AMW
Hello, I am Aaron, a writer and filmmaker based in Skokie, Illinois, where I live with my wife and two kids. You can call me 'Ron for short.
I grew up in Calgary and then Chicago, and lived in Brooklyn for a decade. Yes, I do have dual citizenship. That is just one of the interesting facts you will learn about me on this bio page.
I have written and directed three feature films: Wedgerino, a timely comedy about best friends who have to box each other to earn money to pay rent; Skippers, a meditative type of comedy about a drifter searching for transcendence through stone skipping; and Not If I See You First, a buddy comedy about selective amnesia, Wild Cherry Pepsi obsession, and everything in between.
An extreme close up of my face.
In addition to producing several shorts, I produced Michael Glover Smith's 2022 drama-comedy feature Relative, and am producing his upcoming feature Hekla. As a freelance writer and video editor, my clients include Disney, Amazon Studios, Sony Pictures, United Artists, Universal Music, Walmart, Stanford University, and Playtika.
Favorite film of all time: That is a tough question. Here are some lists I made on Letterboxd. Other things I'm into: record collecting, bike riding, pickleball.
Oh also, I have a newsletter, you may subscribe if you like.
Photo credit: Marc Grey
Film Highlights If Anyone Cares
1995
1999
2001
2003
2005-06
2006
2006-12
2011
2015
2016
2017
2018
2020
2022
2022
2023
2025
2025
TBD
The Bantis (30 min.) | First film, made with my friend Jon and other high school friends, heavily influenced by films like Shaft and Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry. Can only be found on VHS tape.
Johnny Performer (2 min.) and Parkin' (5 min.) | Made these films on actual 16mm film while at Columbia College Chicago.
The Warrior (25 min.) | Shot on video in Chicago, starring my friend Jon and my future wife, as Tommy Wiseau would say.
Always, My Brother: The Heist - Eddie Lives (Slow Burn) (14 min.) | A heist film about the up and down relationship of a pair of twins, made with Anthony in Brooklyn. The sequel to 2002's Always, My Brother.
Laser Vision Theater | Monthly variety show on Brooklyn Cable Access TV by Anthony and I. We made 8 episodes.
Pedro Garcia (1 min.) | Animation made with Josh S., premiered at Animation Block Party in Brooklyn.
The Dream Films | Miscellaneous 2-minute short comedies made with Kenny and Anthony all over NYC. Many of these screened at the comedy club Rififi on the Lower East Side.
Respec' (2 min.) | A mind-bending thriller by Joey and I.
Wedgerino (77 min.) | My first feature, a comedy filmed in Brooklyn and Queens, starring Kenny, me, and Anthony.
I Wanna Be In All Your Movies (15 min.) | A short documentary by Josh Freed about the making of Wedgerino and my relationship with Joey.
Avenues (76 min.) | Feature film written & directed by Michael Angarano, starring Angarano, Nicholas Braun, Ari Graynor and Juno Temple that I assistant directed.
Skippers (71 min.) | My second feature, a comedy filmed in Bay City, MI, starring Chris and Kenny, edited by Anthony.
Limited Time Offer Act Now (8 min.) | High-octane mind-bending psychological thriller I wrote, directed, and edited.
Relative (97 min.) | Feature film written & directed by Michael Glover Smith, starring Wendy Robie, that I produced.
Hologramme (10 min.) | Short set in Quebec in 1988, written, directed by, and starring Marcel Simoneau, that I produced.
Great Lanes (15 min.) | Pilot episode for bowling docuseries hosted by Kenny Zimlinghaus that I produced and directed.
Not If I See You First (71 min.) | My third feature, a comedy filmed in Skokie, IL, starring Kenny, me, Joey, and Crum.
My Last Martini (14 min.) | Short I produced, based on a story by Barry Gifford, written and directed by Rob Christopher.
Hekla (in pre-production) | Feature film written & directed by Michael Glover Smith, starring Liz Stam, produced by me.