Ethan Wiley

After attending theater and film school at UCLA, Wiley began his career as a special effects artist on the classic films RETURN OF THE JEDI, GREMLINS and ROMANCING THE STONE. Wiley then wrote the hit horror-comedy HOUSE (New World Pictures), which debuted #1 at the U.S. box office. He also wrote and directed HOUSE 2: THE SECOND STORY (New World Pictures). After the success of the HOUSE movies, Wiley optioned, sold and wrote screenplays for Warner Bros., New Line, Disney, Spelling, New World, and other production companies. Included in those projects was an early draft of the smash-hit SPIDER-MAN. In 1998, Wiley wrote and directed CHILDREN OF THE CORN 5 (Miramax/Dimension), starring David Carradine and Eva Mendes.

Wiley next took a hiatus from filmmaking, moved to New York to be a stay-at-home father, while pursuing musical interests. In 2001 he composed and produced the critically acclaimed instrumental CD, TAKE A STAND. He also performed and recorded for other artists and on soundtracks as a mandolinist, and contributed two songs to the soundtrack of JASON X (New Line).

Wiley returned to Los Angeles in 2005 and formed Wiseacre Films, specializing in low budget genre productions. Wiseacre’s first film was BLACKWATER VALLEY EXORCISM (Lionsgate), directed by Wiley.
In 2006, he was Associate Producer for A DEAD CALLING (Lionsgate) and DRIFTER (Rebel Film). Wiley also produced, wrote and directed BRUTAL, starring Jeffrey Combs and Michael Berryman, again for Lionsgate. In 2007, he wrote, produced and directed 2nd unit for BLACK OPS aka DEADWATER (First Look Studios), featuring Lance Henriksen.

Wiley continues to work as a screenwriter for hire, having written JACO (Blue Rider Pictures), about jazz superstar Jaco Pastorius, WARRIORS OF THE RAINBOW, about the early days of Greenpeace, (collaborating with the late Greenpeace founder Robert Hunter), and most recently JUNKYARD DOG, about 1950s racing legends Max and Ina Balchowsky and their famous Old Yeller hot rod.