BIO/RESUME

CREDITS (PARTIAL):

RISING FROM ASHES - feature screenplay for Forecast Pictures (Co-Writer)

The true story of the first American to compete in the Tour de France, Jock Boyer, his fall from grace and his rebirth as coach for the Rwandan cycling team. Co-written with David Seidler (“The King’s Speech”). Based on the documentary film.

UNEXPECTED JUSTICE – PBS Documentary (Executive Producer/Writer)

The true courtroom drama of an early legal investigation led by Chicago attorney John Paul Stevens, a corruption scandal at the highest levels of Illinois politics that led to Stevens’ subsequent appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court. Adapted from the book Illinois Justice: The Scandal of 1969 and the Rise of John Paul Stevens.

AMP’D – Los Angeles Times best-selling novel published by St Martin’s Press (Author)

"AMP'D is a lot like life―sad and funny and messy and weird, occasionally all at the same time. What really makes this novel work is Pisani's ability to tell a good story, one that doesn't heavily imbibe on worn out tropes or easy answers... [Pisani] shows what it means to be human and leaves us with the sense that even when everything in life has gone to hell, there are still plenty of reasons to laugh." ― Chicago Review of Books

Optioned by Muse Entertainment for premium TV comedy series; adaption by Ken Pisani

4 CORNERS - Novella and TV pilot adaptation      

“A blend of ‘Twin Peaks’ and ‘True Detective’ - a murder mystery set within a world of desert-town eccentrics. What assists in making the tone and narrative progression so top-notch is the fluidity of script’s text - the immersive nature of the prose and the weirdly believable character dialogue. All in all, the pilot succeeds at introducing a number of intriguing figures to audiences and peeling back the first layer of the narrative onion, to the point of leaving readers wanting more.” -- The Black List

In development for premium TV series with Bassett Vance Productions, pilot by Ken Pisani

HOLIDAYS – blind script deal, one-hour comedy, FOX 21 (Writer/Creator)

Modern romance of a couple who meet on New Year’s Eve and will break up one year later on New Year’s Eve, and are only seen in between on the worst days of their relationship: holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, family gatherings. (Unproduced)

WAR GAMES / documentary short film (Writer/Producer/Director)

The forgotten true story of the P.O.W. Olympics of World War II, narrated by Oscar-winner Jack Palance. Winner of the Silver Award at WorldFest International Film Festival.

“A real eye-opener! With all the research I've done, all the books I read, and all the people I talked to, I never had any inkling of this story. It blew me away!” -- Bob Costas, NBC Sports

GLOVE STORY: A TRAGICOMEDY IN BLACK & WHITE – stage play (Playwright)

Retired boxing champions, legendary rivals during the early days of the civil rights era, are reunited in the present only to find they still can’t stand each other. Selected 2014 DC Black Theatre Festival; finalist O’Neill National Playwrights Conference.

“The Sunshine Boys meets Cinderella Man, with genuine heart and very funny dialogue. Laughter and tears are a great one-two punch.” -- Michael Wadler, Artistic Director, Colony Theatre, Burbank

COLONUS – graphic novel published by Dark Horse Comics

Three generations after Earth’s elite survivors colonized Mars, the criminals, crackpot scientists, prostitutes, and other outcasts who fled to furnace-hot Venus (“a place fit for scumbags”) are thriving…and Mars wants in. This can only end badly. “COLONUS quenches its audience’s thirst for intelligent science fiction via a cocktail of killer art, grounded characters, and unique world building—finished off with a splash of subversion.” ― Nicole Perlman, Guardians of the Galaxy screenwriter

POWER GROOVE – original web comic, feature adaption for Broken Road Productions

The  greatest supergroup of ‘80s heroes is forced to reunite against an alien invasion…but they face a host of age-related ailments and their powers are wonky, and those old animosities that broke up the “band” at the height of their success threaten to wreck them all over again.  “A comic in tune with superhero tropes and ready to poke fun at as many as it can, [with] a sense of humor that easily navigates from light to pithy to snarky.” ― ComicsGrinder.com

screen adaptation by Pisani

ALL THAT / Nickelodeon – sketch comedy series (Staff Writer/Producer)

What’s harder than sketch comedy? Sketch comedy for kids, performed by kids. Brought you beloved comedy franchises like “Tilt-A-Hurl,” where a roller coaster operator is repeatedly vomited on; “Sugar & Coffee,” a talk show hosted by insanely hyperactive kids; “American Idiot,” the search for America’s biggest idiot (winner: a kid who blows his head off with a cannon).

MISS UNIVERSE, MISS USA – CBS – two-hour live specials (Writer/Director)

Wrote and directed comic “cold opens” and BTS segments. Accidentally sat in Donald Trump’s seat, let off with a warning.

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT – NBC, TNT, Spike – one-hour specials (Writer/Director)

Wrote and directed comic “cold opens” and BTS segments with comedians Rob Schneider, Andy Kindler, Jake Johannsen, and the equally-hilarious Rebecca Romijn (and Heidi Klum).

THE SPORTS ILLUSTRATED FOR KIDS SHOW – CBS limited series (Writer/Senior Producer)

Co-developed and supervised kids sports show based on the magazine, featuring kids interacting with athletes and inside sports segments, like how to feed an NFL team. Because trying to make supermodels appear human wasn’t enough of a challenge.

WHO WANTS TO FIGHT MIKE TYSON? – ABC – busted reality series (Co-Creator, Co-EP)

Seriously! Sold to FOX, poached by ABC, fearfully cancelled in preproduction when Mike tattooed his face. Paid kill fee to go away. Seriously!

THAT’S JUST WRONG! – FOX – pilot for series (Writer/Producer)

The nadir of Ken’s career. (So far.)