Gregori Viens
Writing
Biography
Gregori Viens was born in Los Angeles but grew up in Paris, and is a dual citizen of France and the United States. After studying sociology at the Université de Paris, he moved back to California and obtained a B.A. in Political Science from UCLA, and later an M.F.A. in Film from Syracuse University. At age 24, he made his first feature length documentary, Island of Roses, The Jews of Rhodes in Los Angeles. He taught undergraduate and graduate film classes at UCLA School of Theater Film and Television, as well as Occidental College and Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. His 2009 feature comedy Punching the Clown, co-written with Henry Phillips, won the Audience Award at the Slamdance Film Festival and received wide ranging critical acclaim. His 2016 follow up Punching Henry premiered at SXSW and was awarded the Story Award by the International Screenwriters Association at the Chicago Comedy Film Festival. Beyond France and the US, he has also lived in Latin America (Nicaragua and Chile) as well as Eastern Africa (Djibouti).
Known For
Comedian Henry Phillips is lured to LA by a renowned TV producer who wants to bring his story of failure to the screen. But when a major network gets involved, Henry must decide whether he wants to make jokes for a living, or be the butt of them.
Punching Henry
Aspiring director Scarlett Skidmore, haunted by her grandmother's dark legacy, sets out to film a doc to clear her name. Upon going to the backlot where her grandma last filmed, she finds a camera that sends her back to set in the 1970s.
Take Two
A satirical songwriter comes to Los Angeles and puts his life's work in jeopardy.
Punching the Clown
A story of a man who does not know his parents, and a woman who has lost her son.
Memento
A new hire at the Bureau accidentally admits passage to a time terrorist and must find a way to set the timeline straight before her boss finds out.