Growing up, Wayne always loved watching movies and television. He would watch shows like Barney The Dinosaur and The Wiggles and would wish he was one of the kids that appeared on those shows. He also had a love for animation such as SpongeBob and Disney, and puppetry thanks to Sesame Street and Between the Lions. Always dreaming of one day being apart of the magic that brings these fictional characters and worlds to life. Even at a young age he had a deep love of entertainment and had dreams of being an actor, a writer and also a director. With the stress of life it was this dream that kept and still keeps him going despite life's challenges.
Despite his interest as a young child, it wasn't until 2012 when he was a junior in high school when he finally began making movies in his video production class. Mainly because he never had access or wasn't allowed access to a camera throughout the years. He made several short films in the class which weren't of the best quality and he had his fair share of struggles, but it got his feet wet and solidified his aspirations for pursuing filmmaking.
After graduating in 2014, despite his urgency, he opted to attend community college at the suggestion of his teachers and counselor before going and attending film school. At that point he hadn't made another film after choosing to drop the second part of the Video Production class in favor of the school's song and dance ensemble. In 2015 he released two short films he shot back to back with the intention of submitting them to film schools, the University of Southern California and New York University. They were called Fatboy and Temptation, each film showcasing his struggles with weightless, Temptation in particular being more comedic in tone with the food talking to him.
Since then he challenged himself to make a short film every summer, with or without actors. After graduating SUNY Jefferson in 2017 he went onto attend SUNY Purchase majoring in Playwriting and Screenwriting with a minor in film and video production as he was too afraid of rejection to apply for the film program there. While getting his B.A. he made short films in his film minor as well as helping the film majors with their projects, being an extra, sound operation and even a zombie. After completing his minor with the short film Banana Nut, he took a hiatus from filmmaking to refresh himself.
He dabbled in other interests since then, starting with cartooning and amateur voice acting. Drawing various pieces and a mini comic which helped alleviate the boredom that college classes sometimes brung and also helped with his loneliness as the art he posted got likes and his voice acting helped him meet people.
He graduated SUNY Purchase in 2021 with a cum laude which took him by surprise as he felt he would never accomplish such a thing. While working at his mother's barbershop he dabbled in his other two interests, children's literature and puppetry. He revisited children's books from his childhood and considered writing his own which never got past the idea phase. But then started to pursue puppetry by buying various puppets from online sellers on eBay and Etsy. He also watched various YouTube videos and documentaries on the art of puppetry and puppeteers such as Carroll Spinney and Kevin Clash. And even took a puppet seminar at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center thanks to a friend who had faith in him.
Soon enough he got the filmmaking bug again and decided to take on the challenge of making a puppet film. And that same year 2021, The Birthday Hunt was made staring his live hand puppet Argos. The film earned him the North Country Filmmaker Award at the Snowtown Film Festival, and the Award of Distinction from Cayuga Film Festival, as well as several others in Europe.
He would then attempt at starting a YouTube career as a reviewer but decided against it as it wasn't the right path for him and his goals. And he didn't want to be known as a critical jerk ruining people's fun. And also he's just not a public person in that regard.
In 2023 he wrote a short film script called A Vampire's Dilemma. Which was based on an idea he had while at college that he decided to revisit. The script earned him several Best Short Screenplay awards from Europe including Greece, Malta, Germany, France and the U.K.
Since that script he currently working on other scripts and drawing cartoons. He has also helped with the production of two local films being Gently as We Go and Cinder.
When he is not working on projects, he enjoys playing video games, watching animation and loves trying out new recipes in the kitchen.
His dream is to be a professional working in Hollywood. He doesn't know how, if or when that will happen, but it's his dream.
His Instagram is @waytotheland and his deviantART account is LastGenWarrior.
He appreciates you reading his biography and that you have a great rest of your day!
"Never stop reaching the stars!"