Joe Bitonti

Screenwriter

Calgary, Canada

Member Since:
October 2014

Last online:
> 2 weeks ago

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About Joe

To introduce myself, my name is Joe Bitonti. I have been passionate about writing most of my life. I can even remember the moment I decided I wanted to be a writer. I was sitting in my high school library reading “The Golden Rendezvous” by Alastair Maclean. I cracked the book open, read the first paragraph and had an epiphany. That one paragraph determined my fate.

I’ve worn a variety of hats, as one does when involved in Guerilla Film Making. I’ve been a DOP, Grip, Gaffer, Sound Editor, Producer (which meant, “here’s my money, let’s make a movie”), Still Photographer and driving the catering van.

I graduated with a journalism diploma, but found reporting too structured. I switched to photojournalism doing a stint for the local paper, but ultimately, the voice in my head called me back to writing. Although some thought I was possessed. Maybe they were right.
I’ve had two films produced, “The Inner Voice”, which was nominated best picture at the Henri Langlois Film festival in Tours France and “Front Line”, starring John Savage, which was chosen through a screenwriting competition of 3,000 participants. But dreaded of all dreads, the director rewrote the screenplay destroying the magic of the script. But, such is the way it is when signing away the rights for a paycheck. With “Front Line” I found representation, but the agency involved no longer exists.

My second brush with fame came when I had written a spoof called “Men in Pink” which caught Leslie Neilson’s attention. Based on that script, I was commissioned to do some uncredited work on a story he was working on at the time called “2001 a Space Travesty”.
During that period, Mickey Rourke was also attached to “Guilty Conscious”, the story of a mafia hit man who is going to die unless he finds redemption. The journey takes him on a trip into the Twilight Zone where he’s forced to face his demons. Currently in pre-production, I have the Fantasy Romance, “Starbright”, with James Earl Jones attached to play the Archangel Raphael.

I love writing Fantasy, Sci-Fi Adventure, but also slow burning thrillers with twists and turns. I’ve written 13 screenplays and currently on my latest script with several others waiting in the wings begging for my time. My nephew has come up with several ideas for me, God bless him. I have him locked in the tower with bread and water and a chocolate treat for each new idea he comes up with. He’s quite brilliant with some stories he’s presented. I think the treats help.

My loglines are posted on my profile for anyone wishing to take a look.

Gender:
Male

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Pandora's Box - (Out of Place Out of Time)

Loglines

Pandora's Box Fantasy When a burned out archaeologist discovers Pandora's Box, past and present violently collide. It's up to him to stop the world from unravelling by decoding a series of hidden ancient books.
The Last Battle Fantasy The First Battle saw Lucifer and his army defeated, but a wager with God allows him to escape his prison and finish what he started - destroy God, the Angels and Humans. It's up to Archangel Michael to stop him - again!
The Gravity Bell Sci-fi Pushing scientific frontiers, a Nazi scientist Inadvertently creates a weapon capable of warping Space/Time. Realizing this, he must sabotage the device before the Nazis can use it to obliterate the present in favor of a new timeline.
The Air Up There Adventure When Harold Quinn, scientist extraordinaire, develops a revolutionary Anti-Gravity device, he must persuade his reluctant family to live in the clouds for a month amidst sabotage, corporate espionage, and the upcoming prom.
Rainbow's End Fantasy When the Pot of Gold at the end of the Rainbow is stolen, the world begins to die. It’s up to Connor Sullivan, a reluctant teenage hero, to prevent the death of two worlds – earth and his home planet.
Shadows & Whispers Thriller A near fender bender sends a young gas jockey's life spiralling into a deadly game of cat and mouse with a supernatural force, as those he loves turn up dead and all the clues lead to him as the prime suspect.

View all 6 loglines

Awards

“FRONT LINE”: Nominated Best Screenplay in the King Arthur Screenwriter's Award competition sponsored by KINGMAN FILMS INTERNATIONAL from over 3000 entries and was produced by Kingmanfilms.