Martin Pasetta

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In over twenty years of directing, Martin Allen Pasetta, Jr., has had a diversity of experience. Since 1985, he has directed live network specials, live pay-per-view concerts, network telethons, and hundreds of television dramas. He has since directed over three hundred hours of live television, three hundred and fifty multiple camera episodes of daytime television, and over thirty single camera film hour-long dramas. Five out of six pilots he shot have gone to series, including JUDGE JUDY (strip), ROBIN'S HOODS (1 hour), CATCHPHRASE (game) and MONTEL WILLIAMS (talk).

At age fourteen, Pasetta became the youngest member ever of an I.A.T.S.E. local, and four years later, joined the Director's Guild of America. At age 25, he directed "The American Comedy Awards" a multi-million dollar live award show which was nominated for an Emmy for the best special of the year. At the time, Pasetta was fifteen years younger than any other director ever approved to direct a live network special. He went to direct the next annual telecast, and has directed over three hundred multiple camera episodes of television.

Winner of numerous Emmy nominations his record in directing dramatic series is impressive. Pasetta has been directing "Melrose Place" for Aaron Spelling Productions from it's first season, as well as, multiple episodes of "Land's End," "Models Inc.," "Robins' Hoods (including the pilot)," "Baywatch Nights," "Beyond Belief" and "Heaven Help Us." Pasetta directed 28 episodes of "Trial By Jury" a syndicated courtroom drama hosted by Raymond Burr and was Emmy nominated for his work. Pasetta has earned an extraordinary reputation for directing pilots. Five out of six pilots he shot have gone to series.

Pasetta has created and written a dozen different projects for various companies, including two dramatic series pilots which have been sold to ABC International-Hemisphere Productions.

For the past ten years, he has directed Leonard Goldenson's annual "21-hour Starathon" fundraising event live on television. These shows have raised almost $225 million for United Cerebal Palsy. Pasetta also produced and directed "The Doobie Brothers Live in Concert," and "Coalition for a Free Africa," a four-hour live special hosted by Louis Gosset, Jr. and Leigh Taylor-Young, and directed the award winning "Kids Incorporated" for Disney.

Pasetta's training includes associate directing over 40 of television's largest projects, including seven years of "The Academy Awards," "The Papal Spacebridge," "Disneyland's 30th Anniversary," and "A Celebration of Martin Luther King Jr."

Pasetta has been recognized for his work as a television drama director with multiple nominations for Emmy Awards. In 2000, he was nominated for Outstanding Direction for Motion Picture for Television for FAIL SAFE as well as for the prestigious Director's Guild Award. The Movie earned 23 Emmy statues, and stars George Clooney, Richard Dreyfuss, Harvey Keitel, Brian Dennehy and Sam Elliott. FAIL SAFE was the first movie to be shown live on American television in 39 years. In 1989, Pasetta was nominated for Best Director Special Class Emmy for his work on TRIAL BY JURY starring Raymond Burr.

In 2002, Pasetta produced the ACADEMY AWARDS ARRIVAL SPECIAL for the Academy and Laura Ziskin. He has shot music performances for more than 100 groups encompassing all types of music from Gospel to Rock 'n Roll.

In 1997, Pasetta co-founded a multinational communication corporation, specializing in innovative solutions in broad and narrow band communications, with offices in Paris, London, Cairo, South Africa, Kazakhstan and the United States. He traveled to over 50 countries in 1997-2001 facilitating this work. Mr. Pasetta graduated from Loyola High School and has a Bachelor's degree in Communications with minors in Business and Computer Science from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

Martin is a commercial flight instructor, and a member of the Director's Guild of America. He has also been an active participant of "The Travis Group," a theater directing group for the last five years.

From PATHFILMS: http://www.pathefilms.ch/libraries.files/SleepingDogsLie_ProdNotes_short_DCH.doc From Fame L.A.: http://www.fame-la.com/who/production/directors.html