Since 1981, Don Simandl has worked on over 40 feature films. Beginning on the bottom rung, Don's first assignment in show business was to keep the aging actor, Forrest Tucker, from getting too drunk at lunch. To this date, it is the hardest job he has ever been asked to perform.

Don worked his way up the production ladder and onto the set where he labored and learned under the tutelage of such gifted cinematographers as Roger Deakins, Frank Watts, Tony Pierce Roberts, and Academy-Award winners Frank Cardiff, BSC, Chris Menges, BSC, and Bob Richardson, ASC.

Simandl went on to receive a Bachelor's Degree in Filmmaking and Screenwriting from New York University. In his 18 years of experience he has had the great opportunity to work alongside touted directors like Oliver Stone on "J.F.K.", the Coen Brothers on "Barton Fink", as well as other talented filmmakers on movies such as "Great Balls of Fire", "At Close Range", "Now and Then", "Dominick and Eugene", "That Darn Cat", and "Powder". Serving primarily as UPM and Assistant Director on "Night Waltz: The Music of Paul Bowles" - winner of the 1999 Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary.

Don formed his own production company in 1999, High Road Productions, and in its first year of operation received seven Addy Awards at the American Advertising Awards for television commercials he produced and directed. The seven awards included the prestigious "Television Excellence Award" and the coveted "Best of Show".

Don has written five feature length screenplays, scribed a television special, adapted Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book" for the stage, and is founder of "Pea Brain Productions", a comedy writing team dedicated to the development of scripts for future production. He is currently in preproduction and will be at the helm on "Blue Balls"; a feature length comedy slated to begin production in Kentucky this fall.