Comedy Film
Best Comedy Film Award Finalist
Filmmaker
When Craig, a young man on the precipice of marrying the love of his life, then Beth, his bride’s family wedding traditions come to light, until he has to decide does he keep on going along with the outlandish customs or lose out on his love and cut bait.
Director Statement: FAMILY TRADITIONS was inspired by the classic yet innovative take on the Fish-Out-of_Water Comedic Premise. Utilizing a bright color palette, Jay’s aim is to guide the audience’s hand into an otherworldly realm where everything is not what it seems to be.
Biography
Jay was born and raised in Winter Park, Florida where he developed a love for acting at an early age performing in plays at Show Stoppers, Civic Theater of Central Florida, and local films. Jay went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts with a minor in Scriptwriting graduating Cum Laude with Theater Departmental Honors, Phi Kappa Phi from Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY. Jay moved to Los Angeles, CA where he further pursued his acting in independent films, commercials, new media (web series).
Jay as a Producer has Produced the Slamdance Film Festival Premiere in 2000 of the Short Film THE MEETING Directed by Ben Rock. In addition, Jay Directed, Wrote, and Produced the Short Film NO MAGIC, which was Official Selection at DigiDance in 2000. Jay continued to collaborate with Ben Rock by Producing THE BURKITTSVILLE 7 airing on Showtime Networks in 2000 and SHADOW OF THE BLAIR WITCH airing on Sci-Fi Channel in 2000; Two Television Specials created to promote the Second BLAIR WITCH movie, BOOK OF SHOWS for Artisan Entertainment. Ben Rock Wrote and Directed both Television Specials. As a Production Coordinator, Jay was responsible for coordinating the National Celebrity Book Tour for R.L. STINE’S HAUNTED LIGHTHOUSE 4-D for Lookout Entertainment for Busch Entertainment’s Theme Parks: SeaWorld San Diego, SeaWorld San Antonio, Busch Gardens, Williamsburg. Jay additionally coordinated the Red Carpet Celebrity Premiere at SeaWorld San Diego featuring the Celebrity Cast of Lea Thompson, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, and Sara Paxton, as well as, many other Celebrities that attended the Premiere. Jay recently has moved back to the Winter Park, FL area. Notable roles include Polonius in “Hamlet Shut Up!”, a rendition of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” as if told by Buster Keaton that premiered at Sacred Fools Theater to sold-out houses in Los Angeles, California and the NYC Fringe Festival (NYCFringe) also to sold out houses. Jay has been seen in commercials with such companies as WWE Slim Jim with LA Knight and Bianca Belair, FLORIDA LOTTERY, RONA, UNIVERSITY GAMES, and RONA to name a few. Jay has acted in several pilots entitled “Misadventures of Florida Man” and “Limestone Gumption”. Jay has performed in four Play De Luna evening of comedic one-acts through Arts Sake Studio where he studied advanced acting for the last three years. As a filmmaker, Jay has also written, produced, and directed his own award-winning 35mm short film titled “Tea Time” that has screened at over 36 international and national film festivals. “Tea Time” won First Place in its Category of Sci-Fi / Fantasy for Dragon*Con Independent Film Festival (Atlanta, GA). In addition, Jay wrote and performed in his own solo show entitled “7 Nights In Sioux Country” about his adventures in the Lakota Sioux Indian Reservation of Rosebud, South Dakota for the 25th Orlando International Fringe Festival. Jay won Best Writing and Best Show for his short one-act comedic play “The Money Shot” for Fall 2023 Play de Luna. Jay is also a Comedic Improviser in both Long Form and Short Form Improv Comedy having studied at Nitro Theater and SAK Comedy Lab in Orlando, FL. Jay is represented by Privilege Talent Agency.