Biography

Antonia “Toni” Crey is an American writer, director, editor, and producer of narrative and documentary films. She is making her Feature Film Directorial debut with a personal period family drama, "Her Life Choice." The film highlights the struggles of an Italian family post World War Two when the life of the mother is threatened by an unexpected pregnancy that may threaten her life. The film reflects the conflict between faith and the changes in the Catholic Church’s attitudes toward contraception when the Church outlawed contraception in all forms. Reconstructing 16mm home movies filmed by her uncle, Toni re-edited her short film "Small Miracles" into an extensive cut with original family music and recordings to set the reflective tone for the film.

Toni grew up as (Antonia "Ton Lynn" Pezone) in Wyckoff, New Jersey, and graduated from Ramapo High School with honors in Arts and English. She was awarded a scholarship from the Ridgewood, N.J. Women’s League to attend the Richard Stockton University where she received her BFA in Photography. Toni was awarded the Fine Arts Purchase Award for the Stockton University Gallery. Toni then attended the Arts Students League of New York and the School of Visual Arts before being awarded a scholarship from the Tisch School of the Arts and Helena Rubinstein Foundation to attend NYU Graduate Film & Television. She studied under Professor Roberta Hodes, a charter member of Local 161 NY Script Supervisors Union, who was her mentor for film directing along with Tony Drazen, Ang Lee, Spike Lee, Sarah Driver, and Jim Jarmusch. While working on her NYU Student Thesis film, Toni interned under Martin Scorsese and editor Thelma Schumacher on the “After Hours” feature film for several weeks during her second year at NYU Film School. Becoming involved in the NY film collaborative International Documentary Association (IDA), the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the Diversity Workshop, the Documentary Program, and the New Focus Film Collaboration. Toni was chosen as an AFI Directing Intern under George Steves Jr, working on the “Separate But Equal” mini-series with Sidney Poitier. After relocating to Atlanta, she became an IMAGE Film/Video board member. Toni began as an Associate Producer for the Documentary Unit and worked on “Gone With The Wind,” “Without Borders,” “Trumpet of Conscience,” and more at Turner Broadcasting. Toni wrote, produced, and edited the TBS series “Super Scary Saturday " with Grampa Munster (Al Lewis). Her NYU Thesis film “Rest Stop” premiered at the High Museum of Art and at the Atlanta Film Society's “Next Wave Filmmakers” series, receiving “Best Short" awards at Atlanta, Chicago, Mill Valley, and San Francisco Film Festivals. “Rest Stop” premiered on A&E’s “Short Stories” and was internationally broadcast throughout Europe by Jane Balfour Films, London. Toni received awards from Georgia Council, Fulton County Arts Council, Georgia Public Broadcasting, and Women In Film for her NYU Student Film “Rest Stop” to continue on her filmmaking path. Toni became a Local 161 NY/Atlanta Script Supervisor and Story Producer, starting on such films as "Rob Cop 3", and working her way up to “Zombieland 2: Doubletap”, “Charming The Hearts of Men,” and many television series such as “Ozark,” “Tell Me Lies,” and “The Walking Dead.”