BIOGRAPHY

Steve Stafford is the President of Studio Wings, Inc. He was born in Darien, Connecticut and raised on a cattle ranch near Helena, Montana. Before beginning a career in the film industry, he served with distinction in the United States Marine Corps, receiving two meritorious citations. After leaving the Marines he studied acting, landing a three-year contract at Universal Studios. He was fascinated by what went on behind the camera and soon began working as key camera assistant and then A-camera operator under Academy Award winning cinematographers, Haskell Wexler and the late Conrad Hall. In less than five years, he was shooting and directing action second units for both feature films and television. His work led to a contract with DDB Needham Worldwide in Chicago, directing national commercial campaigns.

Concurrently, he produced and directed “The Color Of Evening,” starring Martin Landau and Ellen Burstyn. The AFI award winning independent film caught the eye of then CBS president, Jeff Sagansky. As a result, Steve directed a number of long form movies (MOW’s) for the CBS network, as well as numerous notable television episodes for CBS and the Paramount network.

In the mid-nineties, he made the decision to become a full time motion picture pilot, realizing a long-standing desire to combine his film production knowledge with his love of aviation and extensive flight experience. He holds a Masters Degree in Aeronautical Science and has over eight thousand hours of pilot in command time.

FAA ratings and government qualifications

• Airline Transport Pilot Rating – Airplane, Single & Multi-Engine Instrument
• Airline Transport Pilot Rating – Rotorcraft-Helicopter Instrument
• Commercial Pilot Rating – Seaplane, Single & Multi-Engine
• Flight Instructor Rating – Airplane, Single & Multi-Engine – Instrument
• Flight Instructor Rating – Rotorcraft-Helicopter – Instrument
• US Federal Government – Office Of Aircraft Services Qualified
• Reconnaissance
• Low-Level Surveillance
• Offshore Operations

When he isn’t directing or flying for the movies, Steve stays current flying missions for the Federal Government.