Artist Snapshot: Josh Litman

Pipeline Artists -

Origin Story: Born in London, Ontario (Canada, not the UK—sorry to disappoint those hoping to read the words of an interesting British person), I moved to Los Angeles in 2012 and graduated in 2016 from USC's School of Cinematic Arts with an MFA in Film and Television Production. I also hold a BA in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience from Western University (just because). To be honest, there was a time when I was on the path to become a clinical neuropsychologist. But while I love learning about the brain and human psychology, I'm a storyteller at heart and, ultimately, had to follow my passion. Still, I'd be lying if I said that neuroscience/psychology hasn't had a habit of snaking its way into my writing ... let's call it another way of exploring the unknown.

Since graduating, I've continued to write and direct. I've made around 40 short films and a feature anthology (my USC friends like to call me the most prolific director they know). I've also written a handful of narrative features, and I expect one will soon be my feature directorial debut.

Pipeline Accolades: 2021 Screenwriting Finalist (Impaled: A Love Story)—and I've got the mug to prove it!

Accolades: Screenwriting: Nicholl Semifinalist (Impaled: A Love Story), Nicholl Quarterfinalist (Active Shooter), Script Pipeline Finalist (Impaled: A Love Story),Scriptapalooza Quarterfinalist (Active Shooter), and Forest City Film Festival Semifinalist (Impaled: A Love Story).

Filmmaking: Ahhh too many to name them all here (40 films over 12+ years = a lot of festivals/accolades), but they include—HollyShorts Film Fest (Best Thriller Nominee, Last Dance; Audience Choice Award, Free Choice), Canada International Film Fest (Royal Reel Award, Father Knows Best; Rising Star Award, The Suit; Award of Excellence, After Rachel), Bare Bones International Film Fest (Best Social Issue Film, After Rachel; Best Student Director, The Cookie Monster; The Birthday Girl; Psychopath for a Day; Elevator), Buffalo Niagara Film Fest (Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, After Rachel; The Birthday Girl; Beijing Blues), Pasadena International Film Fest (Active Shooter; After Rachel; A Case of Pyrophilia), and South Korea's Bucheon International Film Fest (Active Shooter). At USC, I was one of eight screenwriters selected to co-write the feature adaptation of James Franco's Actors Anonymous, which screened at Cinequest and Newport Beach. I also somehow have an active fan base on YouTube with  ~85,000 subscribers and a combined viewcount of ~15 million for my short films.

On Being an Artist:

  1. Finish what you start.
  2. Don't let anyone be a gatekeeper to your art. You don't need permission and you don't need to reach some imaginary/arbitrary "level" before you start creating. Just do it.
  3. Get uncomfortable. If you're waiting for that comfortable "perfect moment," it will never come.

Fueled by: My own mortality.

Currently: Recently wrote and directed a short film shot on super 16mm (Therapists, currently in postproduction), co-wrote/-developed a TV series (Miracle Mile, currently in circulation), and published a poetry book (Exploding Glass Staircase). I also co-host a podcast (Adulthood Friends).

Someday: I will get every feature and TV show I’ve written made, and I’ll pay off my mountain of student loan debt. My dad will be proud of the career path I’ve chosen, and we'll walk the red carpet together.

*Feature Photo: Josh Litman