{{Short description|American businessman}} '''Thomas P. Vitale''' is a film and television writer/producer and network executive. As a cable television network executive, he was Executive Vice President of Programming & Original Movies for Syfy Channel and Chiller Network, where he was responsible for the acquisition and scheduling of all programming, as well as the development and commissioning of original movies and specials, for both networks.<ref>[http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/38143/who-wants-be-a-syfy-filmmaker Who Wants to be a Syfy Filmmaker?]</ref> As a writer/producer, he has worked on numerous movies and TV shows, most in the sci-fi and horror genres.
==Biography== '''Thomas P. Vitale''' is a television and film executive, writer, producer, and actor specializing in science fiction, fantasy, and horror/supernatural series and movies. Vitale joined Syfy (then “Sci-Fi Channel”) in 1993 where he rose to the rank of Executive Vice President of Programming & Original Movies for Syfy and Chiller Network, and was responsible for the acquisition and scheduling of all programming, as well as the development and commissioning of original movies, documentary specials, and co-production series, both scripted and reality, for both networks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-03-15 |title=SCIFI.COM Chat Transcript: Thomas Vitale, October 11, 2001 |url=http://www.scifi.com/transcripts/2001/thomas_vitale.html |access-date=2023-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060315054942/http://www.scifi.com/transcripts/2001/thomas_vitale.html |archive-date=2006-03-15 }}</ref> While at the network, Vitale made Syfy into one of the largest producers of original movies on television when he created Syfy’s original Saturday movie franchise, “The Most Dangerous Night of Television.” The over 350 original movies made during Tom’s tenure include buzzy and unique titles like ''Mansquito'', ''Ice Twisters'', Roger Corman’s ''Sharktopus'', Stan Lee’s ''Harpies'' and ''Lightspeed'', and the social media sensations ''Sharknado'' and ''Sharknado 2: The Second One''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thomas P. Vitale |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/1605389%7C0/Thomas-P.-Vitale |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514202654/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/1605389%7C0/Thomas-P.-Vitale |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 14, 2021 |access-date=2023-08-09 |website=Turner Classic Movies |language=en}}</ref> In the series world at Syfy, Vitale developed, commissioned, and supervised many original shows such as ''Z Nation'', ''Dark Matter'', ''Flash Gordon'', ''Painkiller Jane'', ''Lexx'', the animated comedy ''Tripping the Rift'', and the critically acclaimed ''Farscape'' from Jim Henson Productions. Vitale was also responsible for bringing the immensely successful ''Stargate'' franchise to Syfy and worked on everything at the network from ''Battlestar Galactica'' to ''Stephen Spielberg Presents Taken'' to ''Eureka'' to ''Ghost Hunters'' to ''Paranormal Witness''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Berman |first=Marc |title=Network Executives-Turned-Producers: A Growing Trend In The Era Of Peak TV |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/marcberman1/2020/01/15/network-executives-turned-producers-a-growing-trend-in-this-era-of-peak-tv/ |access-date=2023-08-09 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>
After leaving Syfy and Chiller in 2015, Vitale started his own independent production, distribution, and consulting company, Vital Signs Entertainment, where he has executive produced on the horror anthology series, ''Slasher'', for Netflix and the Shudder streaming service. He was also writer and executive producer on ''Pandora'', an original scripted science fiction series for the CW and Sony International.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bryan |first=Ellianna |title=Pelham's own Thomas Vitale executive produces and writes new sci-fi series 'Pandora' on CW |url=https://pelhamexaminer.com/16248/entertainment/pelhams-own-vitale-launches-sci-fi-series-on-cw/ |access-date=2023-08-09 |website=Pelham Examiner}}</ref> He was co-writer and producer on the film ''You Might Be the Killer'', the first film ever developed from a Twitter conversation, which played in over 18 film festivals around the world.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blogger |first=Guest |date=2018-09-26 |title='You Might Be The Killer' Is The First Film Made From A Twitter Thread |url=https://blackgirlnerds.com/you-might-be-the-killer-is-the-first-film-made-from-a-twitter-thread/ |access-date=2023-08-10 |website=Black Girl Nerds |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2023, Vitale produced and acted in the film ''57 Seconds'', starring Morgan Freeman and Josh Hutcherson. ''57 Seconds'' is based on the acclaimed short story by E. C. Tubb, "Lucifer" (also known as "Fallen Angel"). Vitale is also a producer and an interview subject of the documentary [https://bloody-disgusting.com/tv/3761735/greatest-geek-year-ever-1982-the-cw-docuseries-looks-at-the-movies-of-1982-including-poltergeist/ 1982: Greatest Geek Year Ever], which premiered at the Sitges Film Festival in Spain and subsequently aired on the CW.
Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, Vitale is a graduate of Williams College in Massachusetts. A member of the Writers Guild of America, Producers Guild of America, and Mensa, Vitale began his career in entertainment in the renowned Page Program at NBC, followed by a stint at Viacom. In 1999, Vitale co-produced an Off-Off-Broadway play, ''Dyslexic Heart''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=You are being redirected... |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2004/05/buyers-corner-thomas-vitale-buyer-for-sci-fi-channelnot-looking-for-your-dads-space-fiction/ |access-date=2023-08-09 |website=www.animationmagazine.net}}</ref> Vitale sat on the board of the Williams Club for nearly 10 years and remains active in Williams alumni activity. He also served as President of Fieri Manhattan and was the NYS Vice President of Fieri National, an Italian-American service, cultural, and charitable organization.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-05-10 |title=Phobos Entertainment - Books - Empire of Dreams and Miracles - Jury - Thomas Vitale Bio |url=http://www.phobosweb.com/books/empire/jury/vitale.html |access-date=2023-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060510193015/http://www.phobosweb.com/books/empire/jury/vitale.html |archive-date=2006-05-10 }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|2303864}} * [https://www.vitalsignsentertainment.com Vital Signs Entertainment]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vitale, Thomas}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:Syfy Category:Williams College alumni