David Roma

David Roma is a television producer, filmmaker, musician and activist, born in 1974. The son of 1950s and 1960s Capitol Records recording artist Frank Roma and grandson of a classical pianist, David spent his early years until the age of 21 developing a career as a concert pianist before leaving his pursuit in 1996 to become a writer, producer and director of films and television shows. David has performed live around the world and has produced beats for members of the Wu-Tang Clan and composed the music for many of his TV shows.

Biography

After attending the Juilliard School, he worked with videographer Don Munroe, who directed Andy Warhol's 15 Minutes, and other multi-media projects that were spawned from The Factory.^[1] Roma has created several TV franchises and as well as award winning films for various networks and studios, including FX (TV network), E!, Fuse TV, Discovery Channel, TLC (TV channel), VH1 and the Independent Film Channel, HBO to name a few.

After two of his pit bulls jumped from the roof of a building he was inspired to produce a documentary, Off The Chain, that exposes the world of dog fighting. The documentary was part of a supreme court hearing where Justice Sonia Sotomayor debated the legality of the film's violent imagery. It was decided in the Supreme Court that if the filmmakers intent is for awareness or education, it is legal. He produced his first feature film in a partnership with Sa Re Ga Ma, a century-old Indian media giant, entitled Karma, Confessions, and Holi. During 2006 and 2007, he directed the pilot and first season of Miami Ink which went on to become a global franchise as well as the acclaimed series 30 Days starring Morgan Spurlock for FX. Roma is also an executive producer for Snoop Dogg's Father Hood, a reality sitcom about the infamous rapper and his family life which aired on E!. The show was a co-production between David's production company and E! studios.

In 2009, David returned to his original love of music, composing for himself and searching for artists to collaborate with. After the shocking death of David's close friend and mentor, DJ Adam Goldstien, David also realized that he was neglecting some important fundamentals of life he learned from his late friend. In late 2009, David worked with director Josh Fox to produce a feature length documentary Gasland. The film was accepted into competition in the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and won the coveted Special Jury Prize. In 2011, the film won an Emmy as well as being nominated for an Oscar for the 2011 Academy Awards.

In 2010, Roma launched his documentary production company under the name "The Movement" in order to bring his activist work under a separate banner than his more commercial TV and FIlm work. In that same year, his companies signed a development deal with Ben Silverman's new distribution company Electus. The year long deal ended up with one show being produced for Nat Geo that didn't make it to air.

In 2011, Roma teamed up with the creators of the Hoka Hey. The Hoka Hey was created to bring awareness to the conditions that the Sioux Indians have been living in for over a century, especially the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Participants in the Hoka Hey challenge will head out on a second annual Harley Davidson endurance challenge where they ride over 14,000 miles, sleeping next to their bikes, on a vision quest. Creator Jim Red Cloud wanted the riders to experience a true vision quest where each rider confronts themselves, while taking them through some of this country's most beautiful land including many Reservations. The project is currently in post-production. Also in 2011, Roma helped put together New York Ink, possibly the last spin-off of the Ink brand that he had a hand in creating.

Filmography

2002 Bridge and Tunnel (Writer & Director)

2002 American Rap Stars (Executive Producer)

2004 Biker Buildoff (Writer, Producer, & Director)

2004 Rocked with Gina Gershon (Director)

2005 Female American Rap Stars (Producer & Director)

2005 Miami Ink TV (Producer & Director)

2006 Off the Chain (Producer)

2007 Karma Confessions and Holi (Producer & Co-Director)

2007 Hogan Knows Best TV (Series Producer & Director)

2007 Dirt Demons TV:Crusty Demons (Executive Producer)

2008 Street Hunters (Executive Producer & Director)

2008 Snoop Dogg's Father Hood TV (Executive Producer)

2008 30 Days TV (Producer)

2009 King Of Clubs TV Executive Producer

2010 Gasland (Co-Producer)

2010 Peep Show Revealed (Director)

2011 Selling New York (Director)

2011 NY Ink (Co-Producer)

2012 Indians & Cowboys (Writer, Producer, Director)

Music videos

The Girls Attractive - Diamond Nights

Mi Corazon - Fun Lovin Criminals

Universal Soldier - Prodigal Sunn of the Sunz of Man

There Goes My Baby -Charlie Wilson of the Gap Band

Discography

2005 "Love is Love", (P Sunn). Wutang. - Keyboards

2005 "Off The Chain" (Sunzini). Sunzini of Man. - Keyboards

1988 "I Wanna Love" (Frank Roma) composer

References

External links

• David Roma at the Internet Movie Database
• (New York Post, Dec. 03, 2002) (PageSix.com)
• (Marketwire News Release, 7/19/07)
• (Mumbai Mid-Day, January 20, 2006)
• (VH1 Press Release, OCT 11, 2006)
• (Denotes a New York Times Critic Pick)