Andrew Cymek

{{Infobox person
|name = Andrew Cymek
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|7|13|mf=y}}
|birth_place = {{nowrap|[[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], Canada}}
|occupation = Director, Writer, Editor, Actor, Cinematographer, Visual Effects Technician
|years_active = 1999 - present
|spouse = [[Brigitte Kingsley]] (2005 - present)
}}

'''Andrew Cymek''' (born July 13, 1978 in Toronto, Ontario) is the owner and creative force behind '''Defiant Empire''' and the creator of the [[Dark Rising]] projects. His extensive knowledge in writing, directing, editing and graphics have made him a one-man operation in all creative aspects.

==Education==
'''Andrew''' started making films in high school with his best friends '''Rafael Ludwig''', and '''Jimmy Martins''', who still work together today. '''Andrew''' attended [[York University]] in '''Toronto''' where his friends attended as well. While attending [[York University]], '''Andrew''', '''Rafael''' and '''Jimmy''' and another partner opened a film and editing company in '''Yorkville''' called “'''Four Horsemen'''”. He was also a teacher at [[Toronto Film School]], where he taught editing.

==Defiant Empire==
In 1999, while still in school '''Andrew''' met [[Brigitte Kingsley]]. In 2005, '''Andrew''' and '''Brigitte''' created a film company called “'''Defiant Empire'''”. '''Andrew''' and '''Brigitte''' ran the company together till the end of 2007, when '''Brigitte''' became president on [[Black Walk]]; the production company that helped create [[Dark Rising]]. The two companies have now produced three feature films and a television series together.

==Career==
*In 2002, '''Andrew''' launched a production company '''Defiant Empire Corporation''' with business partner [[Brigitte Kingsley]].
*In 2005, '''Andrew''' wrote and directed his first film [[Dark Rising]] starring [[Brigitte Kingsley]], [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0134227/ Landy Cannon] and [[WWE]] Superstar [[Jay Reso]].
* In 2008, '''Andrew''' received two [[Canadian Comedy Award Nominations]] for '''Best Writer''' and '''Best Director'''.
*In 2010 '''Andrew''' completed his second feature film, [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0886515/ Medium Raw: Night of the Wolf], an action-thriller starring [[John Rhys Davies]] ([[Lord of the Rings]]), [[William B. Davis]] ([[X-Files]]), [[Mercedes McNab]] ([[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]) and [[Jay Reso]] ([[WWE]]) which will be released through [[Anchor Bay Entertainment|Anchor Bay]] on August 16, 2011. Andrew is also expanding the [[Dark Rising]] brand with a television series [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1802564/ The Savage Tales of Summer Vale], and the [[Dark Rising]] sequel, [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1753658/ Summer Strikes Back!]

==Personal Life==
Andrew married actress/producer [[Brigitte Kingsley]] in 2002, whom she met in 1999 while in school shooting the short film he wrote and starred in "'''Night Cries'''".

==Filmography==
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" border="2" cellpadding="4" background: #f9f9f9
|- align="center"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Job
|-
| 2005
| The Pretender (Short Film)
| Director, Editor
|-
| 2007
| [[Dark Rising]]
| Director, Writer, Editor
|-
| 2010
| [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0886515/ Medium Raw: Night of the Wolf]
| Actor, Director, Writer
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2011
| [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1802564/ Dark Rising: The Savage Tales of Summer Vale] (TV series)
| Actor, Director, Writer, Editor, Cinematographer, Visual Effects
|
|-
| [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1753658/ Dark Rising 2: Summer Strikes Back!]
| Actor, Director, Writer, Editor, Cinematographer, Visual Effects
|-
|}

==References==
#http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2428858/
#http://www.discdish.com/index.php/2011/05/27/new-release-medium-raw-night-of-the-wolf-dvd/
#http://www.rue-morgue.com/boards/showthread.php?t=26908
#http://www.dreadcentral.com/andrew-cymek
#http://thetfs.ca/tag/andrew-cymek/
#http://www.blackwalk.com/film/
#http://buyersguide.anchorbayentertainment.com/guide.asp?calMonth=5&calYear=2011&ProjectID=%7B85CBA1F7-ABEB-472D-ACAD-4FB0390E38A8%7D

==External links==
* {{imdb name|2428858|Andrew Cymek}}
* [http://www.defiantfilms.com/ Defiant Empire Homepage]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cymek, Andrew}}
[[Category:Canadian film directors]]
[[Category:Canadian screenwriters]]
[[Category:Living people]]