Masterclass with Todd Robinson

Emmy Award Winner Todd Robinson wrote and directed the feature film noir thriller “Lonely Hearts” starring John Travolta, James Gandolfini, Salma Hayek, Jared Leto and Laura Dern in which Travolta plays his grandfather, Elmer (Buster) Robinson, one of the real-life homicide detectives on the case. Todd wrote and produced “White Squall”, working closely with director Ridley Scott. The film stars Jeff Bridges, Ryan Phillippe, Jeremy Sisto, and Scott Wolf. He wrote “The Four Diamonds” for Disney, directed by Peter Werner, “Mermaid” helmed by Peter Masterson and was a contributing writer on "Bad Boys II" directed by Michael Bay. Todd wrote and directed the feature documentary “Amargosa” about Death Valley artist and recluse, Marta Becket and was an Academy Award finalist for Best Documentary Feature and later an EMMY Award. Todd also wrote and directed “The Legend of Billy the Kid” for the Disney Channel, for which he won a Primetime EMMY Award, the biopic “Wild Bill: Hollywood Maverick” on legendary studio director, William A. Wellman, which garnered Best Documentary Film by the National Board of Review. Network series credits include: “The Young Riders”, “Life Goes On”, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and the “Outsiders”. Todd currently serves as writer and supervising producer on NBC’s “Chicago PD” starring Jason Beghe. Todd's films often explore the boundaries of the human condition set against the action of large-scale theatrical backdrops as is evidenced by his cold war submarine thriller “Phantom” starring Ed Harris, David Duchovny and William Fichtner, and the Ridley Scott sea faring epic, “White Squall”. Todd's recent film “The Last Full Measure” is about Medal of Honor recipient AFC William Hart Pitsenbarger. This film stars Sebastain Stan, Christopher Plummer, Samuel L. Jackson, William Hurt, and Ed Harris. Todd received a Summa Cum Laude BFA in drama from the Theatre Conservatory at Adelphi University and is one of the founding members of The Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation, named for his college roommate, the late Jonathan Larson. When work permits Todd serves as a professor of film production and thesis writing at the University of Southern California’s prestigious “School of Cinematic Arts”.