Tim Kail(II)
- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Tim Kail was born in Norristown, PA to parents Fran and Frannie. He grew up in Fairless Hills, PA playing video games and pretending to fly like Superman (which earned him a scar on his right cheek). He grew up loving movies but the possibility of making them himself didn't occur to him until he took a video production course in high school. He would continue making films in college, although he switched his major from Film to English and Philosophy his second year at C.W. Post LIU.
Tim stopped making films for several years as he moved further away from fellow filmmakers and didn't have access to equipment or a crew. He focused more on podcasting and writing. Then, after receiving a Sideshow Collectibles figure from his wife, Batman from The Dark Knight, he was inspired to make a short film about the figure. He bought a Canon Rebel T6i and "This Is My World" was the result, a cross between Toy Story and Being John Malkovich.
Then there was another stretch of not making films; moving to a new apartment, working, Covid, life...all interrupting that persistent desire to make movies.
Then in August of 2020 Tim had a psychotic breakdown. He described the experience as a "self-induced acid trip". First it was a beautiful, manic dream where he thought he could commune with the goddesses who created Earth, read people's minds, and predict the future. After a couple days it became clear he was disturbed. He agreed to go to the hospital where he was eventually diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder.
Returning home to regular life was a struggle, but it all informed his art. He made four films after returning, each circling the theme of mental health.
His favorite filmmakers and greatest influences are Stanley Kubrick, Spike Lee, Terrance Malick, David Lynch, and Céline Sciamma. His favorite films are Star Wars, 2001: A Space Odyssey, My Dinner With André, Batman (1989), and Before Sunset.
He lives a quiet life in Yonkers, NY with his wife and their dog.
Tim stopped making films for several years as he moved further away from fellow filmmakers and didn't have access to equipment or a crew. He focused more on podcasting and writing. Then, after receiving a Sideshow Collectibles figure from his wife, Batman from The Dark Knight, he was inspired to make a short film about the figure. He bought a Canon Rebel T6i and "This Is My World" was the result, a cross between Toy Story and Being John Malkovich.
Then there was another stretch of not making films; moving to a new apartment, working, Covid, life...all interrupting that persistent desire to make movies.
Then in August of 2020 Tim had a psychotic breakdown. He described the experience as a "self-induced acid trip". First it was a beautiful, manic dream where he thought he could commune with the goddesses who created Earth, read people's minds, and predict the future. After a couple days it became clear he was disturbed. He agreed to go to the hospital where he was eventually diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder.
Returning home to regular life was a struggle, but it all informed his art. He made four films after returning, each circling the theme of mental health.
His favorite filmmakers and greatest influences are Stanley Kubrick, Spike Lee, Terrance Malick, David Lynch, and Céline Sciamma. His favorite films are Star Wars, 2001: A Space Odyssey, My Dinner With André, Batman (1989), and Before Sunset.
He lives a quiet life in Yonkers, NY with his wife and their dog.