THOMAS R. RONDINELLA
Thomas R. Rondinella graduated Seton Hall University as a history major and attended the prestigious New York University Graduate Film School. Tom received the valuable Paulette Goddard Scholarship. Having worked on a total of thirty-five films at NYU, Tom graduated with a MFA degree in 1984.
Summers between NYU were busy too as he worked as a free-lance film editor for the Emmy award-winning filmmaker, Lillian Schwartz.
Following graduation, Tom immediately launched his editing career by editing GIRls School Screamers. Since then, Tom's editing skills have been in constant demand and he has edited over fifteen feature films including, Severance, Midnight Rendezvous, Lust for Freedom, KILLERS, DROP A DIME, CHARLIE HOBOKEN, BARRIERS and FOOL AND HIS MONEY starring Sandra Bullock, cited as one of the year’s ten hot films by GLAMOUR magazine. Tom has also served as Sound Designer and Editor for nearly all the movies he has edited.
Expanding his movie skills, Tom co-wrote the comedy ALL'S FAIR with partner Wm. R. Pace, which was produced by Midwood Productions. Starring George Segal, Sally Kellerman and Robert Carradine, ALL'S FAIR was released theatrically by MovieStore Entertainment and showed extensively on HBO.
Tom made his directorial debut with BLADES, a comedy/action feature which he had co-written with Wm. R. Pace, and also served as his own editor. BLADES has been theatrically distributed and broadcast on both HBO and Cinemax.
Tom has also directed and edited his second feature film, which he also co-wrote, A Girls' Guide, a "wacky and hip" romantic comedy. The picture was invited to the Houston International Film Festival where VARIETY called it an "unrelenting perky and fun movie." A Girls' Guide aired on the USA Cable Network.
Tom has also co-written TREETOPS and the gothic thriller FAMILY RITES with partner Wm. R. Pace, which has been optioned three times; the romantic comedy HEART OF FORTUNE and a cloning adventure, MAN OF THE CLOTH.
In 1998, Tom and Bill formed SledgehammerMFA Films, Inc. to produce independent feature films. Their first production, partnered with long time colleague, Douglas Huebner at MohawkFilms was CHARMING BILLY. Tom produced and co-edited partner Wm. R. Pace’s directorial debut. CHARMING BILLY played at eight film festivals and won four major awards including Best Actor award at the AFI-LA International Film Festival. The film is distributed by Wellspring Entertainment. SledgehammerMFA Films and Mohawkfilm have feature projects in development, OTTO, THE MACK OF FRANKLIN HIGH and OUT IN THE COLD.
In 2004, Tom joined Nazz Films as a production executive. Nazz Films produced the critically acclaimed “THE 24TH DAY” with Scott Speedman and James Marsden. Nazz Films has the feature film project, NEBRASKA FISH AND GAME in development.
In 2005, Tom produced "Unholy", a high definition feature with Adrienne Barbeau (Carnivale and The Fog) and Nicholas Brendon (Xander of Buffy the Vampire Slayer).
In addition, Tom is president of Catfish Studios, specializing in corporate and public relation full service video production.
Tom has participated at panel discussions at weekend Independent Filmmaking Seminars, New York University, National Women Studies Association, Rte. 66 Film Festival, Durango Film Festival, Tambay Film Festival and at the AFI-LA International Film Festival
Tom is an associate professor at Seton Hall University, teaching film and television production. He has also taught at the New School for Social Research in New York City, New York University and Felician College. He lives in West Orange, NJ with his wife, Sharon and three daughters; Laura, Rebecca and Julia.