Bio
Stone is a visual storyteller who maintains a busy career as a filmmaker, having world premieres with the short documentary films Man Under (2015 Tribeca Film Festival premiere, Palm Springs, DOC NYC, Miami Short Film Festival winner Best Documentary), Mulberry (2016 Tribeca Film Festival premiere), and Big Elvis (2018 Tribeca Film Festival premiere). His first short documentary film, Tales of Times Square premiered at the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival where it took home the top prize for Best Documentary and went on to screen at 30 film festivals worldwide. Other short documentary films including The Boombox Project, Big Elvis, and Abdu: A 911 Story, were selected as Vimeo Staff Picks, Short of the Week, and are currently being developed as feature documentary films.
Stone, who was most recently repped in the US by production company, Backyard, was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He began his professional career as a commercial editor at Ridley Scott and Associates, working with directors, Luke Scott (Atom Films Oscar Spot, Truth.com’s anti-smoking spots via Crispin, Porter, & Bogusky), Michael Moore (Rage Against the Machine – Sleep Now in the Fire music video via Black Dog Films). While transitioning to director at RSA, he was mentored by Executive Producer Jim Czarnecki (Bowling for Columbine, Farenheit 911, Capitalism: A Love Story).
Paul’s contemporary and intimate style of directing combines an authentic, docu-style sensibility with a highly polished cinematic feel.
He has directed commercials and content for brands including Airbnb, Verizon, Procter & Gamble, PNC Bank, Fidelity Investments, DeWalt, Farmer Focus, Ryot Media, Huff Post, and more.
Some recent work includes a series of commercials for New Orleans-based Community Coffee for TM Advertising, three branded content VR films for American Family Insurance via Huff Post/Ryot Media, spots for Proctor & Gamble via Publicis NY, client direct spots for Fidelity Investments, a spot campaign for PNC Bank via Deutsch NY, and a three spot campaign for Farmer Focus via Curiosity agency. He has also directed client direct work for LifeStraw, Zipcar, and Small Business Saturday.
Stone lives by Sidney Lumet’s quote, “All great work is preparing yourself for the accident to happen.” He started working with film as a child after inheriting a super 8mm film camera and projector from a relative. He credits his authentic, honest, vérité style to growing up on the gritty streets of New York City and the pioneer of independent film, John Cassavetes.
He has been featured in Adweek, Shots Magazine, Shoot Magazine, Boards Magazine, The Huffington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Atlantic Monthly, Paste Magazine, Filmmaker Magazine, and IndieWire Magazine.
Recognition