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 
YearTitleTypeCredit(s)2026From A Darkened Room – The Diary of a NobodyDocumentary FeatureWriter, Producer, Director2024Stairway To The StarsNarrative ShortWriter, Producer, Director2017Hearing is BelievingDocumentary FeatureProducer, Director2007Los Zafiros – Music From The Edge Of TimeDocumentary FeatureProducer, Director1989–1993Life Goes OnABC/Warner Brothers Drama SeriesDirector, Producer, Supervising Film Editor1989Gingerale AfternoonSkouras PicturesAssociate Producer, Film Editor1987The Killing TimeNew World Pictures / Columbia Tri-StarFilm Editor1987Winners Take AllMGMFilm Editor1986Thrashin’Fries EntertainmentFilm Editor1985Girls Just Want To Have FunNew World PicturesFilm Editor1984Body RockNew World PicturesFirst Assistant Editor, Co-Editor1984Dreamscape20th Century FoxFirst Assistant Editor, Co-Editor1983Losin’ ItEmbassy PicturesFirst Assistant Editor, Co-Editor1982That Championship SeasonCannon FilmsFirst Assistant Editor, Co-Editor1982Making Love20th Century Fox FilmApprentice Editor1981Talmage FarlowPBS Documentary FeatureProducer, Director, Editor1980The Blue LagoonColumbia Pictures FilmApprentice Editor1980The Black MarbleAvco Embassy FilmApprentice Editor1979Hong Kong: A Family PortraitNational Geographic SpecialAssistant Editor

 Screenplays 
YearTitleTypeCredits2026House Boy5-Part Limited SeriesWriter/Producer2026The Diarist5-Part Limited SeriesWriter/Producer2026Shipment DayNarrative FeatureWriter/Producer/Director2024Stairway To The StarsNarrative ShortWriter/Producer/Director2020LadsOriginal ScreenplayWriter2010Deep InsideOriginal ScreenplayWriter1998Cropper’s CabinAdapted from the novel by Jim ThompsonWriter1995Waiting For NothingAdapted from the novel by Tom KromerWriter1988Appointment In SamarraAdapted from the novel by John O’HaraCo-Writer1986CreepsAdapted from the play by David E. FreemanWriter

 Theatre 
YearTitleTypeCredits2026The Separation SicknessFull-Length PlayPlaywright2025Shipment Day / Dia da PartidaFull-Length Play, JA International Theatre, LisbonPlaywright2025House BoyFull-Length PlayPlaywright2025AmbitionOne-Act PlayPlaywright2025The Three-Sided RoomOne-Act PlayPlaywright2019Stairway To The StarsOne-Act PlayPlaywright2018Shipment DayFull-Length Play, Manoa Valley Theatre, HonoluluPlaywright2016Shipment DayOne-Act Play, PlayBuilders of HawaiiPlaywright2015Shipment DayOne-Act Play, The Road Theatre Co., Los AngelesPlaywright2002Camera ObscuraFull-Length Play, Almeida Theatre, LondonPlaywright2001InmanFull-Length Play, Seattle Repertory TheatrePlaywright2000ProvidenceFull-Length Play, Stages Theatre Co, Los AngelesPlaywright/Director1998ProvidenceFull-Length Play, Second Stage NYCPlaywright1998JittersFull-Length Play, Theatre 40 Beverly HillsDirector1997Twisted TwainFull-Length Play, Theatre 40 Beverly HillsDirector1995ProvidenceFull-Length Play, Greenwich Theatre, LondonPlaywright1993Conversations With The Spanish LadyOne-Act Play, Theatre 40 Beverly HillsDirector1990The One-Armed ManOne-Act Play, Theatre 40 Beverly HillsDirector1988Natural AffectionFull-Length Play, Theatre 40 Beverly Hills / Zephyr Theatre,  Los AngelesDirector

 References 

Category:American photographers