Alex Ranarivelo
A prolific, visual, and collaborative storyteller raised on Sergio Leone and "Star Wars". He graduated at the top of his class with a B.F.A in film production from Art Center College of Design. Alex has a longstanding relationship with ESX entertainment, having directed the company's first film "Born To Race" and many since then in a wide variety of genres, one of the most notable being "American Wrestler" an inspirational sports drama that explores issues of immigration and xenophobia. About a 17 year-old Iranian refugee who defies adversity and becomes the high school wrestling champion during the Iran hostage crisis of 1980. It stars Jon Voight, William Fichtner and garnered multiple "Best Film" and "Best Actor" awards on the festival circuit.
Alex's work has led to projects for the major streamers. First, "The Ride", starring Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges and Sasha Alexander, which premiered on Amazon Prime in November 2020. It's the inspiring true story of extreme sports legend John Buultjens, who escaped an abusive white supremacist upbringing and forged a better life through the love of his interracial foster parents. Most recently, Alex directed "I Believe in Santa" for Netflix, and two films for HBO Max, "A Hollywood Christmas", which playfully deconstructs the Christmas Rom-com, and "A Christmas Mystery", a Goonies-style kids' adventure story that takes place at Christmas.