Joseph Quinn Simpkins was born in Carson City, Nevada, where his fascination with film and television began at an early age. He would often bring wardrobe and props to elementary school to act out his favorite shows, showcasing his creativity and passion for storytelling. As he grew older, Joseph's interest in film and television only intensified, leading him to work his first job to purchase a 35mm camera and develop his skills as a photographer. He sold his photographs to fellow students, further solidifying his talent.
Joseph's diverse interests also extended to mechanics and engineering, particularly in the realm of cars and planes. He built hot rods and even raced, which ultimately led him to attend the Sequoia Automotive Institute in Fremont, California. After completing his training, Joseph worked in the professional racing industry, building high-performance vehicles.
However, his true passion remained in film and theater. Joseph joined the National Touring Company "The Robin Hood Players," where he studied under the guidance of Bill Silverman, a renowned Broadway director and actor from the famous Actors Studio. Over the course of two years, Joseph honed his skills as an actor, director, and producer, touring the country and working alongside his mentor.
Tragedy struck when Joseph's friend and mentor, Bill Silverman, passed away. Joseph was devastated but decided to continue his education, attending the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco for an additional two years. During this time, he moonlighted at his friend's race car shop to make ends meet, demonstrating his versatility and resourcefulness.
After completing his formal training, Joseph transitioned into the world of special effects, leveraging his experience in building race cars to learn the mechanics of filmmaking. He formed his own film production company, Living Water Films, in 2007 and wrote and produced one of the first Red One camera projects, the short film "Fatal Flaw." This groundbreaking project utilized Adobe Premiere with a special software plugin supplied by Adobe at the time.
Living Water Films has since produced several award-winning short films and music videos, including a project featuring John Schlitt, the famed front man of Petra and Head East. Joseph's dream project, "Adrenaline," a tribute to drag racers and victims of street racing-related accidents, is finally being directed and produced after 15 years of concept.
Joseph is also working on another dream project, a documentary about the world-renowned P-51 Mustang "Miss America," which has been racing at the Reno Air Races since 1969. This iconic plane has been immortalized in a 1/32 scale model by Revell in 1972 and a.049 gas-powered flying line control model by Cox.
