David N. Donihue

David N. Donihue (David Nelson Donihue, b. April 25, 1974) is an American writer, director and actor. His work has been referred to as "Mental action on all levels"^[1] "Imperative" ^[2] and "Powerful"^[3]

Early years

Donihue was born in rural Eastern Washington, raised in Auburn, Washington. He started writing plays that were performed for 45 cents in his back yard and local parks when he was as young as seven. His first film was made when he was eleven, utilizing a rented video camera and two borrowed VCR's with stereo cables. His father was a pastor. His mother, Anita Corrine Donihue, was a special education teacher who later became a well known Christian Devotional author.^[4][5]

By his mid teens, Donihue was writing feature length plays. During these years, Donihue began to work graveyard shifts at a local college radio station, KGRG-FM, as an overnight DJ.^[6]

There, he became obsessed with experimental music and film, and directed a series of student films. These included Anthony's Apocalypse and Inside Anthony's World.^[7] During this era, at age 18, he wrote Hold My Hand & Tell Me I'm Not Insane, a comedy-drama about a young playwright whose scripts follow his life, yet later dictate it. The play was produced in Seattle with its premiere at the Scottish Rite Hall on Capitol Hill.

During his early twenties, Donihue wrote, directed, acted in and produced a string of independent plays within the northwest including Hey Baby Do Ya Wanna Come Back To My Place and Justify My Existence, and another pop psychology comedy Brain Aches And The Quest For Redemption Of A Telephone Psychic as well as the forty-minute short film Love Me Tender, Pay Me Well.

He penned dozens of feature-length scripts, both plays and films, during this era, most of which he refused to have seen or published. A partial list of titles exists with corresponding dates. He was quoted at one point in the Seattle Times as saying "Creation is far more interesting than exhibition."

In 1999 Donihue began performing under the stage name Punko and released an indie album titled The Day Bob Went Electric.

Professional life

In 2005 he wrote and produced the internationally acclaimed feature Parzania which was nominated for the eastern hemispheres Oscars, the film fare award for Best Picture and Best Screenplay and Best Story. Leads Sarkia and Naseeruddin took home Best Actor Nominations. The film is considered by many accounts, to be one of the most controversial films in the eastern hemisphere.^[8]

Poster for film written by David N. Donihue & Rahul Dholakia

The English language thriller, based on the true story of the Gujarat Riots of 2002, was initially banned in India, caused a storm of protests and bomb threats, and later garnered praise from the New York Times, Variety, Indiewire and many others.^[9] It was shown in New York as part of the Museum of Modern Arts' India Now film exhibition.^[10] Donihue was nominated for Filmfare Awards for Best Screenplay and Best Story for Parzania. The film won the Screen Gem Award for Best Picture.

In 2010 Donihue’s epic four and a half hour interactive choose your own adventure film The Weathered Underground was released by Indican starring Heroes Brea Grant. The comic book inspired picture went on to become a small cult classic and is now shown as part of curriculum at many of the worlds best film schools. Considered one of the most daring voices to come out of the independent underground film scene, in 2014 Donihue directed another socially driven action comedy, The Bang Brokers, which is currently headed for distribution.

Poster for Donihue's 2010 4 1/2 hour break up saga

Mr. Donihue’s love for music driven short films continues, having recently directed over 30 music videos in the last two years for EDM acts such as Moguai, Mark Sixma, Thomas Gold and EDM legend John Dahlback.

His writing has been lauded by IndieWire,^[11] Variety,^[12] Ny Times,^[13] LA Times,^[14] and as a director he is frequently interview by the top industry rags including 1.4, Movie Maker Magazine^[15] and many many more.

Personal life

Donihue lives in Los Angeles, California. He continues to direct a large number of music videos and short form media.

References

1. ↑ "1.4 Magazine". 
2. ↑ "Experimental FIlm Magazine". 
3. ↑ "IndieWire". 
4. ↑ "Biblio". 
5. ↑ "Underlying Genius Blog". 
6. ↑ "blog". 
7. ↑ "Underlying genius". 
8. ↑ "LA TIMES". 
9. ↑ The New York Times, February 20, 2007 - In India, Showing Sectarian Pain to Eyes That Are Closed.
10. ↑ Museum of Modern Arts - Film Exhibitions - India Now - April 22–30, 2007
11. ↑ "Indie Wire". 
12. ↑ "Variety". 
13. ↑ "New York Times". 
14. ↑ "LA TIMES". 
15. ↑ "Movie Maker Magazine".