Sebastian Gutierrez

Biography

Sebastian Gutierrez is a Venezuelan-American filmmaker, screenwriter, producer, and occasional actor known for his work in thrillers, crime films, and character-driven independent cinema. He was born on September 10, 1974, in Caracas, Venezuela.

Career

Gutierrez began his filmmaking career as a screenwriter and made his directorial debut with Judas Kiss (1998), a crime thriller starring Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, and Carla Gugino. The film earned him the Critics' Award at the Festival du Film Policier de Cognac.

He subsequently wrote screenplays for several Hollywood films, including Gothika (2003), The Big Bounce (2004), Snakes on a Plane (2006), Rise: Blood Hunter (2007), and The Eye (2008).

Directing Career

Gutierrez has directed several independent films, including Women in Trouble (2009), Elektra Luxx (2010), Girl Walks into a Bar (2011), Hotel Noir (2012), and Elizabeth Harvest (2018). His films often feature ensemble casts and blend crime, comedy, romance, and thriller elements.

Women in Trouble was particularly notable for its low-budget production. The film was shot in only 10 days and became the first part of a planned series of interconnected stories centered on women in Los Angeles.

Television

Gutierrez created the crime drama series Jett, which premiered in 2019 and starred Carla Gugino as professional thief Daisy "Jett" Kowalski. He wrote, directed, and executive produced all nine episodes of the series.

He later created and directed the series Leopard Skin (2022), further expanding his work in television.

Collaboration with Carla Gugino

Gutierrez has maintained a long creative and personal relationship with actress Carla Gugino. She has appeared in many of his projects, including Judas Kiss, Women in Trouble, Elektra Luxx, Girl Walks into a Bar, Hotel Noir, Elizabeth Harvest, Jett, and Leopard Skin.