Dito Montiel
Dito Montiel
Full Name and Common Aliases
Dito Montiel is an American author and screenwriter best known for his novel A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, which was adapted into a feature film of the same name.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on March 7, 1965, in Jamaica, Queens, New York. Currently active in the entertainment industry.
Nationality and Profession(s)
American author, screenwriter, and director.
Early Life and Background
Montiel's early life was marked by a difficult childhood. He grew up in a troubled home with an abusive father. Despite these challenges, he found solace in writing from an early age. His experiences during this period would later become the basis for his most notable work.
Growing up in Queens, New York, Montiel was exposed to a vibrant and diverse community that would have a lasting impact on his writing style. He attended local high schools and began developing his writing skills through creative outlets such as short stories and poetry.
Major Accomplishments
Montiel's literary breakthrough came with the publication of A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints in 2003. The novel explores themes of identity, family, and coming-of-age in a gritty urban environment. Its success can be attributed to Montiel's authentic portrayal of life in Queens during the 1980s.
The novel was adapted into a feature film by director Robert De Niro in 2006. The film received critical acclaim and earned several awards at film festivals worldwide. A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints solidified Montiel's reputation as a talented storyteller capable of capturing the complexities of urban life.
Notable Works or Actions
In addition to A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, Montiel has published other works including Who We Are Now and We're All Damned. His writing often explores themes of identity, family, and social issues affecting marginalized communities.
As a screenwriter, Montiel has worked on several projects, including the film adaptation of his novel A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints. He continues to be involved in various creative endeavors, including television production.
Impact and Legacy
Montiel's work has left an indelible mark on contemporary literature. His ability to capture the essence of urban life, particularly among minority communities, has earned him a reputation as a voice for the marginalized. His writing style blends gritty realism with poignant storytelling, offering readers a glimpse into lives often overlooked.
The success of A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints paved the way for other authors and writers from diverse backgrounds to share their stories. Montiel's impact extends beyond his literary contributions; he has helped create opportunities for underrepresented voices in the entertainment industry.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Dito Montiel is widely quoted and remembered due to his raw, unflinching portrayal of life in urban America. His writing style, characterized by vivid imagery and authentic dialogue, has resonated with readers worldwide.
Montiel's ability to explore themes of identity, family, and social issues has made him a sought-after voice in contemporary literature. His work continues to inspire new generations of writers and artists, solidifying his legacy as a pioneering figure in the entertainment industry.
Quotes by Dito Montiel
Whether I'm writing the script, or someone else writes the initial draft, I'm always an actor's director first. I always try to listen to them a lot and try to put their voices into their character.
To me, the screenplay only becomes the Bible of the film after the actors have been cast. You go over the initial script with them and listen to the way they talk. Then you try to do a rewrite to accommodate them.
I could hold on to everything for the rest of my life. I don't make friends easy, and I don't lose friends easy.
If you're going to come wanting to work really hard, you're never going to bum me out.
If you get to bring a little movie on the festival circuit, it's a nice experience because you get to see it with an audience. People who go to festivals to watch films are usually a little more eager to enjoy them. It's exciting because it's like you're going to the film's opening night at every festival.
I have no schooling in any normal sense but have learned from the best as far as just doing things. I learned filmmaking from loving movies and then just saying, 'OK, let's do it.'
It's weird: making a movie is like life compacted into three months. You have these very intense relationships with people, and you talk to them every day - your editor, the casting people, music people, your actors - then it ends. It's like a circus life.