LAURIE FRIEDMAN earned her undergraduate and masters degree in painting and filmaking. Her passion for the arts landed her a prominent position as a film publicist at Cinewest Rialto, a theatre chain in San Francisco, where she programmed and premiered first run films -- introducing new directors to an emerging film scene in the early 1980's.
Directors Wim Wenders, Barbet Schroeder, Jonathan Demme and Bruno Barrreto were among the artists who influenced and inspired her to move to New York and begin her own artistic pursuits.
In New York City, Laurie continued her career as a painter. She was represented by the East Village dealer Philip Dash. She also worked as an assistant to artist Red Grooms on many installations and paintings, and is credited on "A CHANCE ENCOUNTER" a painting that today hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Laurie designed sets for TV and film and over the years was recognized for her artistic contribution on films such as BEFORE NIGHT FALLS, DEAD MAN WALKING, TWILIGHT, SPIN CITY and SEX AND THE CITY to name a few.
Laurie's varied interests and abilities, coupled with the challenge of working while raising two children, prompted her to create a successful online business, Art for Media.
Her producing career began when she teamed up with music and film producer Jelly Bean Benitez (best known for launching Madonna's career) to make HIP HOP SHOP, a music video designed to teach children how to dance. It received rave reviews and sold 400,000 copies on Amazon. Her next project was a TV pilot ESPIA about club life in New York City designed to become a reality TV and interactive internet show.
Laurie later established her own company, Jungle Media, Ltd and created an award winning TV series, ORION, shot on location in Cape Town, South Africa.
Her most recent success was A STEADY RAIN, starring Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig. In its 12 week run it was the highest grossing play in the history of Broadway.
Laurie currently is adapting a novel for film and producing 2 plays slated for Broadway.