Steven Sawalich
President & CEO
STEVEN SAWALICH is a writer / director / producer. Originally from the Midwest, Sawalich moved to California to attend Pepperdine University where received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Telecommunications, and because the university did not have a Film Studies program of it’s own, he created one in which Pepperdine has since incorporated into their curriculum. In the course of these studies, Sawalich took an active role in theatre performing in two critically lauded plays, STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE and SO MR. BRECHT, WHAT DID YOU THINK OF AMERICA? at the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. Keen to further his understanding of the actor’s journey, Sawalich then studied acting at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England.
Over the course of the next several years, Mr. Sawalich worked at various independent production companies, such as Davis Entertainment, learning the business as so many of the industry’s best executives, from the inside out, top to bottom. In 2004, Sawalich formed the fully financed independent production company called ARTICULUS ENTERTAINMENT, INC. to provide commercially successful and critically acclaimed movies, television and original programming events to audiences worldwide.
In 2006, Steven Sawalich did just that with his producing and directorial debut, MUSIC WITHIN. The film, starring Ron Livingston, Michael Sheen, Melissa George, Yul Vazquez, Rebecca DeMornay and Hector Elizondo was a moving portrayal of Richard Pimentel’s journey, the man credited with enacting the American’s with Disabilities Act. The film was critically acclaimed and garnered numerous awards and honors including the Audience Award and Star Award from the AFI Dallas International Film Festival and the Best of Fest Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival among many others. The film was released by MGM in 2007.
Since 1999, Steven has served as Creative Director of the Starkey Hearing Foundation. He is also the producer and director of the Starkey Hearing Foundation’s annual “So The World May Hear” award gala, which has raised over 30 million dollars and has become the largest and most successful fundraiser in the Midwest. This event has honored such greats as Sir Elton John, Garth Brooks, Sharon Osbourne, Goldie Hawn, Billy Crystal, Steve Martin and the Eagles to name a few. Prior to starting his own company, Sawalich traveled to over 40 countries as the producer, director and editor on all of Starkey’s missions, documenting the smiles of those who received the gift of sound for the first time.
By directing and producing his own work, Sawalich is able to meld his past with documentaries and acting to bring a slight realism to his films by creating authentic complex yet relatable characters that find themselves in extraordinary circumstances. His journey has helped him establish a method for creating a collaborative relationship on his films while he seeks to convey thought provoking themes that also entertain.
Steven resides in Los Angeles with his wife and newborn son, and continues to further himself in his career and in humanity.