David M. O'Neill

Contracted through ESX Entertainment and Forrest Films, David has written the production company's latest feature film "The Stand at Paxton County". Set in North Dakota, the story takes place in the Paxton County where rural law enforcement begins targeting local rancher Dell Connelly (Michael O'Neill) and works to relieve him of his life' work, livestock and way of life. Starring Michael O'Neill (Transformers - Dallas Buyers Club), Christopher McDonald (Thelma and Louise) and Jacqueline Tobani (Grimm).

The film is set for a 2019 release.

Since the production has moved to post-production, David has finished a long-held passion piece entitled - "The Empress of Heaven". The story is based on the work of 17th Century Catholic Sister Mary of Agreda Spain's - "The Mystical City of God".

2011-2012, David's screenplay The Black Tulip mounted a production in one of the most dangerous places in the world, Kabul Afghanistan. Officially selected as Afghanistan's designated Academy Award Oscar entry for Best Foreign Film, the Black Tulip went on to win the prestigious Penn Center, "Freedom to Write Award", Best Feature at the Salento International Festival, Boston International, and top honors at the Beverly Hills International Film Fest.

Originally from Concord California, David attended the University of Oregon and played quarterback for the Oregon Ducks. Once graduated, David received a post-graduate scholarship and attended the renowned American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco to pursue a career in theater, television, and film.

Ultimately focusing on his desire to direct, O'Neill then went on to write and direct his next two independent feature films i.e., Five Aces (distributed by 20th Century Fox) starring Charlie Sheen and Player 5150 (distributed by First Look Studios) starring Chris McDonald, Bob Gunton, Ethan Embry, and Kathleen Robertson.

His interests in screenwriting came a number of years earlier when his first ever-written adapted screenplay, Jack London's period epoch, "Martin Eden" was purchased by Academy Award Winning, Panorama Film's International, Just Betzer. Panorama subsequently hired O'Neill and contracted David to write three more adapted works. The first would be of famed author, William Wharton's Last Lovers. (Birdy, Dad, Once Upon a Midnight Clear) Traveling to Paris and working directly with the author on his houseboat convinced Betzer of O'Neill's commitment and capabilities. "Marilyn" the novel by Danish novelist Hans Lembourne, the story of his own love affair with the American icon, would be O'Neill's next assignment. Once that delivery was made, ultimately it would be Betzer's own, prized Academy Award Winning Babette's Feast (Isaak Denison - Out of Africa) that would be David's next welcomed assignment. Trusting the relationship, Betzer contracted O'Neill to scribe the English version of his own 1986 Academy Award Winning prized piece.

David then penned the Pulitzer nominated Richard Jessup's novel Threat for Nick Cassavetes, Charlie Sheen and Return of the Jedi Producer Howard Kazanjian and Ventura Films.

Writing began for David very much under humble fashions. Without a computer, or even a typewriter, and without a desk to sit and work, he set out to write his first script - which was an adaptation of Jack London's Martin Eden. The book was given to him by a roommate for his birthday. It was then David began his writing career by going down to Home Depot and buying a carload of wood to fashion together a desk so he could sit and work. Writing the entire script in a notebook, he then took a small personal loan out to have the worked typed to be made industry presentable. From there, David's script was purchased by Academy Award-winning producer, and Panorama Film International owner, Just Betzer. It would soon catch the attention of Charlie Sheen, Amanda Plummer, Carey Elwes, and Marlon Brando.