Raymond Pierlioni
I’m Italian American and was born in Bristol Connecticut. I was raised in Northern Maine and moved to South Florida when I was 16. Not long after I moved to Florida I auditioned for a role in a movie called “Illtown” that was shooting in West Palm Beach. I didn’t get cast but was an extra in a few scenes. My eyes opened that day to the wonderment that is filmmaking. I was mesmerized as I watched the director work and just knew that that’s what I wanted to do. After high school I got a job as a bartender. It may seem as though I was off the track to becoming a filmmaker but I disagree. There is no job in the world like bartending for training a filmmaker. You are a fly on the wall for many people’s private conversations. You witness the day-to-day interactions of real people. You see them when they’re at their best (such as celebrating.) You also see them when they’re at their worst. When they just need someone to talk to and a good bartender is always ready to listen and provide sage advice, when writing it provides a well of experiences to draw from and gives you the ability to tell if dialogue sounds natural or forced. I believe that writing natural sounding dialogue and shooting it in a realistic way is one of my strongest attributes as a director and cinematographer. This work has also allowed me to cultivate friendships and relationships with many of the biggest movers and shakers in town. The only experience that bartending doesn’t provide you with is the technical knowledge that it takes to successfully bring your experiences to life via video. That’s where Full Sail University comes into play. Armed with a bachelors degree in Digital Cinematography, I’ve acquired the knowledge and skills to see a project through from an idea in your head to a completed project that exudes professionalism. I spent a few years living and working in Texas and have since moved to South Dakota, where I currently reside.
Raymond Pierlioni 