Skip to main content

Julia Verdin

Julia Verdin
IMDB-Logo Facebook Twitter

Producer Bio

Veteran filmmaker Julia Verdin is a multi-hyphenate – she is known as an accomplished producer, award-winning Director and has written a number of screenplays. Having been in the film business for 30 years, Julia has established herself as one of Hollywood’s leading independent producers, with over 36 critically acclaimed feature films produced to date. She founded and has been running Rough Diamond Productions since 1995.

Some of the memorable, acclaimed theatrical releases and top film festival favorites Julia has produced, includes 2 Jacks, directed by Bernard Rose, based on the Leo Tolstoy short story “Two Hussars”: the film starred Danny Huston, Jack Huston, Sienna Miller, Jacqueline Bisset, and Billy Zane; Stander, directed by Bronwen Hughes starring Thomas Jane, Deborah Unger, Dexter Fletcher, and David O’Hara; Sony Pictures Classics released The Merchant of Venice, directed by Michael Radford, starring Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, and Joseph Fiennes; and Riding The Bullet based on a Stephen King story, directed by Mick Garris, and starring David Arquette, Jonathan Jackson, Erica Christensen, and Barbara Hershey. Julia’s faith-based film, The Least Among You was a Lionsgate release, starring Lou Gossett Jr., Lauren Holly, and William Devane, and featured in major festivals, being nominated for two N.A.A.C.P awards. Julia also Executive Produced the 2015 Lionsgate release Born of War, directed by Vicky Jewson, starring James Frain and Sophia Black D’Elia.

Julia’s films have been selected for many major film festivals including Sundance, Toronto, Venice, AFI, Raindance, Vancouver International, and London.

Julia’s producing background enables her to stay on budget and schedule while bringing out the best creative results.

Recent producing work includes Pursued for director Jeffrey Obrow, starring Sam Trammell, Molly Ringwald, Angus Macfayden and Miesha Tate and Paul Sorvino and One by One directed by Jeffrey Obrow, starring Dwight Yoakam and Christopher Lloyd as well as The Unwilling starring Dina Meyer, Lance Henriksen and Jake Thomas, which won many awards at top horror festivals.

Some other films Julia produced earlier in her career include: I Witness, directed by Rowdy Harrington, starring Jeff Daniels and James Spader, Blast, directed by Tony Hickox, starring Eddie Griffin, Vinnie Jones and Vivica Fox, Green Mail starring Steven Baldwin and Tom Skerritt, The Shipment starring Mathew Modine, Nick Turturro and Elisabeth Berkley, The Contaminated Man starring William Hurt, Peter Weller and Natasha McElhone and STYX starring Peter Weller, Angus MacFayden and Brian Brown, directed by Alex Wright, Ballad of the Nightingale with Virginia Madsen, Maria Cuccinota (Il Postino), Seymour Cassell, Michael Madsen and Harry Dean Stanton, Lone Hero directed by Ken Sanzel starring Lou Diamond Philips, Sean Patrick Flanery and Robert Forester, Slipstream starring Sean Austin and Vinnie Jones, The Set Up, a bank heist thriller based on a James Hadley Chase best-selling novel, directed by Strathford Hamilton starring Billy Zane, James Coburn, Mia Sara and James Russo for MGM/Showtime, and Temptation, an action-packed revenge thriller for Dino De Laurentiis Communications starring Jeff Fahey, David Keith and Alison Doody, also directed by Strathford Hamilton.

Julia received the La Femme 2015 Executive Achievement Award and was honored for her work in film and supporting female filmmakers. She served as a judge at the 2015 LA Shorts Festival, speaks regularly on film festival panels and supports up and coming filmmakers. She served on the board of BAFTA LA for ten years and chaired the film committee and was instrumental in starting up the BAFTA newcomer program and encouraging mentorship of up-and-coming filmmakers.

Julia founded and serves on the board of directors of Artists For Change, a 501c non-profit with a mission of raising awareness on key social issues through film and media.

Julia is passionate about raising awareness on critical social issues through the powerful medium of film and encourages filmmakers to think about making content that contributes to a better world. She is an inspiring public speaker when raising awareness on issues or encouraging people in tapping into their talents, reaching their full potential, and using their voices for good.

For more information visit:

www.roughdiamondproductions.net/julia-verdin
www.imdb.com
www.artists4change.org

BOARD MEMBER OF ARTISTS FOR CHANGE ( Non profit creating social issue driven media)July 2017- current

BOARD MEMBER OF BAFTA LA (BRITISH ACADEMY OF FILM AND TELEVISION ARTS) – JAN 2006 – JAN 2016

BOARD MEMBER OF SEVEN ARTS PLC – FILM PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION COMPANY – FEB 2007 – OCT 2010

MEMBERSHIPS: BAFTA, SAG, EQUITY, SOHO HOUSE

IMDB-Logo Facebook Twitter

Producer Resume

JULIA VERDIN
Director/Producer/Writer

DIRECTOR, PRODUCER, WRITER NO ADDRESS dir Julia Verdin 2023
LOCATION: LA
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER GHOST DIVERS dir Mark Clark 2023
LOCATION: FL
DIRECTOR, PRODUCER, WRITER MAYA dir Julia Verdin 2022
(PATRICIA VELASQUEZ, RENA OWEN, RUMER WILLIS) LOCATION: LA
PRODUCER ALONE TODAY dir Wendy Wilkins 2022
(SHANNON ELIZABETH, ERICS ROBERTS, DANNY TREJO) LOCATION: LA
DIR/PRODUCER/WRITER LOST GIRLS: ANGIE’S STORY dir Julia Verdin 2019
(OLIVIA D’ABO, DYLAN SPRAYBERRY, M.C.LYTE, LOCATION: LA
AMIN JOSEPH, ANTHONY MONTGOMERY)
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER BROWN dir Julia Verdin 2019
(REGGIE GASKINS, KHARMONY FORTUNE) LOCATION: LA
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER CHRISTMAS SURVIVAL dir James Dearden 2018
(GEMMA WHELAN, JOELY RICHARDSON, LOCATION: UK
JULIAN OVENDEN, PATRICIA HODGE, JAMES FOX)
CO-PRODUCER PURSUED dir Jeffrey Obrow 2019
(SAM TRAMMELL, MOLLY RINGWALD, ANGUS MCFAYDEN, PAUL SORVINO) LOCATION: LA
CO-PRODUCER ONE BY ONE dir Jeffrey Obrow 2018
(DWIGHT YOKAM, CHRISTOPHER LLOYD) LOCATION: LA
PRODUCER (sole) THE UNWILLING dir Jonathan Heap 2017
(DINA MEYER, JAKE THOMAS, LANCE HENRICKSON) LOCATION: LA
DIR/PRODUCER/WRITER LOST GIRLS dir Julia Verdin 2016
(BAR PALY, MARISOL NICHOLLS, RENA OWEN, JAMIE HARRIS) LOCATION: LA
PRODUCER (sole) LOST GIRLS dir Julia Verdin 2016
(BAR PALY, MARISOL NICHOLS, SIENA GOINES) LOCATION: LA
PRODUCER (sole) 2 JACKS dir Bernard Rose 2012
(DANNY HUSTON, JACK HUSTON, SIENNA MILLER, JACQUELINE BISETT) LOCATION: LA
EXEC. PRODUCER BORN OF WAR dir Vicky Jewson 2011
(SOPHIA BLACK DELIA, JAMES FRAIN, LYDIA LEONARD LOCATION: UK/MOROCCO
PRODUCER THE NINTH CLOUD dir Jane Spencer 2010
(Shared ) (JEAN HUGHES ANGLADE, MICHAEL MADSEN, LEO GREGORY) LOCATION: LONDON
PRODUCER THE LEAST AMONG YOU dir Mark Young 2010
(Shared Producer credit with director) (LOU GOSSETT JNR., LAUREN HOLLY, WILLIAM DEVANE) LOCATION: LA
CO-PRODUCER SENIOR SKIP DAY dir Nick Weiss 2006
(TARA REID, LARRY MILLER, NORM MACDONALD) LOCATION: LA
EXEC. PRODUCER MERCHANT OF VENICE dir Michael Radford 2004
(AL PACINO, JEREMY IRONS, JOSEPH FIENNES) LOCATION: ITALY
CO-PRODUCER RIDING THE BULLET dir Mick Garris 2003
(DAVID ARQUETTE, ERIKA CHRISTENSEN, JONATHAN JACKSON) LOCATION: VANCOUVER
(BARBARA HERSHEY, CLIFF ROBERTSON, NICKY KATT)
CO-PRODUCER SLIPSTREAM dir David Van Eyessen 2003
(SEAN ASTIN, VINNIE JONES) LOCATION: S. AFRICA
PRODUCER STANDER dir Bronwen Hughes 2003
Main Producer credit
Shared with 2 other producer
As co-producer
SEVEN ARTS PICTURES LOCATION: S. AFRICA
(THOMAS JANE, DEBORAH UNGER, DEXTER FLECTCHER)
CO-PRODUCER BLAST dir Tony Hickox 2003
MPCA/GEMINI LOCATION: S. AFRICA
(EDDIE GRIFFIN, BRECKIN MEYER, VINNIE JONES)
CO-PRODUCER INFINITE DARKNESS dir Darrell Roodt 2003
MPCA/APOLLO LOCATION: S. AFRICA
(CASPER VAN DIEN, ERIKA ELENIAK, COOLIO)
CO-PRODUCER I WITNESS dir Rowdy Herrington 2002
PROMARK UK LTD LOCATION: PUERTO RICO
(JEFF DANIELS, JAMES SPADER, PORTIA DE ROSSI)
CO-PRODUCER CONSEQUENCE dir Tony Hickox 2002
MPCA LOCATION: S. AFRICA
(ARMAND ASSANTE, RICK SCHROEDER)
CO-PRODUCER PAVEMENT dir Darrell Roodt 2002
MPCA LOCATION: S. AFRICA
(ROBERT PATRICK, LAUREN HOLLY)
CO-PRODUCER BLACK POINT dir David MacKay 2001
PROMARK UK LTD LOCATION: CANADA
(DAVID CARUSO, THOMAS IAN GRIFFITH. SUSAN HASKELL)
CO-PRODUCER LONE HERO dir Ken Sanzel 2001
PROMARK UK LTD LOCATION: CANADA
(LOU DIAMOND PHILLIPS, SEAN PATRICK FLANERY, ROBERT FORSTER)
CO-PRODUCER GREEN MAIL dir Jonathan Heap 2001
PROMARK UK LTD LOCATION: CANADA
(STEPHEN BALDWIN, TOM SKERRITT, D.B. SWEENEY, KELLY ROWAN)
CO-PRODUCER THE SHIPMENT dir Alex Wright 2000
PROMARK UK LTD LOCATION: CANADA
(MATTHEW MODINE, NICK TURRTURRO, ROBERT LOGGIA, ELISABETH BERKLEY)
PRODUCER
(shared with one Other) STYX dir Alex Wright 2000
PROMARK UK LTD LOCATION: SOUTH AFRICA
(PETER WELLER, ANGUS MACFAYDEN, BRIAN BROWN)
PRODUCER CONTAMINATED MAN dir Anthony Hickox 1999
(shared with one other German
CO-PRODUCER) PROMARK FILMS
(WILLIAM HURT. PETER WELLER, NATASCHA MCELHONE) LOCATION:
ASSOCIATE – IN PURSUIT dir Peter Pistor 1999
PRODUCER ENDEMOL ENTERTAINMENT LOCATION: LA
(CLAUDIA SCHIFFER, DANIEL BALDWIN, DEAN STOCKWELL)
CO-PRODUCER BALLAD OF THE NIGHTENGALE dir Guy Greville Morris 1998
AUGUST FILMS LOCATION: LA
(VIRGINIA MADSEN, MARIA CUCCINOTA)
(SEYMOUR CASSEL, HARRY DEAN STANTON, MICHAEL MADSEN)
PRODUCER DETOUR dir Joey Travolta 1997
(Shared With 2 others) SHORELINE ENTERTAINMENT LOCATION: SPOKANE
(JEFF FAHEY, GARY BUSEY, MICHAEL MADSEN, JAMES RUSSO)
PRODUCER (Sole) PERFECT ASSASSINS dir H.Gordon Boos 1998
PROMARK ENTERTAINMENT LOCATION: LA
(ANDREW MCCARTHEY, ROBERT PATRICK)
PRODUCER MATTER OF TRUST dir Joey Travolta 1997
(Shared With one other) SHORELINE ENTERTAINMENT LOCATION: LA
EXEC PRODUCER PAST PERFECT dir Jonathan Heap 1996
NU-IMAGE LOCATION: VANCOUVER
(ERIC ROBERTS, SAUL RUBINEK,)
(NICK MANCUSO)
PRODUCER (sole) THE SET UP dir Strath Hamilton 1995
MGM/SHOWTIME LOCATION: LA
(BILLY ZANE, MIA SARA, JAMES COBURN)
PRODUCER (sole) TEMPTATION dir Strath Hamilton 1994
DINO DELAURENTIIS LOCATION: MIAMI
(JEFF FAHEY, DAVID KEITH)
EXEC. PRODUCER OPEN WINDOW dir. Rupert Wainwright 1992
CHARACTER FILMS
EXEC. PRODUCER Z.I.T.S. dir Arthur Sherman 1991
W.A.S.A FILMS
HEAD OF PROD. WASA FILMS/ U.K.
FILMS PRODUCED: FOURTH PROTOCOL dir John McKenzie 1988-1992
Z.I.T.S.
(MICHAEL CAINE, PIERCE BROSNAN)
BOARD MEMBER OF ARTISTS FOR CHANGE – NON PROFIT CREATING SOCIAL IMPACT MEDIA – 2017 – CURRENT
BOARD MEMBER OF BRITISH ACADEMY OF FILM AND TELEVISION ARTS – JAN 2006 – JAN 2012 – SERVED FULL 6 YEAR TERM and Jan 2015-jan 2016
BOARD MEMBER OF SEVEN ARTS PLC – FILM PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION COMPANY – FEB 2007 – OCT 2010
MEMBERSHIPS B.A.F.T.A., S.A.G., EQUITY, SOHO HOUSE, AWD, WIM
PASSPORTS BRITISH PASSPORT + U.S.A PASSPORT
EDUCATION London University, U.K. MA in film with distinction Staffordshire University/Raindance
ROBERT BORDIGA’S NUTS AND BOLTS II LINE PRODUCING
REFERENCES PETER HOFFMAN- SEVEN ARTS (310) 713-0542
DAVID BIXER – FOX (310) 369-5288
AVI LERNER- NU IMAGE (310) 246-1240
MARTHA DE LAURENTIIS (818) 717-2948

Producer Reel

JULIA VERDIN
Director/Producer/Writer

Director Bio

Julia Verdin recently made her mark as a writer and director and has just completed directing her fifth film. She is also known for her social impact work in film. Her former acting background has given her the tools as a director to support her actors and bring out amazing performances, and her producing background enables her to stay on budget while bringing out the best creative results.

Julia’s latest feature film, Maya, which she wrote and directed, is currently in post-production. Maya stars Patricia Velasquez, Rumer Willis, Rena Owen, Gian Franco Rodriguez and newcomer Isabella Feliciana as Maya. It raises awareness on child trafficking, domestic violence, alcoholism, and child abuse. It’s inspired by true events and will show how predators use social media to lure vulnerable teens into their lair.

Julia’s directorial debut, Lost Girls, starring Bar Paly, Marisol Nichols, and Jamie Harris did well on the festival circuit and won several awards including Best Social Impact Film at The Culver City Film festival. The film has also been broadcast as part of an educational program on sex trafficking of minors and has been screened by organizations and communities while being currently in distribution.

Her first feature film that she directed, wrote, and produced, Angie: Lost Girls, had a limited theatrical release in December 2020 at a drive-in due to Covid-19 and distributed by Freestyle in the U.S. and Jinga Films worldwide. Set around the world of child sex trafficking again, this time focusing on a victim’s difficulty re-integrating with her family, re-finding her self-worth whilst combating ongoing threats to herself and loved ones from traffickers. The film stars Olivia d’Abo, Dylan Sprayberry, Anthony Montgomery, Randall Batinkoff, Jane Widdop, M.C. Lyte and Amin Joseph. It was picked up by Lifetime in Spring 2022 and had a Saturday night premiere, engaging millions of viewers.

Other directing work includes 3 short films in partnership with non-profit Kids in The Spotlight. Brown, The Inheritance, and Scripted are stories Julia directed that were written by and acted in by foster youth. Brown screened at Paramount Studios in November 2019 and at several film festivals. The Inheritance premiered at the Orpheum Theater in November 2021. Scripted premiered November 2022 at the Regal LA Live.

Julia is currently in pre-production on No Address, a story about a group of homeless people bonding together as a family, struggling to survive the streets while fending off a harassing gang, an unforgiving community, and the local authorities in hopes of finding their humanity again.
Julia also is set to direct Amy and Angel, an inspiring story about a deaf teenager who against all odds, dances her way to stardom with a rescued dog.
Julia transitioned to directing from a successful producing career. She has produced 36 films, including theatrical releases “Merchant of Venice” with Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons, “Stander” with Thomas Jane and Deborah Unger, and “2 Jacks” with Sienna Miller, Danny and Jack Huston and Jacqueline Bisset, which played in many major film festivals including Sundance, Toronto, Venice, AFI, Montreal and London film festivals.
As well as holding an MA in Film, she has also trained as a director with Joan Scheckel, Judith Weston, John Osborne, and John Penney. Julia holds both US and UK passports and is based in LA.

For more information visit:

www.roughdiamondproductions.net/julia-verdin
www.imdb.com
www.artists4change.org

Julia Verdin is a top film consultant in the industry.

Learn More

Director Reel

JULIA VERDIN
Director/Producer/Writer

Writer Bio

Julia Verdin has written 4 full length feature award-winning screenplays and 1 short film, 3 of which have been made and achieved success and critical acclaim, the fourth starts principal photography on 30th Jan 2023 and the fifth has been optioned and scheduled to go into production fall 2023 and Julia is currently working on two new screenplays.

Lost Girls (short) – released in 2016
Angie: Lost Girls – released in 2020
Maya – in post-production, set for release in 2023
No Address – in pre-production, to be filmed January 30th, 2023
Amy and Angel – set to start filming Fall 2023

Julia is passionate about making social-issue-driven films as a writer and using the power of film to shed light on important social and humanitarian issues.

Julia is also known as a leading educator in film: her book Success in Film, a guide to developing, funding, producing, and marketing indie films is on many college syllabuses around the world and has helped many filmmakers. She tutors Film MA students and provides consultation for many writers on their scripts. She is also regularly hired by production companies as a script consultant/script fixer over the years and has a knack of identifying what is lacking in a screenplay and fixes needed to make it great.

Awards/Selections for Amy and Angel: https://www.amyandangel.com/awards

Awards/selections for No Address: https://www.noaddressmovie.com/awards

For more information visit:

www.roughdiamondproductions.net/julia-verdin
www.imdb.com
www.artists4change.org

What others are saying…

"I have known Julia Verdin for more than 12 years and I worked with her on several films when I was head of production at Promark Entertainment. I hired her as a producer on several international productions because of her knowledge of international distribution, physical production and talent relationships. She has great story instincts and knows how to re shape a script to make it talent and production friendly.

She also has great on set producing skills and all the films she produced were done on time and on budget. She has great talent packaging skills and put together the casts for several of our films as well as producing them. She was great at getting us top name talent and also finding really interesting choices for all the supporting roles. She is very professional and experienced at what she does and I would highly recommend her both as a producer and for casting purposes."

David Bixler - 20th Century Fox Home EntertainmentSVP, Acquisitions & Productions VP, MGM Worldwide Distribution

"Julia is one of the best producer I have ever worked with. She really understands a director’s needs and always seems to solve problems before they happen. She keeps a wonderfully calm, focused set and has a great eye for casting, always delivering me wonderful actors for every role. It helps that she has the best talent connections of anyone I know in the business. Julia will always be my number one choice of producers to work with."

Anthony HickoxDirector: Knife Edge, Blast, Contaminated Man, Consequence, Hellraiser 3

"I worked with Julia Verdin recently on TWO JACKS. We had a wonderful working experience and she worked tirelessly as a producer to get the best for every aspect of the film. She pulled together miracles on the smallish budget we had. As a director I was given all the tools I needed to make a great film and felt backed up by her every step of the way. She fights to get the best of everything.

She also has great taste in actors – we did not use a casting director and cast the film ourselves. She also got me great Heads of Departments who were really creative and good. She also creates a really good energy working environment for all concerned and it was a really good experience all round. I was really pleased with the way the film turned out."

Bernard RoseDirector: Candyman, Immortal Beloved, Mr. Nice and 2 Jacks

"Producer Julia Verdin and I embarked on the most ambitious and exciting feature film of my career thus far, shooting STANDER in the cities and townships of South Africa. The film re-created dozens of notorious bank robberies, as well as riots with thousands of extras and military convoys.

Julia had the ability to keep our production calm, focused and smooth running, even under difficult and challenging conditions. She always maintained a fantastic attitude, and has terrific people skills. As a director, I felt incredibly well supported, especially with her level of perseverance and solution-oriented way of thinking. Working with producer Julia Verdin meant I had an invaluable ally and creative partner.

In addition, Julia through her management background was instrumental in putting together our cast. She has terrific personal contacts in the acting community, and great taste to know who is right."

Bronwen HughesDirector: Stander, Forces of Nature, Harriet The Spy

"Julia has consulted with me on a number of occasions and I have always been more than happy with the results. I have made several feature films and always begin the process by bringing Julia in at the beginning to give story notes and casting suggestions.

Her story ideas are insightful and her understanding of casting is amazing. The lists of actors she provides me with are fantastic.

When I am in the editing process I turn to Julia again because I have to start the ‘selling phase.’ Julia knows the players out there and who is looking for what kind of film. My investors and I, again, are always happy with the results.

Julia has a wealth of knowledge and gets the job done quickly and perfectly. I couldn’t recommend her more. She really knows the lay of the land."

Jeffrey ObrowProducers and Artists Development Group, LLC

"Julia is one of the most wonderful producers I have worked with. She did an amazing job for us with ‘STANDER’ and as a result I have hired her on a number of other films for the company. I also invited her to join our board of directors on which she served a 3-year term and always had great insights and suggestions. Julia has also consulted for us on a number of projects and is great with script notes and casting ideas and has really good production knowledge and skills. Most importantly, she is passionate, smart, honest and reliable and gets things done quickly and efficiently. I highly recommend her."

Peter HoffmanCEO – Seven Arts Pictures

"Julia has been an excellent partner in polishing my script for ‘An Invisible Army.’ Her insights into story and character are strong and were most helpful in sharpening the script. Not only was working together a truly creative experience, but has proved to be successful as we now have placed the project with a financing and production company and plan to be shooting the film next spring.

I am most grateful for her passion and commitment to the project and highly recommend her to anyone who wants to take their script out to the market place."

Eva GardosDirector: An American Rhapsody