Brian Darwas

Director, Editor and Filmmaker

New York City, New York

Member Since:
November 2015

Last online:
> 2 weeks ago

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About Brian

Brian Darwas is considered the worldwide authority on automotive documentaries. Unlike many contemporaries, Brian delves into the worlds and underworlds of his subjects to expose what makes them tick, move and live. His ability to develop the true individual in front of the lens is what makes him a master at telling stories on film.

Raised in New York City, Brian was exposed to art in all of its forms from a young age. When he was old enough to take off on the subways alone, he began to explore the bustling and sometimes dangerous terrains of underground film, music and street art. Realizing his need to create and express himself, Brian has toured the world in punk bands, embellished the streets of New York with raw artwork, and studied the most exploitative forms of film the world has to offer.

His captivating documentaries have won awards, as well as toured theatres from Los Angeles to New York and Asia to Australia. His ability to gain the trust and respect of the artists in his work have brought him places others would not be allowed; whether it be traveling along side the Motorcycle Cannon Ball cross-country for 4 weeks or entering the private home studios of painters Robert Williams and Keith Wesner or inside the South Central Los Angeles and Long Beach garages of The Cavaliers. They all know Brian will capture their true essence and deliver their stories the way they must be told.

After bringing true-life dramas to the screen for over a decade, Brian is ready to delve into narrative film. True to his form, Brian has the ability and tenacity needed to make fiction appear as real and alive as the person sitting next to you.

Brian Darwas’ films include: This is Long Beach, White Knuckle, The Road to Bonneville, The Sweet Sickness, and The Devil at Your Feet. His latest film Three Mile is in postproduction, as well as Stroked (working title), wrapping up production statges. His films have won best documentary awards at The Berkeley Film Festival (California), Motorcycle Film Festival (New York and India), Kingston Film Festival (New York), and Hotrods & Monsters Film Festival (Seattle). In addition, Brian has been interviewed and featured as a filmmaker in The Rodder’s Journal, Jalopy Journal, Street Rodder, Rod and Custom, Rod and Kulture Illustrated, Hot Rod Magazine, Hemmings Motor News, Rolls and Pleats, Kustoms Illustrated, Hot Rods Illustrated, Old School Rods, and Custom Car (UK).

Brian currently lives in New York and is an avid collector and archivist of 35mm horror and exploitation film prints.

Gender:
Male

Height:
6' 4"

Weight:
195

Badges

Certifications

Credits

Mail Order Murder: The Story Of W.A.V.E. Productions (2019)
Film Cinematographer
Early Days and Night of Vengeance (2018)
Video Cinematographer
The Road Leads to Terror: The Locations of Last House (2018)
Video Cinematographer
Elmer's Turf: The NYC Locations of 'Brain Damage' (2017)
Video Cinematographer
Get My Gun (2017)
Film Editor
Three Mile (2015)
Film by Brian Darwas (Documentary) Cinematographer, Producer, Director, Editor, Writer "When you build a car with the Rolling Bones you are expected to be at Bonneville. . . that's what these cars are all about" Join Brian Darwas and the Rolling Bones Hot Rod Shop on a cross country trip full of roadside breakdowns, shop tours, parking lot parties and plenty of racing at what most people consider the birthplace of hot rodding, the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats. All thirteen hot rods embark on a life time adventure from New York to Utah, where Keith Cornell breaks the world record for the fastest Ford Y-block. With enough salt pit rebuilds, tech inspections, and race runs to keep even the most jaded gearhead one the edge of their seat. Be there to experience the sun on your face and salt in the air when it all comes down to that THREE MILE pass. Written by Jennifer Carchietta
Agnostic Front: Old New York (2015)
Video Cinematographer
This Is Long Beach (2013)
Film by Brian Darwas (Documentary, Biography and Sport) Cinematographer, Producer, Director, Editor, Writer Hot rod historian Brian Darwas shadows three generations of custom car & hot rod aficionados, The Long Beach Cavaliers in his latest documentary film, This Is Long Beach. Each generation, from the 1940's to present, recounts detailed memories and pays homage to the cars that bonded them in a lifelong brotherhood all while chopping and customizing a 1947 Ford in Brad Masterson's Kustom's shop in historic Lynwood, California. Written by Jennifer Carchietta
White Knuckle: The Story of the Motorcycle Cannonball (2012)
Film by Brian Darwas (Documentary) Cinematographer, Producer, Director, Editor Ride along with Hot Rod Builder and Award Winning Filmmaker Brian Darwas as he travels coast to coast on the ultimate antique motorcycle endurance run, "The Motorcycle Cannonball". Witness as these bikes are pushed past their limits! Get an upfront look at parking lot engine rebuilds! and watch as the top guys in the motorcycle industry machine parts in the back of their vans to keep their bikes on the road, and in the race! Written by AHR
A Sweet Sickness: The Flathead Movie (2011)
Film by Brian Darwas (Documentary) Cinematographer, Producer, Director, Editor, Writer Join Hot Rod Builder and Award Winning Filmmaker Brian Darwas, as he sits down and talks the world's top engine builders and fabricators about the engine that pioneered a movement, The Ford Flathead. Learn speed secrets from Vern Tardel. Get an in depth look at the build of of two high powered Flathead motors by Mike Herman (H&H) and Ronnie SanGiovani. Hear the stories that inspired Ryan Cochran to begin one of the most popular Hot Rodding networks in the world today, and ride along with Vern Hammond and Jack Carroll of The Burbank Choppers in their Flathead powered, traditional Hot Rods! Written by Atomic Hot Rods
Agnostic Front: That's Life (2011)
Video Cinematographer
The Disasters: We're Gonna Find a Way (2011)
Video Cinematographer
Rudy Wurlitzer Remembers Voyager (2010)
Film (short) by Carl Morano (Documentary and Biography) Cinematographer Cult screenwriter Rudy Wurlitzer talks about adapting Max Frisch's 1957 novel Homo Faber for the 1991 film Voyager.
Remembering Greasers Palace (2010)
Film (short) by Carl Morano (Documentary and Biography) Cinematographer Cult film director Robert Downey Sr. on the making of his film "Greasers Palace".
Late Fee (2009)
Film by Carl Morano (Comedy and Horror) Cinematographer A young couple's quest to rent the scariest movies on Halloween results in a real life horror show they may not live to regret.
The Devil at Your Feet (2009)
Video by Brian Darwas (Documentary) Cinematographer, Producer, Director, Editor, Writer, Sound department
Damnation (2009)
Film (short) by Carl Morano (Horror) Camera and Electrical Department
The Pick Up (2009)
Film (short) by Carl Morano (Horror) Camera and Electrical Department, Miscellaneous Crew A mysterious blonde woman hitchhikes along a dark, lonely road. An equally strange man drives by and offers her a ride. It's someone's lucky night. A soon to be sexual liaison leads them to a seedy motel run by a creepy manager. Events and characters proceed in a progressively bizarre manner until it becomes obvious that by sunrise, not everyone will check out. Written by Anonymous
The Road to Bonneville (2008)
Film by Brian Darwas (Documentary) Cinematographer, Producer, Director, Editor, Sound department