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Jim Jermanok
Jim Jermanok is an award-winning writer, director and producer, creative entrepreneurship expert, consultant and speaker based in NY. Jim is currently directing and producing a feature documentary about the life and art of Oscar-winning actor Martin Landau. Mr. Jermanok wrote and produced the highly acclaimed romantic comedy, “Passionada,” which was released by Columbia Tri Star in over 150 countries. His latest film “Em” recently won the Grand Jury Prize at the Seattle International Film Festival and the Criterion International Inspiration Award. It was released recently by Vanguard Cinema and SnagFilms. Last year, Jim Jermanok wrote and directed “Homophonia,” a political comedy film on gay marriage which has appeared at over 50 film festivals while winning several of them.

Also active also in TV and New Media, Jim Jermanok is currently executive producing a TV series with a major network and developing six other fictional, comedy and reality TV series. His revolutionary new web series “LIFEADVICE.TV” has drawn tremendous praise since going live globally in November, 2015. Mr. Jermanok is a former ICM Agent who represented Arthur Miller, Shirley MacLaine, John Chancellor, Ben Kingsley, Dudley Moore, Helen Hayes, Alan Arkin and General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, among others. Jim also speaks and conducts workshops worldwide on the subject of his recently released 2016 book, BEYOND THE CRAFT: What You Need to Know to Make A Living Creatively, Making Your Projects Happen: Successful Film/TV Producing and Financing as well as The Art and Business of Screenwriting.

Career
Jim Jermanok is an award-winning writer, director and producer, creative entrepreneurship expert, consultant and speaker based in NY. Jim is currently directing and producing a feature documentary about the life and art of Oscar-winning actor Martin Landau featuring interviews by Woody Allen and Ellen Burstyn. Jim Jermanok wrote and produced PASSIONADA, a sophisticated romantic comedy that was released in over 120 American cities in 2003. It was later released in 2004-2005 by Columbia Tri-Star in over 150 countries. The film stars: Jason Isaacs ( HARRY POTTER), Sofia Milos (CSI: MIAMI), Emmy Rossum (SHAMELESS), Theresa Russell and Seymour Cassel.

PASSIONADA was the prestigious closing night film of the Seattle International Film Festival. Upon its release by The Samuel Goldwyn Company, the film received high praise from prominent American film critics. Ebert and Roper gave it “TWO THUMBS UP!” on their weekly television program and syndicated column. Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times writes: “The Jermanoks strive for and achieve a romantic comedy with humorous, fanciful plotting yet shaded by genuine tenderness and passion.” Rex Reed of the New York Observer adds that “Passionada is a charming and luxurious romantic interlude carefully constructed and greatly enhanced by fresh dialogue.”

Mr. Jermanok also produced EM, a romantic drama about loss and love. EM had it world premiere at the recent Seattle Intl. Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury Prize. It went on to win the Criterion Collection’s Intl. Inspiration Award, The Intl. Film Guide Award, Best Film at Strasbourg Intl. Film Festival and Best Producer Award at the Brooklyn Intl. Film Festival. It was released by Vanguard Cinema and SnagFilms in 2011. Mr. Jermanok also directed a recent feature documentary, AGGANIS, about the extraordinary and beloved New England sports legend of years past, Harry Agganis. Jim previously wrote and produced a highly praised film, CLEAR CUT, starring Calista Flockhart and Stephen Fry. He has also written HIGH MOON, a full-length screenplay commissioned by Just Betzer, the Academy Award-winning Producer of BABETTE'S FEAST.

In the world of theater, Jim has been fortunate to have directed and produced over fifteen professional and regional productions ranging from G.R.POINT to ROSENCRANZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD. One of his latest directorial efforts, THE TRAMWAY END, (the American premiere of esteemed Irish playwright-novelist Dermot Bolger) was presented for three months at the Chelsea Playhouse. It is about an Irish immigrant who now lives in Germany and starred the renowned, gifted Irish actor and director, Ray Yeates, who is currently the Dublin City Arts Officer.

This representative Off Broadway production drew over forty positive reviews including Time Out New York: “There is a great deal that is admirable about Tramway. . . Jermanok’s simple direction is well tailored to the intimacy of the Chelsea Playhouse,” and The Wall Street Journal which added: “Ray Yeates is doing a powerful solo turn in Dermot Bolger’s The Tramway End. . .He gives us something precious: the soul of a human being.”

Last year, Jim Jermanok wrote and directed “Homophonia,” a political comedy film on gay marriage rights which appeared at The Palm Springs ShortFest and over 50 other film festivals while winning several of them. Also active also in TV and New Media, Jim’s revolutionary new web series “LIFEADVICE.TV” has drawn tremendous praise since going live globally on in 2016. LIFEADVICE.TV gives our oldest and wisest people a voice and the rest of us some guidance in our lives.

Jim was an Agent at International Creative Management for nine years. Within a year of starting in the mailroom, he was promoted to a full-fledged agent at the age of 25. He helped to represent: Alan Arkin, John Chancellor, E.L. Doctorow, Helen Hayes, Ben Kingsley, Shirley MacLaine, Arthur Miller, Dudley Moore, Harry Reasoner, Andy Rooney, General H. Norman Schwarzkopf and Henry Winkler, among others. Jim also speaks and conducts workshops worldwide on the subject of his 2017 book, BEYOND THE CRAFT: What You Need to Know to Make A Living Creatively, as well as Successful Film/TV Producing & Financing and The Art and Business of Screenwriting.

A former exchange student and journalist in South Africa, Mr. Jermanok has traveled and worked extensively throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East. In London, he interned at the British Parliament, where he directed a short documentary that was screened before a Parliamentary committee. Jim Jermanok was educated at Cornell University and The London School of Economics.

BEYOND THE CRAFT: What You Need To Know To Make A Living Creatively!
As well as being an established director and producer he is also an award winning author. Jermanok's BEYOND THE CRAFT: What You Need To Know To Make A Living Creatively! is a revolutionary, current and insider’s guide to doing what you need to do to make a living creatively. This bottom-line volume offers a unique strategy, philosophy and even vocabulary for the enormous worldwide audience of aspiring, working, and successful creative professionals and students. It is based on those habits, tools, qualities that successful creatives share and is intended to empower you to reach the next level of your career without solely relying on others: agents, managers and other gatekeepers (casting directors, producers, etc.).

Using his own real-life experiences from an active and impressive 30-year career, Jim Jermanok will cover: distinguishing yourself; building confidence; obtaining and working with agents & managers; learning the business; effective networking with a simple networking system; the art of the schmooze; evaluating survival and industry jobs; new opportunities in new media, among many other essential topics.

Jim was a beloved agent at ICM and has worked with many stars: Alan Arkin, E.L. Doctorow, Helen Hayes, Ben Kingsley, Shirley MacLaine, Arthur Miller, Dudley Moore, Andy Rooney and Henry Winkler, among others. Now Jim writes, directs and produces films, documentaries, TV and New Media.