Emil Pinnock

Board Member

Emil Pinnock is an accomplished film director, producer, and writer from Harlem, New York, who has been active in the film industry for over 20 years. Having launched his film career as a youth, his on-screen credits started with a recurring role on the PBS national program READING RAINBOW and extended to acting roles in major motion pictures SIXTH MAN (Marlon Waynes) BELOVED (Oprah Winfrey) and GRIDIRON GANG starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.

However, Pinnock’s behind the camera career actually started behind the bars of a jail cell. His breakout television pilot “Up North” was based on his real life story of being wrongly arrested for the felony possession of 2 firearms, and how he and 5 friends had to fight there way to freedom. “Up North” would go on to premiere at SeriesFest, breaking records by winning Best Actor, Best Director, Best Drama, and the most coveted Audience Award.

That project would launch an established career, as Pinnock has held television deals at Blumhouse (EMPIRE ON BLOOD), Endeavor Content (BROWN CONDOR), and Byron Allen’s Entertainment Studios (UP NORTH). 

Pinnock has also been tapped to write an original story about The Negro Baseball Leagues (BLACKBALL) produced by Abigail Disney’s Level Forward; and the origin story of legendary entrepreneur Daymond John (Shark Tank, FUBU) Pinnock’s non-profit organization Unleashing Giants has served thousands of kids across the nation offering an 8 week film program educating youth on the film industry.

He is also a juror at the San Quentin Film Festival (the first film festival hosted inside a maximum prison), and has appeared as a keynote speaker around the country, addressing issues of injustice and true rehabilitation.