Dito Montiel
Montiel at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival
Born
Orlandito Montiel

New York City, U.S. Queens
Occupation(s)Filmmaker, author, musician
Years active1989–present

Orlandito Montiel is an American author, filmmaker, and musician.

Early Career & Music

Born in New York City, Montiel was active in the early '80s New York hardcore punk scene when he was vocalist for Queens-based Major Conflict.[1] Later, he would gain notoriety in 1989 when Geffen Records signed his newly formed outfit Gutterboy to a $1 million record deal, an unheard-of sum at the time. The band was dropped after its debut and was dubbed one of the most "successful" unsuccessful bands in rock history.[2]

In 2003, Montiel published A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, a memoir[3] detailing his life growing up in Astoria, Queens in the early 1980s during the rise of the hardcore punk scene. The book describes his time spent touring with his band Gutterboy and his brief modeling career with Versace along with other personal anecdotes.

Filmmaking

After adapting his best-selling book into a screenplay, Montiel made his directorial debut with the film version of A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, with Robert Downey Jr. (as the older Montiel), Dianne Wiest, Channing Tatum and Shia LaBeouf (as the young Montiel). The film was executive produced by Trudie Styler.

Montiel released the self-titled album Dito Montiel in 2006 through Rhino Records. His second novel, Eddie Krumble Is the Clapper, was published in April 2007.

Montiel also directed a film, Fighting, about a young street hawker in New York City who is introduced to the world of underground street fighting. The film is his second collaboration with Tatum and also stars Terrence Howard and Luis Guzmán.

In 2011, Montiel's police drama The Son of No One, again starring Tatum, as well as Ray Liotta, Al Pacino, Tracy Morgan and Katie Holmes, played at the Sundance Film Festival. The film was picked up for distribution by Anchor Bay Entertainment.[4]

In 2013, Montiel directed the crime-drama film Empire State, starring Liam Hemsworth, Emma Roberts and Dwayne Johnson. This was followed by the drama film Boulevard, starring Robin Williams and Kathy Baker.[5] It was Robin Williams' last movie.[6]

Teaching

Montiel serves as an instructor on Screenwriting for the UCLA Extension program.[7]

Filmography

Bibliography

  • A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2003)
  • Eddie Krumble Is the Clapper (2007)
  • Story of Milk (2012)

Discography

  • Dito Montiel (2006)

References

  1. ↑ Eager, Wendy (1984). "Major Conflict". Guillotine (8) – via Internet Archive.
  2. ↑ "Going Home to a City That No Longer Exists by Meghan Keane, 9/29/2006". The NY Sun. 2006-09-29. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
  3. ↑ "The Independent: Dito Montiel: The story of my life- 02/17/2007". Arts.independent.co.uk. 2011-04-28. Archived from the original on 2012-07-08. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
  4. ↑ Steven Zeitchik (1 February 2011). "Sundance 2011: 'Son of No One' finds a daddy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  5. ↑ Patten, Dominic (10 January 2013). "Robin Williams Joins Dito Montiel's 'Boulevard'". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
  6. ↑ "'Boulevard' Director Praises Robin Williams' "Humanity," Dedication to Final Dramatic Role". The Hollywood Reporter. 11 July 2015.
  7. ↑ "Dito Montiel | Writers' Program at UCLA Extension".
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