Daniel Hirsh (born May 18, 1982, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an American actor, voice over artist, video editor, director, cinematographer, graphic designer, writer, and producer. Hirsh has acted in and directed several World Premiere theatrical productions, and his editing work on short- and feature-length films have won awards at several festivals. Hirsh has trained as a videographer, actor, singer, and improvisational comedian, currently continuing work in Milwaukee, New York City, Atlanta and St. Louis. Working mainly with Atlanta filmmaker and entertainer Parthiban Shanmugam, other collaborators include Wade Ballance, Philip Barrett, Kevin L. Powers, and Thomas Smugala. Influenced by French videographer and university lecturer Pier Marton and screenwriter Richard Chapman, he has focused his career on narrative filmmaking, while also piecing together documentaries on energy healing, life after death and astral projection. He currently resides in New York City due to his interest in The New York Presbyterian Hospital which utilizes energy healing, and proximity to The Monroe Institute and University of Virginia, both of which partake in astral projection and consciousness research.
Editorial, Production, Direction and Cinematography Work
Kent Rapeen: A True Story (2001) as Writer, Editor, Director, Producer and Cinematographer Highly Experimental (2001) as Writer, Editor, Director, Producer and Cinematographer The Writer (2002) as Writer, Editor, Director, Lighting Technician, Producer and Cinematographer As The World Turns (Episode #1.11867, 2002) as Production Assistant Between Lust and Brookings Drive (2003) as Editor, Trailer Editor and Assistant Camera With Only a Belle (2004) as Editor Chosen (2004) as Editor Apocalypse and the Beauty Queen (2005) as Editor, Title Designer and Titles & Opticals Shadow (2007) as Editor and Trailer Editor Insanity du Jour (2007) as Off-Line Editor How's Your Cart (2007) as Editing Consultant The HusBand (2008) as Editor, Trailer Editor and First Assistant Camera Motion Music (2008) as Editor, Assistant Camera and Casting Director Spectre (2008) as Editor and Cinematographer Patriot (2008) as Editor and Cinematographer Regret (2008) as Executive Producer You're Rejected (2008) as Editor, Trailer Editor, DVD Author and DVD Box Art Designer Even Cactus Goes to Heaven (2009) as Editor and Trailer Editor Bleeder (2009) as Editor and Editing Consultant Vendetta (2009) as Editor and Cinematographer Alone (2010) as Assistant Editor The Ballad of Robert and Harvey (2010) as Editor Miss Kitty & Me (2011) as Editor 3 Cats and a Man (2012) as First Assistant Editor A Letter to a Terrorist (2013) as Editor The Little Jihadist (2014) as First Assistant Editor Paper Planes (2014) as Editor Men of a Certain Age (2017) as Editor
You're Rejected propelled Hirsh, Shanmugam and lead actor George Lee Clark to national and international recognition, winning "Official Selection" from the Filmböro Film Festival, "Honorable Mention" at the Philadelphia International Film Festival & Market, "Official Selection" at the AIAFF Film Festival, and "Official Selection" at the Philadelphia Independent Film Festival.
Film and Television Acting
Highly Experimental (2001) as narrator
Making Revolution (2003) as Activist
Between Lust and Brookings Drive (2003) as The Man
With Only a Belle (2004) as himself
Hooch & Daddy-O (2005) as Fan
October Road (2007) as Townie & Bartender
You're Rejected (2008) as himself
Van Wilder: Freshman Year (2009) as Parent of Graduate
3 Cats and a Man (2012) as himself
Pikuach Nefesh: Saving Daniel (2016) as himself
Messiah (2017) as Friend 1
Broadcast (2022) as Meredith's Assistant
Mob Times (2022) as Mikey Hand Soap
Theatrical Acting
Hirsh's acting style has been described as amusing, comic, and quirky. His complexion and physical appearance have been compared to John Belushi, Jon Lovitz, and Steve Zissis, with a comic voice comparable to Nathan Lane's. He prefers the Practical Aesthetics school of thought, pioneered by David Mamet, William H. Macy and Robert Bella; having taken a summer intensive course there in 2004, alongside Anna Chlumsky and Lucy DeVito. He has actively participated in various other acting styles and techniques.
Hirsh starred as himself in an improvised Thesis project directed by Washington University senior Lora Ivanova in 2003. I See (You See) was a one-act play starring five actors, one of which would be audience-voted to strap a video camera to their head while playing out suggestions for improvisational scenes. The piece, mostly comic, was met with positive reception.