Chief Executive Officer

Creative Executive •
Writer • Director •
Producer • Actor

Bill is the Chief Executive Officer and Creative Executive of Captures Entertainment, Inc., which is currently developing several projects for the Big Screen & Television.

Bill is a writer, producer, director, and actor. Bill was born in Niagara Falls, NY on March 27, 1965 to Janet C. Martino and William R. Cowell. Bill has a younger sister Jennifer (b. 1966). Bill was 2 when his parents were divorced. Bill has an older step brother Joseph, and a younger step sister Roszlyn. Bill spent most of his childhood being mentored by his Grandfather Charles Martino, one of the first big pioneers of Niagara Falls, NY from the 1930's through the late 1960's. Bill's Grandfather started from nothing and soon was the owner and operator of several thriving industries of that time including a gas station, motel, tourism centers, a bowling alley and his Grandfather's pride - ABC Billiards, which soon after became the visiting hot spot for many rising stars, including billiards legend Willie Mosconi and Minnesota Fats. Bill's Uncle, Charles Martino Jr., at the age of 16 beat Willie Mosconi in a tournament and became the youngest person ever to win a New York State Billiards Championship. Bill developed his creativity, artistic abilities and his sense of honor and business from his Grandfather that he was very close with. Bill made his Grandfather very proud making him a Great Grandfather with the birth of his first child Michelle. Charles died shortly after her birth. Bill has two daughters, Michelle Cowell and Alyssa Cowell, who has worked with him on several small independent film projects.

Bill graduated early from high school in January 1983 to enlist in the United States Navy. He attended "A" School in Lakehurst New Jersey, which is widely known as the location of the Hindenburg Disaster. Bill graduated 2nd highest in his class which earned him the choice of orders for his next duty.

Having a vast love for Martial Arts Bill choose Yokosuka Chuo, Japan for his next destination where he traveled the world aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Midway as an Aviation Specialist, Aircrew Survival Equipmentman (ASE) and Parachute Rigger (PR) .

Bill is a long-time veteran of Martial Arts and is currently training for his 4th Degree Black Belt in Tae-Kwon Do under long-time Grand Master Jong Park Soo and the late Tae-Kwon Do Founder General Choi Hong Hi. Bill was Honorably discharged from the Navy in the late 80's and soon started his own family and business in the forestry and construction fields.

In the late 90's Bill couldn't conceal the love for film any longer and auctioned of his companies to pursue a filmmaking career. Bill penned his first screenplay "I Spy You" after teaching himself the art of screenwriting by purchasing several Hollywood Movie Scripts and learning screenwriting techniques from library books. It wasn't long after that that Bill attached Rodney Dangerfield to the project. Although this seemed to be Bill's big break into the business, the project soon fell short after Mr. Dangerfield became ill.

Bill's next project was a low budget feature film title "Raindrops" which starred actor Arthur Nascarella, who is known widely for his mob and cop portrayals. Bill also produced and directed the film which received better than average reviews and won several genre awards including a Most Promising Filmmaker Award at the New York International Film Festival. The film was picked up by a Major Canadian Distributor and released in many countries around the world which Bill was never compensated for. Bill went on to write, produce and direct his next feature "The Maize, The Movie" which earned a "Best Suspense Film Award" at the New York International Film Festival and was later purchased and released by Lions Gate Home Entertainment.

Bill penned his next project "The Magic Shoe" which quickly gained interest from Christopher Walken to play the role of the Grandfather. Not long after his interest Christopher Walken received an Academy Award nomination for Steven Spielberg's "Catch Me If You Can" and left the project to pursue many other large Hollywood offers. Soon after Legendary Actor James Garner was attached to the role with interest from both Diane Lane and Helen Hunt to play his daughter. Two weeks before shooting was to begin and just one month prior to James Garner's commitment to shoot "The Notebook" some final funding issues ensued and then later with the decline of James Garner's health the film was never shot.

In 2006, Bill Founded the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival which has quickly grown to be one of the fastest growing and most exciting film festivals to visit in the world. The Buffalo Niagara Film Festival has been the breaking ground for many successful films such as "The Cake Eaters" with Kristen Stuart, and "Christina" with Julie Aycox, Jordan Belfi and Stephen Lang along with many celebrations and participation with major celebrities such as Robert Redford, Richard Dreyfuss, Robert Culp, Tom Holland, Lou Ferrigno, Louis Gossett Jr., Cindy Williams and many more.

Bill is now working on the documentary "Bad IQ", a film about autism made by autistic students, and several other feature film projects to be released over the next several years with major distributors and associates of The Buffalo Niagara Film Festival, 20th Century Fox, Lions Gate and others.

More of Bill's credits and achievments can be found at www.imdb.com or the BNFF's website at www.BuffaloNiagaraFilmFestival.com