Lorenzo DeStefano

**Lorenzo DeStefano** is an American playwright, screenwriter, novelist, film producer, director, and photographer.He has worked in film, television, and theatre in the United States and the United Kingdom. He is a member of the Directors Guild of America and was previously a member of the Motion Picture Editors Guild.

## Early life

DeStefano was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. As a teenager, he worked as a location scout for local commercial productions. He also learned from independent filmmakers in Hawaii. During this time, he practiced street photography, taking pictures of life in Honolulu.

## Career

In his twenties, DeStefano moved to Carmel, California. There, he studied film and started making short films. He became more interested in film editing and later moved to Los Angeles to work in film post-production.

His first on-screen credit was as an assistant editor on a National Geographic Special called _Hong Kong – A Family Portrait_, directed by Robert M. Young. He later joined the Motion Picture Editors Guild. He worked on several films, including _The Blue Lagoon_, _Making Love_, _That Championship Season_, _Dreamscape_, _Girls Just Want to Have Fun_, and _Thrashin_. He was also a supervising film editor and producer on the television series _Life Goes On_.

In 2008, DeStefano started the Ventura Film Society. The group organizes public film screenings and events.

He wrote a novel called _House Boy_, published in 2022. The book is about caste discrimination and human trafficking in India.

Most recently, DeStefano directed the narrative short film _Stairway to The Stars_ (2024), featuring Sean Young and Quinton Aaron, currently screening at film festivals. He also completed a documentary feature, _From a Darkened Room – The Diary of a Nobody,_ which delves into the life of Boston diarist Arthur Crew Inman, whose work was posthumously published by Harvard University Press.

## Filmography

|colspan="4"||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|**Year**|**Title**|**Type**|**Credit(s)**|
|2026|_From A Darkened Room – The Diary of a Nobody_|Documentary Feature|Writer, Producer, Director|
|2024|_Stairway To The Stars_|Narrative Short|Writer, Producer, Director|
|2017|_Hearing is Believing_|Documentary Feature|Producer, Director|
|2007|_Los Zafiros – Music From The Edge Of Time_|Documentary Feature|Producer, Director|
|1989–1993|_Life Goes On_|ABC/Warner Brothers Drama Series|Director, Producer, Supervising Film Editor|
|1989|_Gingerale Afternoon_|Skouras Pictures|Associate Producer, Film Editor|
|1987|_The Killing Time_|New World Pictures / Columbia Tri-Star|Film Editor|
|1987|_Winners Take All_|MGM|Film Editor|
|1986|_Thrashin’_|Fries Entertainment|Film Editor|
|1985|_Girls Just Want To Have Fun_|New World Pictures|Film Editor|
|1984|_Body Rock_|New World Pictures|First Assistant Editor, Co-Editor|
|1984|_Dreamscape_|20th Century Fox|First Assistant Editor, Co-Editor|
|1983|_Losin’ It_|Embassy Pictures|First Assistant Editor, Co-Editor|
|1982|_That Championship Season_|Cannon Films|First Assistant Editor, Co-Editor|
|1982|_Making Love_|20th Century Fox Film|Apprentice Editor|
|1981|_Talmage Farlow_|PBS Documentary Feature|Producer, Director, Editor|
|1980|_The Blue Lagoon_|Columbia Pictures Film|Apprentice Editor|
|1980|_The Black Marble_|Avco Embassy Film|Apprentice Editor|
|1979|_Hong Kong: A Family Portrait_|National Geographic Special|Assistant Editor|

### Screenplays

|colspan="4"||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|**Year**|**Title**|**Type**|**Credits**|
|2026|_House Boy_|5-Part Limited Series|Writer/Producer|
|2026|_The Diarist_|5-Part Limited Series|Writer/Producer|
|2026|_Shipment Day_|Narrative Feature|Writer/Producer/Director|
|2024|_Stairway To The Stars_|Narrative Short|Writer/Producer/Director|
|2020|_Lads_|Original Screenplay|Writer|
|2010|_Deep Inside_|Original Screenplay|Writer|
|1998|_Cropper’s Cabin_|Adapted from the novel by Jim Thompson|Writer|
|1995|_Waiting For Nothing_|Adapted from the novel by Tom Kromer|Writer|
|1988|_Appointment In Samarra_|Adapted from the novel by John O’Hara|Co-Writer|
|1986|_Creeps_|Adapted from the play by David E. Freeman|Writer|

### Theatre

|colspan="4"||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|**Year**|**Title**|**Type**|**Credits**|
|2026|_The Separation Sickness_|Full-Length Play|Playwright|
|2025|_Shipment Day / Dia da Partida_|Full-Length Play, JA International Theatre, Lisbon|Playwright|
|2025|_House Boy_|Full-Length Play|Playwright|
|2025|_Ambition_|One-Act Play|Playwright|
|2025|_The Three-Sided Room_|One-Act Play|Playwright|
|2019|_Stairway To The Stars_|One-Act Play|Playwright|
|2018|_Shipment Day_|Full-Length Play, Manoa Valley Theatre, Honolulu|Playwright|
|2016|_Shipment Day_|One-Act Play, PlayBuilders of Hawaii|Playwright|
|2015|_Shipment Day_|One-Act Play, The Road Theatre Co., Los Angeles|Playwright|
|2002|_Camera Obscura_|Full-Length Play, Almeida Theatre, London|Playwright|
|2001|_Inman_|Full-Length Play, Seattle Repertory Theatre|Playwright|
|2000|_Providence_|Full-Length Play, Stages Theatre Co, Los Angeles|Playwright/Director|
|1998|_Providence_|Full-Length Play, Second Stage NYC|Playwright|
|1998|_Jitters_|Full-Length Play, Theatre 40 Beverly Hills|Director|
|1997|_Twisted Twain_|Full-Length Play, Theatre 40 Beverly Hills|Director|
|1995|_Providence_|Full-Length Play, Greenwich Theatre, London|Playwright|
|1993|_Conversations With The Spanish Lady_|One-Act Play, Theatre 40 Beverly Hills|Director|
|1990|_The One-Armed Man_|One-Act Play, Theatre 40 Beverly Hills|Director|
|1988|_Natural Affection_|Full-Length Play, Theatre 40 Beverly Hills / Zephyr Theatre,  Los Angeles|Director|

## Infobox (person)

- **name**: Lorenzo DeStefano
- **birth place**: Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
- **nationality**: American
- **occupation**: Playwright, screenwriter, novelist, producer, director, photographer
- **years active**: 1979–present
- **organization**: Ventura Film Society (founder)
- **notable works**: _Life Goes On_, _Hearing is Believing_, _House Boy_, _From a Darkened Room – The Diary of a Nobody_
- **awards**: Feathered Quill Reviewers Choice Book Award (for _House Boy_)