Ric Serena

Ric Serena is a Los Angeles based DGA director, editor and screenwriter with over 25 years of experience across commercial, narrative, and documentary filmmaking. His career began in post-production: first as a Coordinator at Nickelodeon and Disney, then as an editor cutting award-winning promos, commercials, and branded content for MTV, CBS, NBC, ABC, Paramount Plus and more. Over the past decade, Ric has shifted his focus toward directing, applying the same disciplined eye for pacing and story he developed in the edit bay to his experience on-set. He holds his two Emmy Awards and two Vimeo Staff Picks in equal regard, reflecting a career that seeks to balance high profile commercial work and personal independent filmmaking. His most recent short film Drop Off, which he wrote and directed, screened during the opening night juried shorts at the 2025 Naples International Film Festival alongside three films that went on to receive 2026 Academy Award nominations. His 2023 dramatic short Radio Silence earned multiple film festival awards and was a finalist in the HBO Short Film Showcase; and his Twilight Zone Super Bowl teaser featuring Jordan Peele continues to be a personal highlight of his professional career. On the documentary side, Ric co-directed Mile... Mile & a Half, which has maintained a lasting presence on Best Of lists in the outdoor film world. His hour-long documentary My Indiana Muse earned over ten Best of Festival awards across the 2018/2019 season. He served as cinematographer on both films, equally comfortable behind the lens as behind the monitor. Ric’s most recent commitment to screenwriting rounds out a holistic mindset to his work as a director. He leads his teams with a collaborative approach rooted in preparation, empathy and clear communication, earning a reputation as a director equally beloved by actors, crew members and producers.