T. Rafael Cimino

T. Rafael Cimino (born Todd Rafael Cimino, June 4th, 1963 Wayne, NJ, USA) is an American novelist and screenwriter.  He grew up in Key Largo, Florida in the Florida Keys.

FILM AND TELEVISION

In 1983 Cimino was hired as the Marine Director for the feature motion picture “Spring Break” which was filmed on location in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  He went on to join television producer/ director John Nicolella and the production team as a marine coordinator for the 1984 television series “Miami Vice” where he was given the opportunity to write as an adjunct contributor. 

Cimino’s career in film continued with his contributions to the feature projects, “Lost in Translation”, “A love Song for Bobby Long,” and “The Other Boleyn Girl” where he developed a script style and character arcs for “A list” actress Scarlett Johansson. 

In 2006 Cimino was given the opportunity to contribute to the television series “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” which was created by Arron Sorkin.   Cimino continued until the series was cancelled by NBC in May of 2007.  In 2012 he joined the Brad Grey and the team at Real Time with Bill Maher as a contributing writer.

Cimino heads Akula Films, a Bulgarian based production company.  He is also affiliated with HBO Films, Miramax Films, Nu Image/ Millennium Films and the Nu Boyana Film Studios in Sofia, Bulgaria.

PUBLISHING 

In 2009 Cimino published Mid Ocean, his first novel, to critical acclaim.  The New York Times described Mid Ocean as “Miami Vice meets Goodfellas” referencing Cimino’s earlier work and the iconic Martin Scorsese mob ensemble thriller.  Cimino also penned the novels Table 21 and River Town in addition to just releasing Heavy as a prequel to Mid Ocean with Co-Author George Jung, the iconic subject of the film Blow, starring Johnny Depp.   His second novel, Table 21 is set to be rerelease as The Heir Apparent with an alternative ending and 11,000 more words. 

POLITICAL ACTIVISM

In 2004 Cimino joined the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) where he serves as an executive member.  In 2008 he joined the Democratic campaign to elect Barack Obama President of the United States.   It was here that he served as a member of the campaign’s subcommittee for healthcare policy development.  Cimino continues to write as a contributor to the Huffington Post.