Joe Fria

Joe Fria graduated from Carnegie Mellon with a degree in musical theater, originally planning to move to New York and pursue a career on Broadway. However, an offer from a top agent led him to Los Angeles, where he set his sights on film and television. When that path led to a dead end after two years, he found himself back in the theater, immersing himself in L.A.’s intimate theater scene. Theatre remained his solace during a tumultuous acting career that included roles in commercials, indie films, an international blockbuster, and finally, voice acting in English language dubs. It was there that a chance opportunity changed everything—Joe was asked to direct an English dub for a Turkish TV show. He soon became a full-time dubbing director and casting director, known for his unconventional casting choices, sharp on-the-fly writing, and precise sync work. His expertise landed him high-profile projects across multiple platforms, including Wrong Side of the Tracks (Netflix, Seasons 1–3), Undercover (Netflix, Seasons 1–3), Luis Miguel: The Series (Netflix, Seasons 1–3), and Pachinko (Apple TV+). He also made a mark in animation, directing the English dubs for all four of the "Rebuild" films in the Evangelion franchise for Amazon. Beyond dubbing, Joe wrote and directed the short film Black Eyed Sue, an official selection at the Los Angeles International Film Festival, later acquired by Cinequest. Now, after a long and winding journey, he has found his true creative home as the founder of Headcheese Films, the production company behind Shadows of Willow Cabin, where he is currently developing two more features that he is set to direct.