Director - Clay Essig

While growing up in Indiana, Boston, Texas, and Utah, Clay Essig was influenced by a creative family heritage - an opera composer, two artists, a writer, and a costume designer. His love for directing began while helping his family create marionette shows. Clay studied in Israel, South America, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree at Utah State University and earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Film and Television Production from the University of Southern California. Clay collaborated with Rob Thomas on the development of this film after meeting through a roommate matching service. Fortune Cookie marks his directorial debut.