I decided to become a producer/director at a very young age, when I saw Alain Delon’s film Pour la peau d’un flic (also known as For a Cop’s Hide). I studied Film and Television Production at Southbank University in London and obtained my Master of Arts degree in Greek Civilization from the University of Patras.
I started my career in 1997 at Alpha Television Network as a permanent producer/director in the news department. I was responsible for providing creative input, working closely with newscast producers and the production crew. I was also responsible for the slick, technical, and creative execution of the overall look of the news stories. In 2000, I joined Alter Channel Network as a Producer/Director and ran two news documentary shows hosted by the popular Greek presenter, Costas Hardavellas. The shows, titled Gates of the Unexplained and Invisible World, covered stories ranging from ancient mysteries and history to factual dramas and Investigative/Minority Report-style topics. My responsibilities included directing multi-camera setups in the studio, location shoots with a single camera, approving scripts, storyboarding, preparing graphic elements in collaboration with the graphics department, as well as casting/directing talent and managing budgets for all episodes. These two projects came to an end in 2011, when Alter Channel Network officially went bankrupt following the financial crisis in Greece.
In parallel, from 2008 to 2011, I collaborated with Orama New Age production company as a freelance Creative Director. This partnership marked my entry into the advertising industry, where I led four major projects for brands such as Cartier, Public, Camel, and The Mall Athens. As the creative leader, I supported a team of designers, artists, copywriters, sales teams, and marketers to produce promotional events and themed launches.
In 2012, I signed a 5-year contract with IYQ Media Agency in Amman, Jordan, as Executive Director of TV Programming. My responsibilities were to acquire television content—such as shows, dramas, and movies—and manage their sale and on-air promotion to various Arabic television network clients. Unfortunately, in July 2013, I was forced to leave the company due to personal reasons. The unexpected death of my father created several urgent obligations in Greece (such as handling financial and estate arrangements), which made it impossible for me to stay in Amman.
In September 2013, I signed a one-year contract with Crete Television Network in Heraklion, Greece, as a Creative Director Consultant, tasked with overhauling their entire on-air branding. I led, inspired, motivated, and managed a diverse team of creatives, producers, and talent. I directed, designed, and edited live and pre-recorded television programs, on-air promotions, and social media campaigns. Furthermore, I conceptualized, produced, designed, and supervised all promotional materials for clients advertising on Crete TV.
When my contract ended with Crete TV, I took a full-time job at Expus Ltd, a company outside the media industry specializing in the wholesale of consumer electronics, PC gadgets, and mobile accessories. I was hired as Creative Director to support the Advertising and Marketing department. My responsibilities included shooting, designing, and producing creative assets for the company’s products. I executed promotional strategies across social media, VOD (YouTube), and print media—including commercial spots, ads, model shoots, and other marketing initiatives. In addition, I produced supporting collateral for the sales department and assisted the marketing team with copywriting.
I left Heraklion and Crete in 2016 to return to Athens, seeking a brief pause in my career to research new artistic endeavors in theater and cinema. Since then, I have written three best-selling novels in Greece and worked on various freelance directing and producing projects.
Between 2000 and 2020, I produced and directed four short films and one feature documentary that won 3 awards at international film festivals. I also directed two plays for prominent theaters in Athens and abroad. Simultaneously, I worked as a lecturer in directing and screenwriting at Akmi Academy of Arts, New York College, and Domi College.
Those 20 years in media were not easy, but they were highly educational. Technically, I became highly proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, Avid Media Composer, WaveLab, and Movie Magic software (Screenwriting, Scheduling, and Budgeting). Artistically, I learned how to turn concepts into reality, manage creative and sales teams, direct talent across various levels, and oversee day-to-day workflows for major network and studio properties.
In 2020, Rena Santamouri and I founded Medea Pictures, a company active in film and theater production. Since then, we have jointly managed DROMOS Theatre and founded Medea Theatre Group, where I stage my own directed works while providing a platform for emerging creators and theater companies.”