Joseph Tripician, also known as Joe Trip, is an American producer, writer, screenwriter, film director, songwriter, playwright and performer. He is best known for the documentaries Borders and Metaphoria, and his memoir Balkanized at Sunrise, based on his 1997 journey to the Balkans.

1980s – Music videos, Borders and other documentaries In 1980, Tripician edited the documentary Memories of Duke, directed by Gary Keys and based on the biography of composer, pianist, and bandleader Duke Ellington. At the same time, he wrote and directed the short film Shrapnel Training Course, a parody infomercial satirizing the CIA. From 1979 to 1981 Tripician produced video recordings of live performances of over 100 different bands at the New York City nightclub Hurrah.

Later, Tripician produced and co-directed several musical videos included in a compilation called Danspak, which was distributed by Sony Video Software and released in three parts (1982, 1984 and 1986). The videos included "Hip Hop, Be Bop (Don't Stop)," by Man Parrish, "Pointy Head Gear," by Shöx Lumania, "Jimmy, Gimme Your Love," by Michael Musto & The Must, and "Alien Girl," by Richard Bone, in 1982; "I've Got A Right," by The Lenny Kaye Connection, and "Sweet Jane," a cover of The Velvet Underground's song performed by The Jim Carroll Band, in 1984 (that video featured a cameo appearance of the late songwriter Lou Reed); "Grace," by The Ordinaires, "Skintight Tina," by Prince Charles Alexander, and "Buttercup," by Stevie Wonder and performed by Carl Anderson, both released in 1985.

In 1984, Tripician and his partner Merrill Aldighieri were listed in the Rolling Stone Book of Rock Video as one of the twenty top video directors in the world.

1990s – Metaphoria, aliens and "Ozark Melody" with Jeff Buckley In 1997, Tripician's paperback book the Official Alien Abductee's Handbook was published by Andrews and McMeel. It was the inspiration for Melodies for Abductees, a pop album which included the novelty song "Ozark Melody," composed by Tripician, Frederick Reed, and songwriter Jeff Buckley, who also sang and performed guitar and mandolin on it.

Tripician also co-directed with Jakov Sedlar the feature documentary Tudjman, narrated by actor Martin Sheen and based on the biography of Croatian president Franjo Tudjman. Later that year, Tripician traveled to the Balkans, after being hired by the Croatian government to write Tudjman's official biography. The working title of that book was In Tito's Shadow. After granting Tripician editorial control of the book and receiving the complete manuscript, the content caused a controversy within the Tudjman government, and the book was summarily banned.

In May 2002, Tripician performed his one-man play Balkanized at Sunrise at Dixon Place Theater in New York City. It was based on his 1997 trip to the Balkans. He subsequently published his story in a memoir of the same name.

2000s – From Balkanized at Sunrise to Honeymoon in Oak Ridge

In 2016, Tripician began developing a feature film project titled Team Joy with Tony Award-nominated actor Jesse Williams.

In 2021, Tripician won the monthly London International Screenwriting Competition in September for his script President Zappa. That year, his screenplay was also included in the "Hot 100 Winners" list at the Capital Fund Screenplay Competition. President Zappa is a comedic and dramatic biopic that imagines what would happen if the rockstar Frank Zappa ran for the U.S. presidency and won. According to Tripician, "In the script, Frank discovers that he must bend his principles in order to win the Presidency so he can enact policies that benefit many people who are in need. However, he pays a price for his compromises and regrets doing them."

In December 2023, Tripician completed the documentary Honeymoon in Oak Ridge. The film follows him on a personal journey as he travels with his parents to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where they worked, unknowingly, to create the first atomic bombs. Interwoven with their journey are candid reflections from Tripician's wife and daughters, examining how the legacy of the Manhattan Project resonates across generations. In 2024, the film won the Jury Award for Best Short Documentary at the Uranium International Film Festival. The film was screened at various cities around the world including Asheville (TN), Chicago (IL), Las Vegas (NV), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Seville (Spain) and Berlin (Germany). Honeymoon in Oak Ridge was distributed by Alexander Street and Docsville (Lightning International/Asia Satellite Telecommunications).

In 2024, Tripician was named one of the top ten finalists at the 2024 Cinequest Film Festival for his dramatic teleplay Jenny Appleseed. It is a contemporary story about a headstrong teen who has her life turned upside down when she tries to help someone who needs abortion pills in a state where they are illegal.

Awards and nominations YearAwardForResult1984Top 20 Music Video Directors WorldwideRolling Stone Book of Rock Video1991Chicago International Film FestivalMetaphoria1991The Montreal International Film FestivalMetaphoria1991The Sinking Creek Film FestivalMetaphoria1991Cyber Arts Festival Los AngelesMetaphoria1992Chicago/Midwest EmmyMetaphoria2007Big Apple Film FestivalThe Student2007Nevada City Film FestivalThe Student2007Dallas VideoFestThe Student2014Williamsburg International Film FestivalA Pizza Chegou (Pizza Run)2014El Ojo Cojo Film FestivalA Pizza Chegou (Pizza Run)2014Dallas VideoFestA Pizza Chegou (Pizza Run)2018Dallas VideoFestMeeting Carol2021London International Screenwriting CompetitionPresident Zappa2021Capital Fund Screenplay CompetitionPresident Zappa2023Shore Scripts Film Fund SpringThe Gringo in the Hammock2024Cinequest Film FestivalJenny Appleseed2024Uranium Film FestivalHoneymoon in Oak Ridge

Filmography + Film Year Title Role Notes1980 Memories of Duke Editor 1980 Shrapnel Training Course Writer/director1988 The Kissing Booth Producer/editor/co-director1989 Borders Writer/producer/editor/co-director1980 The Gun is Loaded Director1991 Metaphoria Writer/producer/editor/co-director1991 The Wall Street Journal Report Editor1993 Motel Blue 19 Producer/editor/co-director1993 The War Room Director of graphics and animation1995 The Conspiracy of Silence On-line editor1997 Tudjman Co-director1999 Marty: The Martin Scorsese Story Actor2007 The Student Writer/producer/editor/director2009 Kitchen Sink Stories Writer/editor/director2013 A Pizza Chegou (Pizza Run) Writer/producer/editor/director2018Meeting CarolWriter/producer/editor/director2024Honeymoon in Oak RidgeWriter/producer/editor/director

Books 2016: Chats from Beyond: Stories to amuse, frighten and disturb. 2013: Obras Seleccionadas: Volumen 1 (Joe Tripician – Selected Works: Volume 1). 2012: My Night with Sarah Palin and Other Disturbing Stories. 1997: The Official Alien Abductee's Handbook.

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