ANDREW ZINNES received a Masters in Film and Video from The American University in Washington, DC and quickly moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the film industry. He worked first as a freelance script analyst before taking a position in Norman Lear’s Act III Productions in their feature development department. In 1998, Andrew transitioned to Producer Donald De Line’s production company at Paramount Pictures where he worked on DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE and THE ITALIAN JOB. He then moved to the USA Networks where he worked in the Original Movies division. In 2000, Andrew left development to work as a producer on the documentary film, WOMEN ON THE WATER, following the US Olympic Rowing team. He also shot the documentary style music video for the multi-platinum band CAKE (the single SHORT SKIRT, LONG JACKET). The unique video was nominated for Best Breakthrough Video at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards.
Since 2003, Andrew has been the US Editor of The Guerilla Film Makers Handbook series of books – the number one, best selling series on independent filmmaking in the UK. In 2004, Andrew joined forces with Genevieve Jolliffe (URBAN GHOST STORY) to write the screenplay, ABSOLUTE ANGELS, which Warner Brothers optioned in 2005. In 2006, Andrew became the co-author of The Documentary Film Makers Handbook – the latest work in the Guerilla series.
In 2005, Andrew started the story consultant company, Script-Tonic, which helps screenwriters and both fiction and documentary filmmakers with their projects. Through Script-Tonic, Andrew has come on as creative consultant for several documentary projects including FATHER TONY, about one of the only African American priests in the United States and THE PROMISE, the story of the Warner Brothers. Through his consulting and experience writing The Documentary Film Makers Handbook, Andrew with his writing partner and wife, Genevieve Jolliffe run The Documentary Film Makers Course – a two day seminar on documentary filmmaking.
Andrew lives in Los Angeles.