Hey, I’m Houston Sasselli! First beginning as a novelist, I’ve developed into filmmaker and screenwriter, telling stories that live between faith and psychology, truth and myth, exploring how people see themselves when the lights go out.

As a screenwriter, I focus on grounded, character-driven dramas and psychological thrillers that bridge moral complexity with emotional clarity and catharsis. My scripts, including Obscura (a noir thriller about memory and identity) Dead Man’s Hand (a 1930s tragedy of power and betrayal), North Bael Bridge (a limited time horror series, and Burning Embers (a fantasy series) which have earned festival recognition and are currently being developed into larger formats.

I’ve written and directed award-winning short films like Rock Solid (Best Filmmaker, SBIFF 10-10-10) and Dead Man’s Hand (eight festival awards), and worked across production in the commercial and narrative space with Moonracer films and the CNA Network, story development, and digital marketing —all with one goal: to craft narratives that move people.

I graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a B.A. in Film & Media Studies and Psychology (Honors) and am pursuing my MFA in Screenwriting at UCLA, where I’m developing several original projects for television and film. Through my studio, LightDrum Entertainment, I aim to create cinematic stories that echo long after the credits roll.

Whether you’re looking to collaborate on a film, develop a screenplay, or produce something new together, I’d love to help bring your vision to life. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at hasasselli@gmail.com