Named one of “Ten Female Directors Breaking Stereotypes” by SheKnows, VANESSA PARISE draws from her ethnically-mixed background to bring a unique perspective to her work. Most recently, Parise directed the series finale of the WB hit series
The Flash. She also directed the season opener, in her role as Co-Executive Producer/Director of the series. Parise likewise directed the season one finale of the CBS hit series
Charmed (the remake). She also directed the season opener as well as multiple additional episodes in her role as Co-Executive Producer/Director on the series. Other episodes Parise directed include multiples of the Netflix series
Firefly Lane (Katherine Heigl, Sarah Chawke),
Grey’s Anatomy, Chicago Med, Marvel’s
Runaways, Fox’s
The Resident,
The Good Doctor, and Tim Kring’s
Beyond, receiving a Leo Nomination for Best Direction (2018). Notably, Parise directed the high-profile
Simone Biles Biopic, for which she was Nominated for Best Television Movie and Best Lead Actress by the NAACP Awards.
In her television writing career, Parise has sold a pilot to Freeform, and she has set up a pitch at ABC. Parise has been hired to write a freelance episode of the series When Calls the Heart. In the feature world, Parise sold the female buddy comedy BFF to Winddancer which she co-wrote with Robin Dunne. She was hired to adapt the book Never Change, and to write the feature Derby, and she has set up the sci-fi feature Perdition City with Corus.
Born in NYC and raised in Rhode Island, Parise graduated with a Neurobiology degree from Harvard College (Magna Cum Laude) and turned down Harvard Medical School (after deferring for ten years!) to pursue her passion, choosing Circle in the Square Theater School Conservatory in New York City and then Second City Improv Conservatory in Los Angeles.
Vanessa Parise wrote, directed, produced and starred in the highly-profitable feature, Kiss The Bride, alongside Alyssa Milano, Sean Patrick Flannery, and Talia Shire. Parise also wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the feature Jack and Jill vs the World, with Taryn Manning and Robert Forster.
In 2015 Parise was selected for the inaugural year of the prestigious Fox Global Diversity Initiative. Also in 2015, she was nominated for a Leo Award (Canada) for Best Direction in a Television Movie, for #PopFan. In 2016, she received the honor again, being nominated for Best Direction in a Television Movie for Perfect High. Parise has also been a part of and honored by Lifetime with their Broad Focus initiative, whose goal is to achieve greater gender equity.
On the festival circuit, Parise’s films have won top prizes at Hamptons Film Festival (Best Feature), Cinequest (Best Feature), SXSW (Best Short), Montecarlo (Best Feature; Best Actress; Best Score); New England (Best Short), Rhode Island (Best Feature – Aud), Sarasota (Best Feature), Newport (Best Short), Rome (Best Feature), and Torino (Best Feature).
Parise is committed to bringing stories to life that empower female and diverse voices, as she continues to work as a leader in a minority group of female and diverse directors.
Education
• HARVARD UNIVERSITY – Magna Cum Laude, accepted Harvard Medical School
• CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE THEATRE SCHOOL CONSERVATORY – Graduate
• SECOND CITY IMPROV CONSERVATORY – Graduate
• GLOBAL CINEMATOGRAPHY INSTITUTE PROGRAM – Graduate