Bios
Joel Zwick – Director
Argus Entertainment
Joel Zwick directed “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” the highest-grossing romantic comedy of all time, produced by Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson and Gary Goetzman. His commercially successful films include “Fat Albert”, and “Elvis Has Left the Building,” starring John Corbett and Kim Basinger. Zwick directed the Broadway production of “George Gershwin Alone” at the Helen Hayes Theatre.
Joel’s current direction includes the sold out ARGUS production of “Hillary and Monica.” This was performed in Los Angeles to rave reviews during its theatrical premier. Zwick began his theatrical career at La Mama E.T.C., as director of the La Mama Plexus. He has directed on Broadway, Off-Broadway and Broadway touring companies. Currently, Joel is directing for the Disney Channel and has been at the helm of “Shake it Up”, “Girl Meets World”, and “K.C Undercover”.
Recognized as Hollywood’s most prolific director of episodic television, having the direction of 650 episodes to his credit. These include having directed 19 pilots, which have gone on to become regular series. He is also directing “Fuller House” for NetFlix. He acted in the original New York production of “MacBird.” He directed “Esther” (Promenade Theater, NY), “Merry-Go-Round” (Chicago and Las Vegas), “Last Chance Saloon” and “Woycek” (West End London). Mr. Zwick has taught drama at Yale University, Brooklyn College, Queens College, Wheaton College and the University of Southern California. He is a graduate of (B.A., M.A.) of Brooklyn College.
Victor Bardack – Producer/Writer
Argus Entertainment
Victor Bardack is a Writer, Producer and President of Argus Entertainment, Inc. He has worked on and contributed to many successful independent and commercial feature films. “The Great New Wonderful” which he produced was critically acclaimed and has played at the Tribeca Film Festival, as the Centerpiece film at the Los Angeles, Silverlake Film Festival and was a Feature Presentation at the Newport Beach Film Festival. He also wrote and produced the dramatic thriller, “Rockets Red Glare” and the comedy adventure, “The Gumshoe Kid” which went on to be widely distributed and successful in both the film festival and commercial arenas. Bardack currently has several other screenplays in pre-production and development, including “An American Awakening”,”Nazi New York”, and “Vindication”. Also, in inventory is the “The Million Dollar Mermaid”, the true story of Hollywood’s golden age super star, Esther Williams. Bardack also created, wrote and produced the stage plays, “Hillary and Monica”, “Franklin & Jefferson – Sex, Politics and The American Revolution” and “Ike”.
He has recently debuted the irreverent comedy HILLARY and MONICA which has played to packed houses in Los Angeles. *
Early in his career, Victor was hired as a “Script Doctor” and concept contributor to several iconic television shows, “The Love Boat”, “Rhoda” and “MASH”. As a teenager working in the legendary Catskills Mountains, he scripted local color comedy material for well-known comedians, Alan King, Rodney Dangerfield and Morty Gunty.
He is the creator and co-producer of “Hitler’s Foreskin”, an impudent, wacky episodic comedy for new media.
Edward Michael Bell – Producer/Writer
Argus Entertainment
EDWARD MICHAEL BELL has been in the entertainment industry for the past four decades. As an actor, he has guest starred in over 80 television episodes, half a dozen feature films and has appeared on and off Broadway. As a producer, he coordinated and produced The ARCO Jesse Owens Games, a nationally televised syndicated youth athletic competition within the framework of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. He has written and produced numerous live specials including the Fortune 500 and was one of the coordinating members for the ARCO Track and Field program for the 1984 Olympic Committee. He received his Doctorate es Lettres in 17th century French Literature from the University of Paris (the Sorbonne).
He was married to the legendary film star, Esther Williams. She was the inspiration for a current film project the contemporary drama, “AquaStar”.