Hello, I’m a director, writer, producer, & copywriter, who gravitates toward stories with humor, heart, and something to say. I started out at Will Ferrell and Adam McKay’s Funny or Die, where I earned a Webby Award and an Environmental Media Award nomination while making climate-change content with the Obama Administration. From there, I wrote and directed advocacy pieces for the Hillary Clinton campaign before moving into features. My debut film, Friendsgiving—produced by Ben Stiller—was released in 2020 and hit number one on Apple, Fandango, and Redbox. I followed it up with The Kill Room, starring Uma Thurman and Samuel L. Jackson, distributed by Shout Studios and Universal Pictures Worldwide. As a producer, my projects include Lurker, which made a splash at Sundance 2025 and sold to Mubi and Focus Features, and Gus Van Sant’s Dead Man’s Wire, which premiered at Venice, screened at TIFF, and was acquired by RowK for worldwide release. My background is in improv and stand-up, which means I’m always looking for the truth inside the comedy and for characters who get to be rich, layered, and fully human. I’m currently in pre-production on my third feature, the female sports comedy Bulldog Barb, produced by Va Bene Productions, She Ready Productions, and Bradley Pilz, and starring Tiffany Haddish and Snoop Dogg. I’m excited to bring this world, and this character, to life.

Nicol Paone

Hello, I’m a director, writer, producer, & copywriter, who gravitates toward stories with humor, heart, and something to say. I started out at Will Ferrell and Adam McKay’s Funny or Die, where I earned a Webby Award and an Environmental Media Award nomination while making climate-change content with the Obama Administration. From there, I wrote and directed advocacy pieces for the Hillary Clinton campaign before moving into features. My debut film, Friendsgiving—produced by Ben Stiller—was released in 2020 and hit number one on Apple, Fandango, and Redbox. I followed it up with The Kill Room, starring Uma Thurman and Samuel L. Jackson, distributed by Shout Studios and Universal Pictures Worldwide. As a producer, my projects include Lurker, which made a splash at Sundance 2025 and sold to Mubi and Focus Features, and Gus Van Sant’s Dead Man’s Wire, which premiered at Venice, screened at TIFF, and was acquired by RowK for worldwide release. My background is in improv and stand-up, which means I’m always looking for the truth inside the comedy and for characters who get to be rich, layered, and fully human. I’m currently in pre-production on my third feature, the female sports comedy Bulldog Barb, produced by Va Bene Productions, She Ready Productions, and Bradley Pilz, and starring Tiffany Haddish and Snoop Dogg. I’m excited to bring this world, and this character, to life.

Available to hire

Hello, I’m a director, writer, producer, & copywriter, who gravitates toward stories with humor, heart, and something to say. I started out at Will Ferrell and Adam McKay’s Funny or Die, where I earned a Webby Award and an Environmental Media Award nomination while making climate-change content with the Obama Administration. From there, I wrote and directed advocacy pieces for the Hillary Clinton campaign before moving into features. My debut film, Friendsgiving—produced by Ben Stiller—was released in 2020 and hit number one on Apple, Fandango, and Redbox. I followed it up with The Kill Room, starring Uma Thurman and Samuel L. Jackson, distributed by Shout Studios and Universal Pictures Worldwide. As a producer, my projects include Lurker, which made a splash at Sundance 2025 and sold to Mubi and Focus Features, and Gus Van Sant’s Dead Man’s Wire, which premiered at Venice, screened at TIFF, and was acquired by RowK for worldwide release.
My background is in improv and stand-up, which means I’m always looking for the truth inside the comedy and for characters who get to be rich, layered, and fully human. I’m currently in pre-production on my third feature, the female sports comedy Bulldog Barb, produced by Va Bene Productions, She Ready Productions, and Bradley Pilz, and starring Tiffany Haddish and Snoop Dogg. I’m excited to bring this world, and this character, to life.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Director / Writer / Producer at The Kill Room (Universal Studios)
December 31, 2023 - December 31, 2023
Led development and production of darkly comedic feature with worldwide distribution through Universal Studios. Managed a cross-disciplinary team of 500+ creative professionals to meet timeline and budget targets. Created and outlined promotional materials for radio, TV, and digital campaigns, shepherding marketing content that contributed to solid distribution and audience reach. Oversaw high-profile cast and crew, and collaborated with senior executives to align with the film’s creative vision.
Director / Writer at Friendsgiving, Saban Films
December 30, 2020 - December 30, 2020
Head Writer / Lead Creative for the project; developed story concepts, scripts, and collaborative strategies with production partners across development and production.
Partner, Producer, Writer, Director at Topple Productions
January 1, 2024 - November 17, 2025
Co-founder overseeing development, production, marketing, and creative direction; led multiple film projects through development and production pipelines.
Promo Writer / Producer at ABC / NBC / Netflix
December 30, 2020 - December 30, 2020
Wrote and produced promotional materials for TV shows and film campaigns; designed pitch materials and promo strategies for broadcast and streaming platforms.

Education

Certificate program at New York University, Tisch School of the Arts
January 1, 2021 - November 17, 2025
BA in Psychology at Adelphi University
January 11, 2030 - November 17, 2025
Sketch writing, improv & character development at Groundlings School
January 11, 2030 - November 17, 2025

Qualifications

Certificate in Film & Television Essentials
January 1, 2021 - November 17, 2025

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Other