Frank Sisti Jr.
- Director
- Editor
Frank Sisti Jr. was born in Astoria, Queens where he worked in a comic
shop since he was 11 years old. He attended the Bronx High School of
Science. After not quite graduating from NYU's Dramatic Writing
Program, Sisti went on to sell a script to Garry Marshall called
Bicycle Ice Cream. In 2001, Sisti reunited with his childhood friend
and creative partner, Jeff Roberts, to form Bandy, a quasi-hip-hop
group that was made up of mostly fictional members. Not knowing how to
perform a live Bandy show, Sisti instead began making a program for
Manhattan Public Access television called The Kid America Adventure
Hour, an unconventional variety show that featured a mix of puppets,
animation, and a cast of young, downtown actors (among them Leo
Fitzpatrick and Waris Ahluwalia). In 2005, Sisti teamed up with Alex
Orlovsky (producer of Half Nelson, Blue Valentine) to make a pilot
based on Kid America - which can be seen online. The
website bloomed into the perfect place for Sisti's video content,
complete with a successful web-store that sells clothing, music, and
toys. In 2007/8, Sisti and his creative team created 25 five-minute
episodes of a web series called "Lil' Hipsters", a 4-camera puppet
sitcom about Krispy, a kid who is learning how to be cool in downtown
New York. Sisti, as DJ Kid America, has professionally deejayed for 10
years in New York, and all over the world. He is married to Melia
Marden, head chef of the Bond Street restaurant, The Smile.