T. Rafael Cimino

Todd Rafael Cimino (born June 4, 1963) is an American novelist and screenwriter with credits in both film and television.^[1] He was born in Wayne, New Jersey, and grew up in the Florida Keys. He is currently a principal writer with Akula Films^[2][3] and a consulting producer with HBO.^[4]

Film and television

Cimino's work in film and television includes:

• Spring Break (1983), Marine Coordinator for the film about a group of college coeds on spring break in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.^[5]
• Miami Vice (1984–1990),^[6] Marine Coordinator for the television series Miami Vice. His work appeared in 104 episodes.^[7]
• Lost In Translation (2003), Contributing writer and associate producer for the film starring Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson.^[8]
• Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006–2007), He was contributing writer for the television series created by Aaron Sorkin, starring Matthew Perry, Bradley Whitford, and Amanda Peet. His work appeared in 19 episodes.^[9]
• Miami Vice (2006), Consulting Producer and technical advisor for the re-make film of the classic television series of the same name, created by Anthony Yerkovich and produced by Michael Mann.
• Black Dahlia (2007), Executive Producer and Writer - Character Arc, Scarlett Johansson for the film, directed by Brian De Palma and starring Johansson, Josh Hartnet, and Aaron Eckhart.^[10]
• The Other Boleyn Girl (2007), Producer, Story Editor and Arc Writer for the film starring Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, and Natalie Portman.
• Real Time with Bill Maher (2012–2014), Staff Writer for the HBO political round table television program.^[11] The show addresses current events with a comical slant. Bill Maher is a famed stand up comedian and political commentator.
• Gangsters; America's Most Evil episode "Los Muchachos" (2013), He appeared as himself in this episode, which depicted the rise and fall of legendary Miami drug king pins Augusto Falcon and Salvador Magluta.
• The King Of Offshore (2014), Appeared as himself in this made-for-TV documentary film about offshore powerboat racer and boat builder Reggie Fountain. The program aired on the NBC Sports Network.
• Summer Crossing (Pre-Production) Co-writer with Tristine Skyler.^[12] Based in the Novela by Truman Capote. "Summer Crossing" marks the directorial debut for Scarlett Johannson. Actress Emma Watson has been rumored to have been offered the lead role.^[13]
• Ghost in the Shell (2017) Story editor and character arc writer for the Dreamworks / Paramount epic, live action version of the Anime classic. "Ghost in the Shell" is due in theaters Spring of 2017.
• Big Little Lies (2017, 18)(Season two, Filming) Consulting Producer for the HBO limited series and second season starring Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, Shailene Woodley and Zoe Kravitz.^[14]
• Dark Age (2018)(Filming)Producer, Writer, Political Contributor for the HBO Documentary detailing the declining status of minority schools in the wake of Betsy Devos and the Presidential Administration of Donald J. Trump.

Publishing

Cimino authored or co-authored multiple books, including:

• Mid Ocean (2009), a novel about drug smugglers and the federal agents who chase them. It is set in the Florida Keys in the mid 1980s^[15] and was listed as one of the top 20 novels to read before being made into a film.^[16]
• Table 21 (2011), a fictional story set at the turn of the millennium in New York City, involving the relationship between an underworld crime boss and an A-list television celebrity. Table 21 was later re-released as The Heir Apparent (2015), featuring 11,000 additional words and an alternative ending.^[17] In 2011 was produced as a major motion picture entitled "Table No. 21" and was directed by Bollywood veteran Aditya Datt.^[18]
• Heavy (2014), the sequel to Mid Ocean, co-written with George Jung,^[19] who was the subject of the biopic Blow. (2001),^[20] Parts of Heavy take place on Norman's Cay in the Bahamas.^[21] In June 2015, it was announced that a movie deal to adapt Heavy had been struck with Denis Leary and Apostle Films.^[22]

Political activism

While a registered Independent, Cimino sides with progressive issues. He has served as an executive member of the American Civil Liberties Union,^[23] a supporting member of the Southern Poverty Law Center^[24] and a Professional Member of the National Lawyer's Guild.^[25] In 2008, Cimino worked with the campaign to elect Barack Obama, President of the United States, serving as a senior member and advisor to the then candidate's committee for Healthcare Policy Development. The committee was chaired by Zeke Emanuel, architect of the Affordable Care Act, also known as "Obamacare."^[26]

In 2012 Cimino joined the HBO production of the political round table, "Real Time with Bill Maher." Today he's a frequent political contributor to CNN.

Personal life

Cimino was born in Wayne, New Jersey, the son of Peter Cimino, a general practice physician.^[27] At age six his family moved to Key Largo in the Florida Keys. He attended Key Largo Elementary School and the Island Christian School until graduation from high school in 1981. He would go on to attend the University of Florida, Florida Atlantic University and Georgetown University Law School.

While filming "Black Dahlia" in Sofia Bulgaria, he was introduced to Bulgarian National Ballet Dancer, Svetlina Kiryakova by Bulgarian composer Magga Aliev. The two were married in 2010.^[28]

Cimino has been open about growing up and living with Asperger syndrome.^[29]

Cimino is the nephew of the late Writer/ Director Michael Cimino.^[30][31][32]

References

External links

• Official website