Los Angeles, 2011
President/CEO/Founder:
THE STEVENS ORGANIZATION
Tracing his proud Najmias family roots to Toledo, Spain, Sephardi Jon Stevens (aka Rami Alon) was born in Tel Aviv, Israel. Emigrating to Brooklyn, New York at the age of 13, Jon grew up among young Sicilian immigrants with whom he shared Mediterranean looks and temperament. For many years Jon faced the "cannot" and "impossible" barrage of the naysayers who insisted as a high school drop-out and street gang member, he'd never rise above his troubled youth circumstances. However, defying the odds, in pursuit of excellenbce, he dropped out of the gang life, and back in NYC after returning to Israel to serve with IDF on the Golan Heights, he worked days and studied at night, graduatiing The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Overcoming handicaps shared by many immigrants to America, he developed the linguastic, creative ands business skills that transformed the "impossible" into the "possible" helping him become an award winning Writer's Guild of America screenwriter, Director's Guild of America Production Manager and Director, member on its prestigious DGA Magazine Publications Committee, film/TV producer, published journalist/author, literary agent, story consultant on over 1,000 screenplays, ABC Television, 20th Century Fox production executive, and entrepreneur.
As an idealistic independent filmmaker, it took Jon many years of painful heartbreaking experiences to finally realize that independent filmmakers were at the mercy of the ruthless, unscrupulous mercenary distributors whose agenda seems to be denying the filmmakers their fair share of profits. In 2011 Jon decided to take control of his destiny and helping his filmmaker colleagues by forming (and serving as President/CEO)THE STEVENS ORGANIZATION: Champions of Independent Cinema Distribution company managed by a team of former Top Gun major studio PR, marketing, distribution, and exhibition executives. Paying for the P & A which will allow TSO to maintain total financial and marketing control, TSO will "rent-a-distributor" Vivendi Entertainment (division of Universal - or another studio) to distribute its feature films domestically while international sales will be handled in-house. Adhering to the principles of Integrity, Tenacity, and Triumph, TSO is pledged to treating independent filmmakers and their films with due respect and financial transparency, providing them with a fair share in profits generated by their films, while satisfying the market appetite for quality independent film product.
Converted as an Evangelist Christian, Jon is married to the love of his life, Bahia-Brazil born Lira. The couple have four children and reside in Los Angeles.
WRITER-PRODUCER OF 5 FEATURE FILMS INCLUDING:
Writer-producer with Frank Jones fantasy-action-comedy COMBAT MARINE based on an original story by Jon Stevens. (Shooting start TBA) in California. Quinton Aaron (The Blind Side), Lombard Twins (Step Up 3 D) are attached. Director TBA. Additional cast attachments TBA.
Writer-producer (with wife Lira Stevens) IN MY FATHER FOOTSTEPS, action-adventure film inspired by true events shooting fall 2011 in Guatemala/Mexico directed by Spain's Daniel Calparsoro (see ASFALTO, GUERREROS, EL CASTIGO trailers on YouTube videos). Attached cast (subject to availabilities): Michael Parks, Matt Lanter, Julio Iglesias Jr., Mare Winningham, Rosana De Soto, Dee Wallace Stone, Pedro Armendariz Jr., Kate Del Castillo, Eugenio Derbez, Diana Garcia, Edgar M. Flores, Diogo Morgada. (Pending: still casting strong support lead role of Pepito)
Writer-producer (with Lira Stevens), of epic Latino-crime family saga RENEGADES (shooting start TBA) in Miami and Colombia. Attached thus far (subject to availabilities and financial details worked out): Brazil's superstar, Sonia Braga. Spain's popular singer/TV/film star Miguel Angel Munoz; Spain's singing star and popular TV star Beatriz Luengo (see both in Sambame video on YouTube). Director TBA. Additional cast attachments TBA.
Writer-producer CONSEQUENCES (with Lira Stevens), romantic-thriller shooting in NYC, Brazil, Spain (shooting start TBA). Attached is 2010 Best Foreign Film THE SECRET OF THEIR EYES cinematographer Felix Monti, 11 time Grammy Award winning Music Producer Sebastian Krys, Dreamgirls co-choreographer and current Usher choreographer Aakamon Jones, world famous Flamenco-ballet choreographer Cristina Hoyos (Bodas de Sangre, Carmen, Amor Brujo) are attached. Director TBA. Casting attachments TBA.
Writer-producer (with Lira Stevens) APOCALYPSE USA, “what if” thriller about America's worst nightmare manifesting.
Producer (with Lira Stevens) of SEX IS GOOD FOR YOU, film based on popular romantic-comedy play written by Art Shulman. Director TBA. Casting attachments TBA.
PRIOR TO 2011 CREDITS:
IRISH WHISKEY PRODUCTIONS
Jon wrote, directed and executive produced the critically acclaimed feature film IRISH WHISKEY, winner of the BEST FEATURE FILM award at the Temecula International Film Festival. Jon also was awarded BEST DIRECTOR FOR A FEATURE FILM by the 2001 New York International Independent Film & Video (in Los Angeles). Release date TBA.
OAKTREE PRODUCTIONS
Feature film CHOICES which Jon wrote and produced, introduced actress DEMI MOORE to the screen.
FREELANCE
B-Action scripts he had written on assignment have been filmed and/or picked up for distribution by Sam Goldwyn, Lion's Gate, New Line Cinema, Imperial Entertainment, and Nu-Image (see IMDB under Jon Stevens, writer Irish Whiskey).
Writer-director Jon Stevens (SECOND FROM LEFT) on the set of the CONSEQUENCES demo shoot at the Hollywood Dance Center with star Marcea Moreno (first on the left), choreographer Liz Lira (center), co-stars Jeffery DeBarthy and John Marlo.
Published journalist and author, Jon’s interviews with directors were published in the DGA Magazine, and his DGA endorsed and critically acclaimed book “ACTORS-TURNED-DIRECTORS - ON ELICITING THE BEST PERFORMANCE FROM AN ACTOR,” featuring interviews with:
- Mel Gibson,
- Jodie Foster,
- Leonard Nimoy,
- Sydney Pollack,
- Richard Benjamin,
- Paul Mazursky,
- Ronald F. Maxwell,
- Kevin Hooks,
- Melanie Mayron
- Kevin Bacon.
WORKS IN PROGRESS:
DIRECTING ACTION. Already interviewed:
- Simon West,
- John Woo,
- Martin Campbell,
- Renny Harlin,
- John Milius and John Carpenter.
Producers Guild of America endorsed, UNSUNG HEROES - PRODUCERS ON PRODUCING. Already interviewed:
- Gale Anne Hurd,
- Raffaella De Laurentiis,
- Martha De Laurentiis,
- Mace Neufeld,
- Robert Cort,
- Debra Hill,
- Lawrence Bender,
- Sandy King,
- Mark Harris,
- Robert (King of the Pitch) Kosberg
- Monctezuma Esparza
- Coming up: Interview with The Godfather producer, Al Ruddy
Jon served as a literary agent with the Artists Group, line-producer and/or DGA Unit Production Manager on 5 action feature films for Cannon and Epic Pictures on jungle, desert, urban locations, and a sci-fi film on stage, and Manager of Production Non-Primetime TV at 20th Century Fox.
Jon has also served as a story analyst and script consultant on over 1,000 screenplays for various Hollywood literary agencies, production companies, and writer clients.
Thanks to his Hispanic family roots, Jon developed a great love for Latin music and became a passionate Latin dancer (Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia) dancer, and this passion led him to write and produce a series of Latin TV Variety Specials entitled ALGO ESPECIAL VAYA! on the Spanish language Channel 47 in New York City. Sponsored by Fabrege, VAYA! was the first Latino TV show to ever receive a Star recommended rating in the New York Times. The shows featured local Puerto Rican and Cuban bands, and production numbers with fabulous Broadway dancers choreographed by Graciela Daniel who became one of the first major Latina directors on Broadway (Lion's King). VAYA! featured now classic Fania All Stars like Tito Puente, Joe Cuba, Willie Colon and Hector LaVoe (El Cantante), Ray Barreto, Machito, Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz, and many more.
