Brian Bird(I)

As a 35-year veteran of the Hollywood film and television business, Brian Bird's mission as a writer, producer and media professional is to create high-caliber life-affirming redemptive true stories and uplifting entertainment projects. Bird, who hails from Illinois, is co-founder and partner with Michael Landon, Jr. of Believe Pictures, specializing in life-and-faith-affirming films and television. His most recent writing and producing credits include the feature films, "The Heart of Man" (2018), "The Case for Christ" (2017), "Captive" (2015), "The Ultimate Life" (2012) and "Not Easily Broken" (2009). Additionally, he serves as executive producer and co-creator of the Hallmark Channel original series, "When Calls the Heart" (2014-2021), now in its 8th season, and its spin off series, "When Hope Calls" (2020). Prior to that, he wrote and produced "Beverly Lewis' Trilogy, "The Reckoning" (2016), "The Confession" (2013) and "The Shunning" (2011), for Hallmark; "Game Time" for NBC (2011); "Saving Sarah Cain" (2008) and Francine Rivers' "The Last Sin Eater" (2007). In addition, he is now in production on "The Story of Everything," and developing two other true stories/feature films, "Life After Heaven" and "Northern Lights." Bird also served as co-executive producer and writer on five seasons of the series "Touched by an Angel." His TV series writing and producing credits include more than 350 episodes of "When Calls the Heart," "When Hope Calls," "Touched By an Angel," 'Evening Shade," "Step by Step" and "The Family Man," as well as pilots for Netflix, ABC, NBC and Showtime. His other film credits include the Morgan Freeman-directed "Bopha!" (1993), the Hallmark Hall of Fame drama "Captive Heart" (1996), and "Call Me Claus," the highest rated cable film of 2003. He has also written screen adaptations of "In Silence" for Paramount Pictures, "Trail of Tears: The Rise and Fall of the Cherokee Nation" for TNT, "Before Time Runs Out" for Fox, "The Deaths of Sybil Bolton" for CBS and "A Dirty Business" for HBO. He graduated with a degree in journalism from California State University at Fullerton in 1980. Prior to his work in Hollywood, Bird was a staff reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, and then served as Director of Public Relations for the international relief organization, World Vision. During that time, he also wrote widely in the religious press, including news and cover stories for Christianity Today magazine. His blog is a vibrant, creative exchange serving thousands of new screenwriters on the art of story and the craft of screen writing with free tools, tips and training. Brian's best productions to date are his five children with his wife, Patty, of 40 years.