Thomas P. Vitale is a film and television writer/producer and network executive. As a cable television network executive, he was ExecutiveVice President of Programming &Original Movies forSyfy Channel andChiller Network, where he was responsible for the acquisition and scheduling of all programming, as well as the development and commissioning of original movies and specials, for both networks.[1] As a writer/producer, he has worked on numerous movies and TV shows, most in the sci-fi and horror genres.
Thomas P. Vitale is a television and film executive, writer, producer, and actor specializing in science fiction, fantasy, and horror/supernatural series and movies. Vitale joinedSyfy (then “Sci-Fi Channel”) in 1993 where he rose to the rank of ExecutiveVice President of Programming &Original Movies forSyfy andChiller Network, and was responsible for the acquisition and scheduling of all programming, as well as the development and commissioning of original movies, documentary specials, and co-production series, both scripted and reality, for both networks.[2] While at the network, Vitale made Syfy into one of the largest producers of original movies on television when he created Syfy’s original Saturday movie franchise, “The Most Dangerous Night of Television.” The over 350 original movies made during Tom’s tenure include buzzy and unique titles likeMansquito,Ice Twisters,Roger Corman’sSharktopus,Stan Lee’sHarpies andLightspeed, and the social media sensationsSharknado andSharknado 2: The Second One.[3] In the series world at Syfy, Vitale developed, commissioned, and supervised many original shows such asZ Nation,Dark Matter,Flash Gordon,Painkiller Jane,Lexx, the animated comedyTripping the Rift, and the critically acclaimedFarscape fromJim Henson Productions. Vitale was also responsible for bringing the immensely successfulStargate franchise to Syfy and worked on everything at the network fromBattlestar Galactica toStephen Spielberg Presents Taken toEureka toGhost Hunters toParanormal Witness.[4]
After leavingSyfy and Chiller in 2015, Vitale started his own independent production, distribution, and consulting company, Vital Signs Entertainment, where he has executive produced on the horror anthology series,Slasher, for Netflix and the Shudder streaming service. He was also writer and executive producer onPandora, an original scripted science fiction series for the CW and Sony International.[5] He was co-writer and producer on the filmYou Might Be the Killer, the first film ever developed from a Twitter conversation, which played in over 18 film festivals around the world.[6] In 2023, Vitale produced and acted in the film57 Seconds, starring Morgan Freeman and Josh Hutcherson.57 Seconds is based on the acclaimed short story byE. C. Tubb, "Lucifer" (also known as "Fallen Angel"). Vitale is also a producer and an interview subject of the documentary1982: Greatest Geek Year Ever, which premiered at the Sitges Film Festival in Spain and subsequently aired on the CW.
Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, Vitale is a graduate ofWilliams College in Massachusetts. A member of the Writers Guild of America, Producers Guild of America, andMensa, Vitale began his career in entertainment in the renownedPage Program at NBC, followed by a stint atViacom. In 1999, Vitale co-produced anOff-Off-Broadway play,Dyslexic Heart.[7] Vitale sat on the board of theWilliams Club for nearly 10 years and remains active in Williams alumni activity. He also served as President of Fieri Manhattan and was the NYS Vice President ofFieri National, anItalian-American service, cultural, and charitable organization.[8]