About | Vanessa Parise | Director - Producer

Biography

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 was the Co-Executive Producer/Director on the WB hit series The Flash, where she directed the season opener and the series finale. Parise also served at Co-Executive Producer/Director on the CBS hit series Charmed (the remake). Other episodes include multiples of the Netflix series Firefly Lane (Katherine Heigl, Sarah Chawke), 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 (2019).

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 directed, produced, wrote and starred in the highly-profitable feature, Kiss The Bride, alongside Alyssa Milano, Sean Patrick Flannery, and Talia Shire. Parise likewise directed, produced, wrote 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 SXSW (Best Short), Hamptons Film Festival (Best Feature), Cinequest (Best Feature), 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

Credits

DIRECTING/WRITING CREDITS

TELEVISION & FILM
• THE FLASH – co-exec prod/director – CW (directed multiples incl series finale)
• FIREFLY LANE – director – NETFLIX (directed multiples)
• THE GOOD DOCTOR – director – ABC
• CHICAGO MED – director – NBC
• RUNAWAYS – director – HULU
• THE RESIDENT – director – NBC
• CHARMED – co-exec prod/director – CW (directed multiples incl season finale)
• BEYOND – director – FREEFORM
• THE SIMONE BILES STORY – director – LIFETIME
• DRINK SLAY LOVE – director – LIFETIME
• JUST ADD MAGIC – director – AMAZON (directed multiples)
• PERFECT HIGH – director – LIFETIME
• PROJECT MC2 – director – NETFLIX (directed multiples)
• UNAUTHORIZED BEVERLY HILLS 90210 – director – LIFETIME
• #POPFAN – director – LIFETIME
• THE NEW TWENTY (sold) – creat/writ/exec prod – FREEFORM
• JACK & JILL VS THE WORLD – writ/dir/prod/actor – EMPERA
• KISS THE BRIDE – writ/dir/prod/actor – MGM
• LO AND JO – writ/dir/prod/actor – EMPERA

ACTING CREDITS

FILM & TELEVISION
• PROJECT MC2 (RECURRING) – lead – NETFLIX
• SPIN (in dev) – lead – CORUS
• PERDITON CITY (in dev) – lead – FRONT STREET
• I’M IN THE BAND – Ali – DISNEY
• JACK AND JILL VS THE WORLD – lead – LIFETIME
• ONCE WE WERE KINGS – lead – MUSE
• KISS THE BRIDE – lead – MGM
• HAPPY TRAILS – lead – SCTV
• OASIS – lead – SCTV
• LO AND JO – lead – EMPERA
• SHAPE – regular – TRICON
• ON SET ON EDGE – regular – WB
• BEYOND BELIEF – Madison – SYFY
• NASH BRIDGES – guest – CBS
• SAVVY – regular – BRAVO

SELECT THEATRE
• SPIKE HEELS – lead – ACT
• SEASCAPE – lead – CIRCLE IN THE SQ
• TOP GIRLS – lead – CIRCLE IN THE SQ
• MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM – lead – SF SHAKESPEARE
• OLEANNA – lead – NY SHAKESPEARE
• A FUNNY THING HAPPENED... FORUM – lead – COLONIAL THEATER