BIO    

Ernesto Melara is a bi-cultural writer/director/cinematographer based in Los Angeles. He began his career in the camera department of major motion pictures like “Last Action Hero”, “Mr. Jones”, “Speed”, and television shows, such as "L.A. Law", “Beverly Hills 90210”, “Diagnosis Murder”, " The A Team" “Cosmos”, and “Knight Rider 2010”.

He became a successful director/cinematographer, traveling all over the world shooting global brand commercials, earning many accolades for the beautiful images that illustrate his work.

Ernesto has directed and/or photographed commercials for Mercedes-Benz, Nike, Reebok, Diet Coke, Macy's, McDonalds, Dell Computers, Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Cigna Healthcare, Tylenol, Maidenform, JC Penney, Sears, Jeep, Lexus, Isuzu... and more.

He recently finished shooting “Papa: Hemingway in Cuba”, a period biopic about the famous writer Ernest Hemingway’s last years in Cuba, the first American Motion Picture to be shot in the island in over fifty-two years, winner of the 2016 Best Cinematography Award at the Boston Film Festival. 

He wrote the screenplays for, and is scheduled to direct "Fireflies at El Mozote", and epic war story set in Central America in the 1980's, and "Sanctuary", a contemporary police story unfolding in Los Angeles.  He also wrote the screenplay for "Pablo", a thriller about the hunting down and killing of the notorious Medellín Cartel drug-lord Pablo Escobar, and “Bliss", the story of a reluctant Superhero set in 2037, both projects currently in development at the Yari Film Group. His latest writing endeavors include "Octopus Paul", a romantic comedy set during the 2010 Soccer World Cup Games, and “Night Of The Sicario”, for Premiere Entertainment in Los Angeles, which was recently acquired by Saban Films to be distributed under the Paramount+ label.