Director Biography – Joshua Edelman (MENTALLY AL)

Joshua Edelman grew up in a Boca Raton, Florida. The son of a Jewish magician-turned-optometrist and an Italian singer-turned-nutritionist, Josh developed a passion for the arts and a deep love for the films of Martin Scorsese and The Coen Brothers. Determined to become a groundbreaking filmmaker himself, Josh attended his artistic heroes’ alma mater, NYU, earning degrees in both Film & Philosophy while also interning at Scorsese’s production company, Sikelia Productions. After graduating, Josh worked for cult, indie, filmmaking pioneer Lloyd Kaufman at Troma films. There he received a crash course in low budget “do it yourself” filmmaking before moving to LA to to take the next step toward pursuing his dream. Forced to take a survival job at Deluxe Media Co., Josh would spend his nights and weekends writing, producing, directing, and starring in his award winning, psycho comic web series, BEST FRIENDS. Newly confident in his abilities, Josh threw caution to the wind, quitting his day job, and using his savings to create his long gestating passion project, MENTALLY AL, a documentary about underground comedy legend Al Lubel. Through Al, a former trial lawyer-turned-comedian, Josh confronts his own decision to pursue a creative life that was made possible in part by his parents’ decision to side step their creative ambitions for a more secure lifestyle.