Tom Whitman

Tom Whitman

Tom Whitman IV (born January 15, 1971 in Honolulu, Hawaii) is an American event producer, club promoter, filmmaker and philanthropist living in Los Angeles, California. Tom is considered one of the most successful club promoters in L.A.’s gay nightlife scene. He is best known for producing more than 200 events a year in Los Angeles as well as being named one of OUT Magazine’s “100 People of the Year 2008.” He is also known for his work in television at MTV Networks and his short films The [...] of Ganymede and Sexy.

Born in Hawaii as the son of an Air Force officer, Tom spent much of his younger years moving around Europe. After his family moved to California, Tom attended UCLA where he graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Communications. Since that time, he has lived primarily in Los Angeles, and part time in New York City.

Whitman began his career at MTV Networks, working primarily at Nickelodeon and MTV for eight years, with much of his work focused on live television award shows and concert shows. In 2000, he left to form his own event production company Tom Whitman Presents, and is currently one of the highest profile event producers in the gay community, producing and promoting more than 200 events each year.

Television production

Tom Whitman worked as a producer/director in television and film for nine years, predominantly with MTV Networks and Nickelodeon. He has produced concert shows with performances by NSYNC, Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, the Backstreet Boys and many others. He has written and directed television segments with people such as Mariah Carey, Elton John, and more. Whitman has worked in production on shows which include Nickelodeon’s The Big Help, Kid’s Choice Awards, The MTV Movie Awards, VH-1 Honors.

Film production

Tom Whitman was the writer/director on the animated 16 mm short film “The [...] of Ganymede” and the award-winning 35 mm short film “Sexy"(Sexy Animated Short), both of which premiered in Los Angeles at Outfest and have played in more than 50 countries on six continents.

Theater production

As co-producer of Mommie Queerest, Tom had early success in theater production. The show won the LA Weekly “Pick of the Week,” as well as the winner of an LA Weekly Theater Awards Best Director for Chris Kenney, and 2 nominations for Best Actor (Comedy) for Brooks Braselman and Jamie Morris.

Tom was also the co-producer of The Facts of Life: The Lost Episode – A parody production based on the popular 1980’s sitcom The Facts of Life with screenplay by Jamie Morris. The show features Brooks Braselman and Jamie Morris and is currently touring major cities in the United States.

Event production

In 2000, Tom Whitman took his experience as a TV and film producer-director for MTV Networks and translated it into event promotion and production to form his company Tom Whitman Presents, Inc. Since then over 500,000 pairs of feet have danced through the doors of his parties.

His promotions range from weekly events at West Hollywood nightspots to large annual dance and sporting events. His weekly events include the celebrity-frequented Cherry Pop, voted LA Weekly’s best Gay Bar Event in 2008, to upscale Smack at the Thomas Schoos designed O-Bar to the huge Sunday nightclub event SIZE at Here lounge. TWP also produces a handful of annual events including Wonderland - the largest LA Gay Pride event and ELEVATION -the Mammoth Gay Ski Week in Mammoth Lakes, CA, which is one of the largest gay ski weeks in North America.

Musical performers at Tom Whitman Presents events have included Michelle Williams (Destiny’s Child), Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Jewel, Blu Cantrell, American Idol’s Kimberley Locke, American Idol’s Tamyra Gray, Kristine W, Thelma Houston, Kim English, Frankie J, Ari Gold, Gioia Bruno (Expose), Pepper Mashay, Pat Hodges & The Sweet Inspirations, Levi Kreis, Debby Holiday, American Idol’s Kimberly Caldwell, Boomkat, Shoshana Bean, Wicked’s Megan Hilty and Eden Espinosa.

Other performers have included Brazilian dance troupe The Girls from Ipanema, performance artist Flava, the Eye of Newt Circus, Stiltworld, Hawaiian dance troupe Flowers of Leilani, aerial group Vertigo Posse, aerial group Hollywood Aerial Arts. Tom Whitman Presents has produced events with the best nationally and internationally recognized DJs, including superstar DJ/remixer Manny Lehman, Tony Moran, Chris Cox & Barry Harris, Brett Henrichsen, Roland Belmares, Escape, Paul Heron, Pagano, Joe Bermudez, Kimberly S, Paulo, Jamie J Sanchez, Josh Peace, Scotty K, Paul Goodyear, Randy Bettis, Wayne G, Dan DeLeon, and DJ Corey Craig.

Current events

  • WONDERLAND - The largest annual Gay Pride party on the West Coast, featuring more than 3500 attendees each year, fireworks, aerialists, performers, dancers, carnival rides and world class DJs. Wonderland was held at Paramount Studios in 2005, 2006, 2007 and at Sunset Bronson Studios in 2008. Recording Artist Lady Gaga performed in 2008.
  • CHERRY POP - The weekly Saturday promotion at the Ultra Suede event space began in 2008. It features dancing and DJs as well as special performances by a variety of artists. Guest appearances have been made by Lady Gaga and Katy Perry.
  • SIZE - The weekly Sunday promotion at Here Lounge began in 2001. DJs have included Manny Lehman, Brett Henrichsen, Kimberly S, Paulo, and Scotty K.
  • ELEVATION, Mammoth Gay Ski Week - 5 days of events, considered the fastest growing gay sporting event in the country, in it’s 6th year.
  • SMACK - The Thursday night upscale dining/cocktail event began at Felt Restaurant in 2002, and has run since 2005 at the Thomas Schoos designed O-Bar.
  • INSTINCT MAGAZINE AND TREVOR PROJECT OSCAR PARTY - An Oscar viewing party and charity event started in 2004 on Robertson Blvd.

Past events

  • LUCKY DEVIL BURLESQUE - The all-male burlesque show which premiered at Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce in 2007 and lasted for one year.
  • ACTION - A long-running monthly and bi-monthly nightclub dance event produced in conjunction with Manny Lehman at Factory Nightclub.
  • D & H - Friday night promotion, opening first at i-Candy in West Hollywood (featured on Logo Network’s Open Bar), then moving to Fubar.
  • POPULAR - The Saturday night predecessor event to Cherry Pop, held at Here Lounge for one year.
  • SHARK - Monthly billiards event at Hollywood Billiards.
  • SMOOTH - Tuesday concert series at here lounge featuring deep house music and vocalists.
  • TRASH - Joint gay and lesbian promotion with Fuse Events on Friday at Club 7969.
  • SCENE - An annual benefit for Outfest, Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.
  • VARIOUS - The Advocate Magazine Oscar Party 2002, GLAAD Oscar Party 2003, , APLA Summer Party, Scene – A benefit for Outfest, Stoli Hotel Music Series.

Philanthropy

Tom Whitman has produced charity events for many LA based charities, including AIDS Project Los Angeles, The Trevor Project, GLAAD, HRC, Outfest and others. He joined the Board of Directors of AIDS Project Los Angeles, the second largest AIDS service organization in the country, in 2006.

Community work

Tom Whitman is on the Board of Directors of AIDS Project Los Angeles and has produced events for APLA as well as other local and national non-profit organizations, including HRC, The Trevor Project, The LA Gay & Lesbian Center and organizations involved in the fight against Proposition 8. He also started a grass-roots organization, the Gang of 100, mentioned as “25 Things to Love About Gay LA” in Frontier’s Magazine. The Gang of 100 is a informal group of men and women in the gay community in Los Angeles that utilize their social connections to make a difference through various fundraising events for a variety of Los Angeles based non-profits. The Gang has raised almost $250,000 in 2008 alone benefiting organizations such as AIDS Walk LA, APLA, The Trevor Project and many others.

Other entrepreneurial work

In 2008, Tom Whitman and Alexis Hadjopulos started the vintage furniture and accessories company ALTO Furniture, LLC, under the nickname and website thisisnotikea.com. Since then, This Is Not Ikea has opened a retail outlet on Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles.

Filmography

Year

Film

Role

Notes

1999

[...] of Ganymede

Writer and Director

IMDB: [...] of Ganymede

2001

Sexy (Sexy Animated Short)

Writer and Director

IMDB: Sexy

Awards

2001 Emerging Film Award: Best Short, Men's category - North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

2002 Best Short Film - Gay Male for "Sexy" - Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival 1

2002 Best Short Film Nomination for "Sexy" - Torino International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival 2

2002 Director's Club Award, Best Short Short for "Sexy" - ReelPride, Fresno Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

2007 Weho Award for Outstanding Circuit Event

2008 OUT Magazine's "Out 100 Winner" - The Men and Women Who Made 2008 A Year To Remember

2008 The Best of Craigslist for ThisIsNotIkea.com

2009 Circle of Hope Award from The Trevor Project

2009 Best Gay Dance Party from the Best of Los Angeles in Los Angeles Magazine