Nicolas Viselli is in the Screenwriting BFA at Columbia College Chicago, set to graduate in May 2026. He has taken challenging and notable classes like Screenwriting II, Writing the Television Pilot, and BFA Thesis. In these classes, he has developed The Last Stand of the Earth, a full-length feature, Pack Hunters, a television series, and Fell the Bruxton Beast, a successful short film set to play at film festivals when he graduates. He has learned strong development skills and evolved a deep understanding of storytelling and story structure. He has become proficient in operating the Final Draft software and can write in screenplay format like a second language. He has learned how to craft creative dialogue around expository situations that allows the viewer to resonate with the message. He has been credited on 60 productions since 2021 in every Camera and G&E role. Most notable is his thesis film, Fell the Bruxton Beast, on which he was the Screenwriter and BTS videographer. The film is about a decaying playwright named Harold Haan who uses his deceased dog in his magnum opus of taxidermied animals; A fable exploring the mercy of letting go. The screenplay went through an impressive nine drafts and four revisions before being locked and greenlit. His practical experience on set and story experience make him an ideal partner for any production.
*If starred, the project is featured on this website!
Experience
COMING SOON:
Screenwriter - BTS Videographer -- Fell the Bruxton Beast -2026
I worked endlessly developing the storyline for this story. I received help and feedback from my producers, director, and co-writer to really narrow down the tone of the film. I wrote nine drafts over four months, constantly cutting and reshaping the narrative to make this movie the best it can be. I had a really strong focus on writing two easily intercuttable worlds. I did this because, in order to make the fantasy world believable, I had to put the stakes in the real world. The immediate threat in the film is the attack on Bruxton, the content forest village in the play, but the actual problem lies with Harold and his inability to properly cope. This switch allows us to flow between each world, and it was done with tireless narrative development and dialogue chopping.
Director of Photography -- Girl With a Violin - 2026
This was a short film written and produced by Ivy Sundell, directed by Oliver Staton, an internationally recognized festival presence. I worked closely with Oliver and my 1st AC Finn Scully to shoot a beautiful film. Releasing Summer 2026.
Camera Operator -- Dégagé - 2026
A Fictional Cinema film directed by Aiden Vogel and shot by Mahdi Alima. This film was a blast to shoot since it involved a lot of heavy camera movement. I used a Sony FX30 with Rokinon Cine lenses, atop a DJI RS2 for the dance sequences.
Best Grip - Camera Technician -- Awake - 2026
An independent short film written and directed by Simone Anniesse. Awake is about a ballerina who struggles to maintain her prestige following a life-changing injury.
Grip -- Dialing Home - 2026
A Columbia College Chicago thesis project directed by Rae Rodriguez and shot by Louis Mellinand. 3-day indoor/outdoor short film shot in Chicagoland.
1st AC -- My Body Is Not Mine - 2026
A D2 film directed by Caleb Earick and shot by Saul Herrera.
OUT NOW:*Director of Photography -- The Movie Palace Seasons 5&6 - 2025
A fun four-day project as a continuation of a web series. I worked with Behind the Rock Productions to shoot two web series seasons, releasing late 2025 through early 2026. Shot on BMPCC6k Pro.
*--SESSIONS @ 33 - 2024
A web series directed by Tom Joyce at the Columbia College Chicago recording studio. Local Chicago artists perform three original songs and one cover in an effort to promote their music and let students practice in the studios.
-Director of Photography - Yin Waster
-Director of Photography - DZ Riley
-Director of Photography - Moonsyde
-Director of Photography - Feed The Monkeys
-Director of Photography - Intoner
-Cam Op/Grip - Carnivore Mommy
-Cam Op/Grip - Hemlocke
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*Gaffer - Open & Shut - 2024
A short film directed by Beauman Hull and shot by Jack Hale. Produced for a Columbia College Chicago course.
*Director of Photography -- Deprived - 2024
A short film directed by Dorian Rogers and Gabriella Fabrizzio. Shot on BMPCC6k Pro with DZO Vespids.
*2nd AC - Grip ' Lee Cleaveland & The Lefthand Band - 2023
*Lee Cleaveland & the lefthand band - live at Western Michigan University studios. Live music recording of a debut EP.
Key Grip - Home Alive - 2023
A Columbia College Cine 3 project directed by Finn Scully.
*2nd AC - Grip -- In Third - 2023
Fashion advertisement for a local Chicago brand, shot with Behind the Rock Productions.
Gaffer - Our Father - 2023
A Columbia College D2 directed by Nora Guerrero.
*Writer, Actor, Editor - ä - 2022
This was a 48-hour film festival submission. Not much to it other than the fact that the whole thing was created and distributed over a weekend.
*Writer - Director - DP - Editor - Divorce! - 2022
Divorce! is a skit I made for a final project for my first semester at Columbia College Chicago. It is a comedy about a couple who go into a seemingly normal therapy session, turned reality
King Ferdinand of Navarre - Love's Labour's Lost - 2021-2022
This is my last MainStage show at Bloomfield Hills High School, in which I took the lead. This show made it to the MIFA States MainStage division and got 2nd place. Therefore, this show I did simultaneously with Women and War, both of which never dropped below 3rd in the state competition. This show was an absolute blast to produce, and I am bittersweet about concluding my high school theatre experience
*Director, Set Design, Sound Design - Women and War - 2021-2022
This is the first live theatre show I have directed. This was an absolute blast to do, and it is the highlight of my senior year. I co-directed it with Scarlett Earls, cut the script, cast, blocked, and did everything that directors do in order to produce a show that won 3rd place in the 2022 MIFA States Studio Competition. In my first attempt at directing, I successfully created a show that got 3rd in the state. I am extremely proud of my entire cast and crew for helping this show come to life.
*Writer, Director, Editor, Actor - Hawkway Live - 2021-2022
This was a production we did for a class called Media Arts Pathway, where the whole class came together and pulled together their own bits. My friend Beauman and I edited the whole thing and sent it out as a representation of the Media Arts Pathways.
Director, Editor - Weekend at Beauman's - 2021
This was a weekend at Bernie's spinoff that I did for my high school theatre department award show. We had no other ideas in mind other than to make it funny for the audience. Although I spent an overall 20 hours editing the entire award show, this short only took about two hours to complete.
Director, Editor - Multi-Cultural Celebration - 2021
This event was school-sanctioned for bringing together all different types of religions and cultures. In order to have the word spread about the event, they called for an advertisement to be made. Therefore, the Vice Principal reached out to me and asked if I was available to advertise this event. Naturally, I said of course and took a day or two, and set up appointments with the two co-founders of the event to let them have their voice about the event. I had a two-camera set-up and took previous pictures and footage in as B-Roll.
*Cinematographer - Toast - 2021
This was a short film produced by Reel Studios, a company that my friend Jack Hale owned. This was my first real entanglement with this production company, in which we had four guys drive up to a secluded cabin in Holly. We had two actors and three technical directors. This shoot was my first introduction to an actual short film, in which I had an absolute blast. After this, I began starting to create my own productions.
Rapunzel's Prince - Into the Woods - 2021
This was the 2021 Spring show for the BOSS Theatre Company. This production was very straightforward. A very limited cast due to COVID-19 as well as a rigorous rehearsal/production schedule. A successful show that ran for three nights with one Matinee.
*Writer, Director, Editor - Big Beaver - 2021
This was my first short film. I heard about the Young Arts film festival and decided to take a shot at it. I took the three weeks I had as well as a limited cast and crew, and created an award-winning short film. I wrote the script as well as revised it multiple times, and had my final script in the first week. After I pulled a cast and crew together, my lead actor and Director of Photography dropped three days before the first day of shooting. Therefore, I called upon a friend of mine to become the lead, although I could never find someone to take the role of the DP. I solo-produced this 11-minute short film in 10 days, and had it uploaded and submitted the day of the deadline. This was the most hectic and stressful three weeks of my life, although I wouldn't take any of it back because I had the time of my life.
*Director, Editor - Selfridge Air Force Base - 2021
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; I got to go onto an Air Force base and get B-roll footage of live fighter jets during their practice flights. It was one of the craziest experiences being able to film those things. The video doesn't do justice to how fast and loud they are. Overall, my friend Jack Hale and I had one of the best shoots of our lives getting restricted access to be one-on-one with those things.
Videographer, Editor, Sound Design - Rackham Choir Concert - 2021
This concert was a gig I got, I was paid to film and sound mix a live performance for the choir company's personal archival. The biggest part of the project was all of the rehearsals and prep we did to make sure that it ran smoothly.
Wizard - Once Upon a Mattress - 2021
My senior year musical. This show I had the pleasure to create the role of the Wizard. The role itself was not very exciting, although I played with it to become, from what I was told, A crowd favorite. I took this to heart because I realized that you will do better by letting some of the obstacles I faced work themselves out. My fellow cast members, as well as the audience, kept telling me how funny I made this character, and I am beyond proud to have had the Wizard be my closing musical role.
*Writer, Director, Editor - Get the F*ck out! - 2021
This is my second short film. One I produced for the Mid-Michigan theatre festival called Thes-Fest. This film won a Superior with only one point short of a perfect score. I created this film rather seamlessly as I had incredible, hard-working actors who allowed me to complete the film in three days. Although I only had five days before the deadline for submission. This was because I realized how close the festival was coming and how little time I had.
*Director, Editor - Bio-Medical Pathway AD - 2021
This was a quick advertisement that I made for an upcoming double-block program being introduced called the Bio-Medical Pathway. I took about 90 minutes to sit in on the class and gather footage, while I pulled various students and teachers for personal interviews. After release, the advertisement was put on the front page of the schools website. I also got a letter of recommendation from the Vice Principal because I exceeded their standards.
Cleante - The Imaginary Invalid - 2020-2021
Our school did this show to bring to a virtual Love-Fest. At this point I started getting into solo productions in film, aiding in camera setup for when we eventually recorded this show. My co-star Catherine Recknagel and I went into a professional recording studio to capture our lines for the best audio quality. This was my first introduction to sound mixing.
ScurveyLegs Morgan - Pirates of Penzance - 2020
Once again, another live show. Except this one was strictly videotaped and shaped together. All of the cast recorded their parts and sent them to a couple of close friends of mine to splice together. This is where I learned truly how to use my equipment as I had to upload quality, well-framed videos of myself. The reason it was online was due to COVID-19
Duncan - Leading Ladies, The Multiple - 2019-2020
I started off my second year of forensics once again with multiple. Where I took a role of a stuck up pastor who's trying to protect his wife from the shenanigans of two British actors. Unfortunately, the show was scrapped due to the season being cancelled because of COVID-19.
Myself - WK Podcast - 2018-2020
This was my first introduction into film, where my friend Jack Lumsden and I, started a podcast on YouTube. The main idea was to make funny videos and try to gain some ground and a platform. We went strong for a few months although due to time restrictions the channel eventually fell off. The last upload on the channel was in 2020
Mendel - Fiddler on the Roof - 2019
This was my first high school theatre show. This show is mainly what threw me into the world of performing/arts. It was during this show where I learned how to confidently talk on the stage. This was my first speaking role of any kind, in which I had to overcome any doubts I had about my abilities
Ted Schneider - Disaster! The Multiple - 2018-2019
This was my first every experience with public speaking, when in my freshman year, on a whim, I auditioned for the forensics team. Specifically multiple, in which I was one of four freshman to secure a spot in the competitive 14 person roster. This is where I fell in love within the performing arts, as well as introducing myself to film.