2000, he wrote his first screenplay, "At The Pole". Since then, he has written seven feature screenplays and six shorts. The second short "Stories From Nana K.; The Circus Is In Town" won Best Short in the 2005 Ft. Myers Beach Film Festival.The Florida Motion Picture & Television Association, Metro Orlando Chapter elected him President for 2010, 2011. The State Board of Directors of Florida Motion Picture & Television Association, Inc. elected him to serve as President for 2011.Film Florida, a not-for-profit corporation that provides a leadership role in Florida's film and entertainment industries by representing a coalition of interests, including private industry, local film commissions, industry associations, educational institutions and labor organizations, elected him Vice Chair of the Association Council for 2011-12.The first feature Eagle Media Films is producing, tentatively titled "Happy Christmas" is in pre-production.