Matt Pizzolo#Medusa: Year One

File:Threat-carlos-puga matt-pizzolo benjamin-brancato katie-nisa.jpg with DP Benjamin Brancato and producer Katie Nisa. (photo by Jason Rose)]]

Pizzolo was 19 years old and living out of a backpack in New York City's Lower East Side, and working at Kim's Video and Tower Records when he wrote the screenplay for Threat, a radical, transgressive story of class struggle and youth violence.{{Cite web|title=Matt Pizzolo THREAT|url=https://www.matteopizzolo.com/threat|access-date=2020-09-24|website=Matteo Pizzolo|language=en-US}}

He intended to shoot Hi8 footage of the principal characters, and cutting their dialogue and reaction shots against footage stolen from obscure films, creating a unique project built on film sampling (a common practice in the indie rock music of the time). As the project developed, Pizzolo discarded the sampling format and instead directed it on 16mm film as a traditional independent film despite the fact that its massive scope of location and action was quite ambitious for no-budget indies of the time which generally focused on a single-location, talking-heads format.Manley, Brendan. "[http://www.longislandpress.com/?cp=145&show=article&a_id=7080 Culture Clash: NY Filmmakers Tackle Race, Politics, Sex and Social Unrest With 'Threat']". Long Island Press. January 12, 2006.Handelman, Jon. "[http://www.mcgilldaily.com/view.php?aid=4794 All Hell Breaks Loose On The Lower East Side] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814195835/http://www.mcgilldaily.com/view.php?aid=4794 |date=2009-08-14 }}". McGill Daily. February 3, 2006.Williams, Jonathan. "[http://www.medusapr.com/press/threat/gothic-beauty_magazine.html Threat] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421050202/http://www.medusapr.com/press/threat/gothic-beauty_magazine.html |date=2009-04-21 }}". Gothic Beauty Magazine. Volume 21, Spring 2006.Campion, Chris. "[http://www.kingsmob.com/new_press_telegraph.html The Sundance Survivors] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090815025921/http://www.kingsmob.com/new_press_telegraph.html |date=2009-08-15 }}". London Daily Telegraph Saturday Magazine. February 5, 2000.Young, Dylan. "[http://www.hour.ca/film/film.aspx?iIDArticle=8278 Itty bitty Indie] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814194118/http://www.hour.ca/film/film.aspx?iIDArticle=8278 |date=2009-08-14 }}". Hour Weekly. February 2, 2006.Null, Christopher. [http://www.filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/84dbbfa4d710144986256c290016f76e/42b277b588c97869882570fb001c6dac?OpenDocument&Highlight=0,threat "Threat"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808045112/http://www.filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/84dbbfa4d710144986256c290016f76e/42b277b588c97869882570fb001c6dac?OpenDocument&Highlight=0,threat |date=2007-08-08 }}. Film Critic. January 24, 2006.Kulkarni, Neil. "[http://www.medusapr.com/press/threat/terrorizer_magazine.html Threat] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814195236/http://www.medusapr.com/press/threat/terrorizer_magazine.html |date=2009-08-14 }}". Terrorizer Magazine. Issue 144 2006.Jones, Preston. "[https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=21456 Threat]". DVD Talk. January 24, 2006.Mitchell, Wendy. [https://www.indiewire.com/biz/biz_040507buzz.html "Threat Of A Deal"]. IndieWire. September 2004.

Threat attracted controversy for allegedly glorifying violence and class conflict. When Threat opened at Montreal's Cinema du Parc, Kevin Laforest of the Montreal Film Journal stated, "Films like La Haine, Menace II Society or Fight Club also portray people raging against the machine, but they ultimately show that violence doesn't solve anything. Whereas Matt Pizzolo's flick openly glorifies murderous revolt, literally telling the audience to go out and beat up random people, just because."Laforest, Kevin. [http://www.montrealfilmjournal.com/article.asp?A=A0000133 "Threat"]. Montreal Film Journal. January 27, 2006. When Threat premiered in US theaters, Suicide Girls commented, "Matt Pizzolo shook up Hollywood with his indie movie Threat and the guerrilla tactics he used to produce and distribute it. A defiant and confrontational movie about class war and unbridled youth violence, Threat is not exactly the type of film you might expect to earn its writer-director a multi-picture deal with Sony, but that's exactly what Pizzolo managed to accomplish along with his filmmaking partner Katie Nisa and their Kings Mob multimedia militia."Jihad, Vegan (May 5, 2006). [http://suicidegirls.com/words/Matt%20Pizzolo%20director%20of%20Threat/ "Matt Pizzolo, director of Threat]". Suicide Girls.

Threat went on to tour the US and Europe several times. After screenings, Pizzolo and filmmaking partner Katie Nisa would teach DiY Filmmaking Workshops for aspiring guerrilla filmmakers. Over time, the filmmaking workshops became a focus of the events and Pizzolo invited local independent media-makers to teach various DiY-instructional workshops.

These workshops developed into DiY-Fest, the "touring carnival of Do-it-Yourself mediamaking" with contributions from notable independent artists including Ian MacKaye, Ani Difranco, Howard Zinn, Jello Biafra, Jim Jarmusch, Jem Cohen, Sarah Jacobson, Abel Ferrara, and many more.Flick, Larry (August 25, 2000). [http://www.kingsmob.com/new_press_billboard.html "Do It Yourself"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807044949/http://www.kingsmob.com/new_press_billboard.html |date=2007-08-07 }}. Billboard.Rogers, Stanley (August 3, 2001). [http://www.kingsmob.com/new_press_trenton.html "Fest Shows You Don't Have To Go It Alone to Do-it-Yourself"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612195701/http://www.kingsmob.com/new_press_trenton.html |date=2007-06-12 }}. The Times of Trenton.

Pizzolo was invited to give a lecture on DiY media at 2600 Magazine's H.O.P.E.: Hackers On Planet Earth conference. He titled the lecture "Open Source Mediamaking" and articulated the need for independent media by contrasting the relatively tepid news coverage of the 1999 WTO protests in Seattle against the provocative and incendiary documentary footage shot independently by activists on the ground inside the protests. The radical band Atari Teenage Riot invited Pizzolo to create a video for their song "Rage" and utilize the documentary footage in the hopes of spreading it to a wider audience. Pizzolo incorporated footage from the WTO protests in Seattle, the World Bank protests in Washington DC, and the May Day protests in Berlin where members of Atari Teenage Riot were arrested (footage was provided by pickAxe Productions, Big Noise Films, Re:Generation TV, and Philipp Virus). The video played numerous festivals including the Chicago Underground Film Festival and was later included in Buddyhead's Punk Is Dead music video compilation DVD.{{citation needed|date=October 2014}}

In 2005, Pizzolo formed HALO 8 Entertainment, a production, distribution, and marketing company devoted to counterculture films, punk rock cinema, and alt-lifestyle videos. Although the company was partly devised as a distribution infrastructure for Kings Mob's productions, HALO-8 quickly grew into a thriving indie studio with various shingles including horror movie/cult film sub-label UnitShifter Films and alt-lifestyle sub-label DiY-Fest Video.Weise, Becky. "{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110623034538/http://www.backseatconceptions.com/bc_interviews/SPS_halo8_article_10_21_08.pdf In the Backseat with Matt Pizzolo - Halo-8 Productions]}}". 941 Theater Journal. October 21, 2008.

One of the first films Pizzolo championed at HALO-8 was the controversial and embattled Your Mommy Kills Animals, a critically acclaimed documentary about the animal rights movement. Although widely praised for its unbiased approach, the film drew the ire of Washington lobbying firm Center for Consumer Freedom, who waged a costly legal campaign to block release of the film. Despite Amazon.com, Netflix, and numerous other retailers, film festivals, and movie theaters' decision to drop the film when faced with legal threats and intimidation, Pizzolo stood by the film and continued its distribution despite fierce, ongoing opposition.Hays, Matthew. "[http://www.playbackonline.ca/articles/daily/20070711/fantasia.html Dealmakers Scouting Fantasia]". Playback Magazine.July 11, 2007.Goldstein, Gregg. "[http://login.vnuemedia.com/hr/login/login_subscribe.jsp?id=2yhGvwhFqFOuSWgH4dp1cRSAfk85Lz2UQkfrKVUJw%2B%2BiRQvW0zAsnhxxMq9ZUFVrwteRJpMUMb%2F9%0AdCFaK4pZlsmxa1PURBabfcUKGrl2FecM5%2BSzEn7AJKXuUru3%2FYU%2BeUvOoPD77ayFUCxPRZJzeLcp%0AT3IxhC5AraOANq3iTrk5PNG130PsiMN1kt87iRlb6LOqdJlJx3Oz7t7ugXG1KLjr9pHss9AR3cIh%0AEwDZNVrsEaRS3SXhpa64TH39RttHG201oWeiWNR%2F25w0kPnl4Ej8dJwIaT49X51NQKNwVFciWGhm%0AwMOWQ%2F10IVorilmWybFrU9REFpt9xQoauXYV5y6kOk8pMizf Halo-8 Lettings 'Animals' Out Of Their Cages]". The Hollywood Reporter. July 13, 2007.Martin, Peter. "[http://www.cinematical.com/2007/11/14/your-mommy-kills-animals-dvd-pulled-by-amazon/ 'Your Mommy Kills Animals' DVD Pulled by Amazon]". Cinematical. November 14, 2007.Yahoo! News. "[http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/071113/0328254.html 'Your Mommy Kills Animals' DVD Hits Shelves Today... Maybe]". Yahoo Finance. November 13, 2007.Martin, Peter. "[http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/21/indie-online-netflix-televandalism-and-jaman/ Indie Online: Netflix, Televandalism and Jaman]". Cinematical. May 21, 2008.Rosenthal, Phil. "[http://www.elitestv.com/pub/2008/May/EEN4821d7136dfb1.html Halo-8 Launches Digital Movie Portal 'TELEVANDALISM.com' with Controversial Flagship] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080808135416/http://www.elitestv.com/pub/2008/May/EEN4821d7136dfb1.html |date=2008-08-08 }}". Elites TV. May 21, 2008.

In February 2009, Pizzolo announced his next film would be an illustrated film called Godkiller: Walk Among Us, adapted from his graphic novel of the same name, which was illustrated by Anna Muckcracker. Set in the future after an economic collapse, a nuclear holy war and an alien invasion, Godkiller: Walk Among Us follows an orphan named Tommy as he searches for a new heart for his ill sister, Lucy. Pizzolo explained the inspiration of the story thus: "I thought it would be fun to design a new mythology for fuck-ups and misfits. My goal with it is to present heroes that don't behave heroically because it's their job to maintain the status quo or because they're bored and want to rescue a princess, they act heroically because they're regular misfits who are trying to do the best they can for each other in an unjust, fucked-up world."[http://fullecirclestuff.blogspot.com/2009/11/making-of-godkiller.html "The Making of "Godkiller,"] Full Circle Magazine (Nov. 24, 2009).

The illustrated film format Pizzolo developed with producer Brian Giberson for Godkiller merges sequential art with 3D CGI, motion graphics and dramatic voice performances in the style of a radio play.Thill, Scott. "[https://www.wired.com/underwire/2009/10/post-apocalyptic-godkiller/ Post-Apocalyptic Comic Godkiller Emerges as 'Illustrated Film']". Wired. October 6, 2009.Mr. Disgusting (February 24, 2009). [https://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/15395 "Cult Icons Topline Halo-8's 'Godkiller'"]. Bloody-Disgusting.

Godkiller featured performances by Lance Henriksen, Danielle Harris, Justin Pierre (singer of Motion City Soundtrack), Davey Havok (singer of AFI), Nicki Clyne, Bill Moseley, Katie Nisa, Lydia Lunch, and a musical score composed by Alec Empire and Nic Endo of Atari Teenage Riot.Horror, Joy (October 2009). [https://www.horrornews.net/interviews/_interviews_Matt_Pizzolo.html#HOME "Interview: Matt Pizzolo"]. Horror News.[https://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/comics/589 "MAY SPOTLIGHT: Halo-8 PLUS An Interview With Founder Matt Pizzolo!"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507220720/http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/comics/589 |date=2010-05-07 }}. Bloody Disgusting (May 4, 2010).Gingold, Michael. "[http://fangoriaonline.com/home/news/9-film-news/1516-genre-names-speaking-up-for-godkiller.html Genre Names Speaking Up For Godkiller]". Fangoria. February 25, 2009.

Once released, the first episodic DVD quickly established itself as its distributor's all-time fastest-selling release.Moore, Debi. "[https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/34652/halo-8-launches-h8la-apparel-line Halo-8 Launches H8LA Apparel Line]". Dread Central. November 23, 2009.

In August 2009, it was announced the Godkiller: Walk Among Us DVDs would include serialized audiobooks of the prequel urban fantasy/speculative fiction novel Godkiller: Silent War. Set in the near future, Godkiller: Silent War tells the story of Joe Junior, a 17-year-old draft-dodger who is recruited by an armed cult of populist assassins and thrust into a secret world of international cabals, alien conspiracies, and the countdown to Armageddon.Moore, Debi. "[https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/33210/godkiller-dvd-will-include-prequel-audiobooks Godkiller DVD Will Include Prequel Audiobooks]". Dread Central. August 27, 2009.The Woman In Black. [https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/33210/godkiller-dvd-will-include-prequel-audiobooks "Godkiller DVD Will Include Prequel Audiobooks,"] Dread Central. (August 27, 2009).

In May 2010, the Godkiller: Walk Among Us series of shortform illustrated film was collected into a feature-length film and distributed in theaters. It was distributed day and date with a digital release by Warner Brothers before streaming on Netflix and Hulu.{{Cite web|date=2010-05-18|title=Details on the Godkiller Theatrical Tour and VOD Home Invasion|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/17411/details-on-the-godkiller-theatrical-tour-and-vod-home-invasion/|access-date=2020-09-24|website=Dread Central|language=en-US}}

The comic book sequel Godkiller: Tomorrow's Ashes debuted in January 2012 through a hybrid digital and convention-exclusive release.MacDonald, Heidi (January 18, 2012). [http://comicsbeat.com/halo-8-releases-godkiller-tomorrows-ashes-as-printdigital-sub-hybrid/ "Halo-8 releases Godkiller: Tomorrow's Ashes as print/digital sub hybrid"]. Comics Beat.

Godkiller returned in 2014 as a comic book series published by Black Mask Studios.Kit, Borys (October 17, 2014). [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/grant-morrisons-sinatoro-getting-comic-738841 "Grant Morrison's 'Sinatoro' Getting the Comic Book Treatment From Black Mask Studios"]. The Hollywood Reporter.

In November 2014, it was reported that Godkiller would be rebooted as an animated feature film trilogy directed by Pizzolo.Yamato, Jen (November 6, 2014). [https://deadline.com/2014/11/godkiller-comic-animated-movie-trilogy-black-mask-studios-1201276075/ ‘Godkiller’ Post-Apocalyptic Comic Bound For New Animated Trilogy]. Deadline Hollywood.

During Halo-8's panel at WonderCon in April 2010, Pizzolo announced production of The Long Knives, a comic book illustrated by Ana Ludeshka and animated Giallo film homage to Dario Argento.THEoDEAD. "[https://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/comics/506/ FIRST LOOK: Halo 8 Announces Illustrated Film: 'The Long Knives'!]". Bloody Disgusting. April 7, 2010.Moore, Debi. "[https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/36828/halo-8-announces-new-comic-bookillustrated-film-the-long-knives Halo-8 Announces New Comic Book/Illustrated Film The Long Knives]". Dread Central. April 7, 2010.The Woman In Black. [https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/36828/halo-8-announces-new-comic-bookillustrated-film-the-long-knives "Halo-8 Announces New Comic Book/Illustrated Film The Long Knives"]. Dread Central (April 7, 2010).

Though not an official prequel, Pizzolo has indicated that The Long Knives takes place in a shared universe with Godkiller and deals with several key Godkiller characters during the breakdown of society that precedes Godkiller: Walk Among Us.The oDead. [https://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/comics/605 "KILLER GRAPHICS #6: Interview With 'The Long Knives' Illustrator Ana Ludeshka Manicchio!"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522070152/http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/comics/605 |date=2010-05-22 }}. Bloody Disgusting (May 11, 2010).

The Long Knives comic book series debuted on digital comics platform Graphic.ly in January 2011 and was distributed through a hybrid digital and convention-exclusive release.{{Cite web|title=Halo-8's Godkiller and The Long Knives Comics Debut on Graphic.ly|url=http://www.imdb.com/news/ni7229562|access-date=2020-09-24|website=IMDb}}

In 2012, Pizzolo co-founded the comic book publishing company Black Mask Studios with Brett Gurewitz. The label was formed with Pizzolo serving as president and Steve Niles as creative director. On forming the company, Gurewitz told Wired "Comics and punk have a lot in common, being transgressive art forms with under-appreciated potential for social influence." Focusing on transgressive art and genre stories with a social message, Pizzolo coined the name Black Mask as an homage to the anarchist group Black Mask and the Edgar Allan Poe story The Masque of the Red Death.{{Cite magazine|last=Thill|first=Scott|date=2012-03-20|title=Black Mask Studios' 'Old Punks' Occupy Comics, Creators Rights|language=en-US|magazine=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/2012/03/black-mask-studios-occupy-comics/|access-date=2020-10-06}}

After Black Mask re-released Godkiller in traditional comic book format,{{Cite web|date=2015-04-07|title=Godkiller vol 1|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/matt-pizzolo/godkiller-vol-1/|access-date=2020-10-06|website=Kirkus Reviews|language=en-US}} Pizzolo wrote the Amazon bestselling graphic novel series Young Terrorists illustrated by Amancay Nahuelpan, which became one of the top selling independent graphic novels of 2015 (#1 Mature Readers, #2 Marketwide) according to Publishers Weekly.{{Cite web|date=2016-01-08|title=Top 100 Indie Graphic Novels|url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2015-top-100-indie-gns.htm|access-date=2020-10-06|website=Publishers Weekly|language=en-US}}

Pizzolo and Nahuelpan followed up Young Terrorists with the acclaimed comic book series Calexit in 2017, which sold out of its initial 25,000 print run within 24 hours and is now in its eighth printing.{{Cite web|last=Hamedy|first=Saba|date=2017-07-19|title=Calexit: a fractured California, where militias and the DHS battle the resistance in Trump's future America|url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/07/19/politics/calexit-comic-book/index.html|access-date=2020-10-04|website=CNN|language=en-US}}

On July 7, 2021, Godkiller returned to comic book stores with Godkiller: Tomorrow's Ashes #1. The painted cover by Nen Chang immediately became the publisher's all-time bestseller.{{Cite web|last=Destito|first=Deanna|date=2021-07-07|title=Syndicated Comics|url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/black-mask-studios-godkiller-special-issue-variant-cover/|access-date=2021-07-10|website=The Beat|language=en-US}} With an initial print run over 40,000,{{Cite web|last=Johnston|first=Rich|date=2021-07-06|title=Godkiller: Tomorrow's Ashes #1 Is Black Mask's Most-Ordered Comic Yet|url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/godkiller-tomorrows-ashes-1-is-black-masks-most-ordered-comic-yet/|access-date=2021-07-10|website=Bleeding Cool News And Rumors|language=en}} it sold out in its first day of release.{{Cite web|last=Johnston|first=Rich|date=2021-07-07|title=PrintWatch: Skybound X #1 Godkiller: Tomorrow's Ashes #1 Second Prints|url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/printwatch-skybound-x-1-godkiller-tomorrows-ashes-1-second-prints/|access-date=2021-07-10|website=Bleeding Cool News And Rumors|language=en}} The publisher rushed a second printing with a new cover by artist Yasmin Flores Montanez.{{Cite web|last=Mertens|first=Rik|date=2021-07-08|title=NEWS WATCH: Black Mask Studios Rushes GODKILLER:TOMORROW'S ASHES #1 Back to Press for a Second Printing|url=https://comic-watch.com/news/news-watch-black-mask-studios-rushes-godkillertomorrows-ashes-1-back-to-press-for-a-second-printing|access-date=2021-07-10|website=Comic Watch|language=en-US}}

Pizzolo organized the political action committee "Become The Government" in 2017 to support first time political candidates in the 2018 midterm eections funded by royalties from his comic book Calexit.{{Cite news|last=Gustines|first=George Gene|date=2017-07-18|title=Comic Books That Put the Pow in Political Power|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/18/books/comic-books-that-put-the-pow-in-political-power.html|access-date=2020-09-24|issn=0362-4331}} In the non-fiction section of Calexit, he interviewed midterm candidate Sara Innamorato and her campaign team ahead of her victory in Pennsylvania, as well as journalist David Sirota whose wife Emily Sirota won a House seat in the 2018 midterms, and numerous other activists and organizers.{{Cite news|last=Gomez|first=Luis|date=2017-07-14|title=In dystopian 'Calexit' comic, San Diego is under occupation. SMH.|language=en-US|work=Chicago Tribune|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sd-calexit-comic-fictional-california-uprising-20170714-htmlstory.html|access-date=2020-10-09}}

File:Volunteer registers a new voter at Comic Con, hosted by Emily Pearson and Matt Pizzolo comic Emmie-X.jpg

Pizzolo hosted Indivisible to run voter registration at his booth on the showfloor of San Diego Comic-Con in 2018, where he unveiled the charity comic book Calexit: All Systems San Diego (referencing San Diego band Rocket from the Crypt's album) which introduced the new character Emmie-X, a pirate radio DJ in Occupied San Diego.{{Cite web|last=Callwood|first=Brett|date=2018-07-12|title=Black Mask Studios Is Dragging the Comic Book Medium Into the Politically Aware Era|url=https://www.laweekly.com/black-mask-studios-is-dragging-the-comic-book-medium-into-the-politically-aware-era/|access-date=2020-09-24|website=LA Weekly|language=en-US}}

Indivisible San Diego adopted Emmie-X as the face of their 2018 voter outreach efforts with the "Voting Is My Superpower" campaign. Artist Emily Pearson (The Wilds, Snap Flash Hustle, Bonding) illustrated Emmie-X for the campaign.{{Cite magazine|last=Holub|first=Christian|date=2018-07-18|title=Calexit releases Comic-Con issue to raise money for immigrant families|url=https://ew.com/comic-con/2018/07/18/calexit-comic-con-issue-immigrant-families/|access-date=2020-10-08|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|language=en-US}}

Pizzolo and Indivisible also organized a free "Voting Is My Superpower" event during San Diego Comic-Con at Comickaze Comics in Liberty Station for locals who were unable to afford Comic Con badges. Indivisible leader Kathy Stadler, ACLU Advocacy Director David Trujillo, and Council on American-Islamic Relations community liaison Yusef Miller joined Pizzolo for a discussion of how dystopian art can help prepare people for crises in real life.{{Cite web|last=Hamblin|first=Abby|date=2018-07-18|title=Comic-Con 2018: Huge pop culture convention spotlights social justice, political issues|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/comic-con/sd-politics-social-issues-at-comic-con-2018-htmlstory.html|access-date=2020-10-08|website=San Diego Union Tribune|language=en-US}}

Pizzolo has been announced as producer on the Warner Brothers feature film adaptation of the Black Mask Studios comic book series BLACK, about a world where only black people have superpowers,{{Cite news|last=N'Duka|first=Amanda|date=2020-10-01|title=Warner Bros. Boards Feature Adaptation Of 'Black' Comic From Studio 8|language=en-US|work=Deadline|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/warner-bros-feature-adaptation-black-comic-studio-8-1234589553/|access-date=2020-10-06}} and the PictureStart feature film adaptation of the comic book series 4 Kids Walk into a Bank, about a 12-year-old girl who enlists her friends to rob a bank in order to prevent her dad and his friends from botching the job themselves and getting thrown back in jail.{{Cite news|last=N'Duka|first=Amanda|date=2020-09-03|title=Picturestart Acquires Rights To '4 Kids Walk Into a Bank' Comic; 'Dora and the Lost City of Gold' Scribe Matthew Robinson Adapting|language=en-US|work=Deadline|url=https://deadline.com/2020/09/picturestart-4-kids-walk-into-a-bank-comic-with-dora-and-the-lost-city-of-gold-scribe-matthew-robinson-adapting-1234570036/|access-date=2020-10-06}}

During Halo-8's panel at C2E2, it was announced that Pizzolo would collaborate with Tim Seeley on an adaptation of the comic book series Loaded Bible.The oDead. [https://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/comics/555 "EXCLUSIVE: Halo-8 Releases New info On 'Loaded Bible', Tim Seeley Talks Voice Casting!"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430211638/http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/comics/555/ |date=2010-04-30 }} Bloody Disgusting. (April 21, 2010).

During the same panel, Pizzolo unveiled the first concept art for Medusa: Year One,THEoDEAD. [https://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/comics/553 "Halo-8 Plans To Re-Tell The Medusa Legend With 'Medusa: Year One'!]" Bloody Disgusting. April 21, 2010. which Pizzolo describes as "A twist on the Medusa origin-story.",Hess, Michael (April 20, 2010). [http://www.ugo.com/the-goods/medusa-year-one-exclusive-image "Medusa: Year One Exclusive Image. Details are still few, but Matt Pizzolo's upcoming illustrated film makes up want to look on it directly"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100429013740/http://www.ugo.com/the-goods/medusa-year-one-exclusive-image |date=2010-04-29 }}. UGO.

Pizzolo will direct an illustrated film adaptation of the comic book series Hack/Slash.Marshall, Rick (September 10, 2010). [https://web.archive.org/web/20100911122159/http://splashpage.mtv.com/2010/09/10/hack-slash-illustrated-film-preview/ "Hack/Slash To Get The Illustrated Film Treatment"]. MTV Splash Page.

Pizzolo organized the Occupy Comics project featuring dozens of comics pros including Alan Moore, David Lloyd, Ben Templesmith, Molly Crabapple, J.M. DeMatteis, Charlie Adlard, Steve Niles, Amanda PalmerRao, Mallika (December 7, 2011). [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/07/occupy-comics_n_1135140.html "Occupy Comics: Alan Moore And David Lloyd Of 'V For Vendetta' Are Onboard (SLIDESHOW)]". HuffPost. and Anna Wieszczyk.Moore, Debi (January 12, 2015). [https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/85035/godkiller-2-celebrates-cosplay-third-printing-fan-made-cover/ "Godkiller #2 Celebrates Cosplay with Third Printing and Fan-Made Cover"]. Dread Central.

In July 2021, it was announced that Pizzolo will write an adult animated series adaptation of the comic book series Faust, a deconstructed superhero comic contemporaneous with Watchmen, Dark Knight Returns and The Crow, for Sony Television.{{Cite web|last=Del Rosario|first=Alexandra|date=2021-07-07|title='Faust': Animated Series Based On Comic In Works At Sony Pictures Television From Matteo Pizzolo|url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/faust-animated-series-tim-vigil-david-quinn-comics-sony-pictures-television-matteo-pizzolo-1234787804/|access-date=2021-07-10|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Chang|first=Tom|date=2021-07-07|title=Faust: Sony TV & Matteo Pizzolo Developing Animated Series Adaptation|url=https://bleedingcool.com/tv/faust-sony-tv-matteo-pizzolo-developing-animated-series-adaptation/|access-date=2021-07-10|website=Bleeding Cool News And Rumors|language=en}} The comic book launched in 1987{{Cite web|date=2021-07-07|title='Faust' Animated Series in the Works at Sony|url=https://www.thewrap.com/faust-animated-series-in-the-works-at-sony/|access-date=2021-07-10|website=TheWrap|language=en-US}} and is considered to be "one of the goriest, most NSFW superhero horror comic book series ever published."{{Cite web|date=2021-07-08|title=Faust: Ultra-Violent '80s Superhero/Horror Comic Lands Animated Series|url=https://www.cbr.com/faust-superhero-horror-comic-animated-series/|access-date=2021-07-10|website=CBR|language=en-US}}

Pizzolo's artistic and entrepreneurial works are reflective of his DIY ethos and belief that a subversive artist can only maintain creative control of a project if he or she also controls the business aspects including production, distribution, and marketing.Hefflon, Scott. [http://www.lollipop.com/article.php3?content=2007/02feb/f-threatmovie.html "Threat"]. Lollipop Magazine. Retrieved November 13, 2018.

In 1998, while working on Threat, he told Style Magazine, "When we were thinking of starting a DiY production company, there were no models on how to do it in independent film. So we looked to musical role-models like the Wu-Tang Clan, the punk Epitaph label, and the hardcore Dischord label. Now we want Kings Mob to be the role model we couldn't find."Campion, Chris. [http://www.kingsmob.com/new_press_style.html "Call It A Threat"]. Style Magazine, via Kingsmob.com. [https://web.archive.org/web/20040723085304/http://www.kingsmob.com/new_press_style.html archived] from the original on July 23, 2004.

In October 2006, Pizzolo accepted the Grand Prize for Best Feature on behalf of Threat at the Lausanne Underground Film and Music Festival in Lausanne, Switzerland.{{cite web|url=https://amp.info-about.net/8798059/1/lausanne-underground-film-and-music-festival.html|title=Amp LUFF Archive|website=Amp}}

In April 2007, Pizzolo was awarded the "First Feature Film - Special Mention" prize on behalf of Threat at the Rome Independent Film Festival in Rome, Italy.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1574779/awards?ref_=nm_awd|title=IMDb Awards|website=IMDb}}

{{reflist|2}}

• {{official website|http://www.matteopizzolo.com}}
• {{IMDb name|id=1574779}}

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Category:American dramatists and playwrights

Category:Living people

Category:People from Nassau County, New York

Category:Film directors from New York City

Category:American experimental filmmakers

Category:New York University alumni

Category:American comics writers

Category:American writers of Italian descent

Category:Activists from New York City

Category:People from Long Island

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)