Rising actor and filmmaker Phoenix Penza is quickly building momentum across both sides of the camera, balancing acting, directing, writing, and producing while developing a reputation as a passionate young creative with a deep love for storytelling. From his recent roles in Deliver and Displaced to his evolving project The Soldier Named Sam, Phoenix is already carving out a unique path in the entertainment industry by combining performance with filmmaking experience.
A Lifelong Passion for Film
Phoenix Penza says his fascination with cinema began almost as soon as he could walk. Reflecting on his childhood, he revealed that movies captured his imagination long before he understood the industry itself.
“I grew up as a film kid,” Phoenix shared. “As a young child, I didn’t want toys, I wanted the DVD covers of my favorite movies so I could analyze the cast and crew. I’m not kidding. At age three, I wanted the Toy Story 3 DVD cover, not the toys.”
As Phoenix grew older, he began to understand the realities of pursuing acting professionally and naturally expanded his creative ambitions into filmmaking. While acting remained a passion, directing and producing offered another way to stay immersed in storytelling.
Bringing an Actor’s Perspective Behind the Camera
Working both on-screen and behind the scenes has become one of Phoenix’s greatest strengths. He explained that his acting experience directly influences the way he communicates with performers while directing.
“Whenever I am directing, I place myself into the actor’s point of view, I assess whether I am being fair, or how I would take my own note.”
That understanding, he believes, creates stronger collaboration on set and helps actors feel more comfortable during production. He also noted that stepping into crew roles gave him a far greater appreciation for the immense workload involved in filmmaking.
“One major lesson from behind the camera that most actors may not realize is the immense time that things take,” Phoenix explained. “Stepping into the crew role showed me how much intricate work needs to be done before even rolling the camera. I experienced a major work load when starting When Worlds Collide, which was an eye opener as to how much effort goes into a film before even casting.”
Stepping Into the World of Displaced
In the series Displaced, Phoenix portrayed Clint the Karate Boy, a smaller but memorable role set within an early-2000s backdrop. Although his time on set was limited, the experience left a lasting impression. He praised the work of creator Jem Splitter and highlighted the strong connections he formed with fellow cast members, including actresses Paige Ryans and Tegan Higginbotham.
“The connections made were phenomenal,” Phoenix said, adding that the support from his co-stars has continued well beyond filming.
Transforming Into Edward the Ghost in Deliver
One of the most demanding performances to date came in Deliver, where Phoenix played Edward the Ghost, a physically intense role requiring hours of prosthetic makeup and near-total vision restriction. After already spending seven days working as part of the crew, he admitted it was difficult switching fully into actor mode. “I kept falling back into my crew role as a reflex,” he recalling how director Ethan Ackwood repeatedly reminded him to focus solely on acting.
Following two hours in the makeup chair with artist Lily Page, Phoenix was transformed into the horrifying Edward, complete with severe facial scarring and ripped-out eyes.
“With the makeup on, I was 99% blind. Having to act alongside my scene partner, the extremely talented Sebastian Poole, without being able to see him was something I had never done before.”
Despite the challenge, Phoenix credited the direction and teamwork on set for helping him deliver the performance successfully.
Influences Shaping His Creative Style
Citing both television and film icons as major influences on his creative identity. Phoenix always connected deeply with Chandler Bing from the iconic sitcom Friends, particularly because of Matthew Perry’s portrayal of the character.
“His humor, sarcasm and overall personality reminds me of myself,”
On the filmmaking side, working with James Gunn became a creative inspiration, admiring the filmmaker’s ability to balance humor with emotional storytelling while simultaneously writing and directing large-scale projects.
Writing Stories Rooted in Family and Identity
As a writer, many of his stories explore themes of family, identity, coming-of-age experiences and action-driven narratives. His newest project, The Soldier Named Sam, holds particularly personal significance.
Originally developed as a short film based on the true story of his great-great-uncle, Sam Saliba, The Soldier Named Sam has since been greenlit by Somone Studios and is currently being reworked into a feature film. The project is now undergoing pre-production, with hopes to begin filming next year.
“While writing, I realized that I tend to write characters as myself,” Phoenix explained. “Characters that speak and think the way I do.”
That emotional connection, he says, made the project especially meaningful.
When Worlds Collide – Wrapped 2026!
A creative idea that started in early 2025 has grown into a full-scale independent feature film. After producing separate short films for a VET course, filmmakers Phoenix Penza and Emma Dearaugo began discussing the possibility of connecting the stories and characters from their respective projects, Echoes of Yesterday and Dear Evelyn. What began as a casual conversation soon developed into months of scriptwriting, storyboarding, planning and production. That idea would eventually become When Worlds Collide, a feature-length psychological thriller that is now preparing for its red-carpet theatrical premiere ahead of its release coming soon.
Written by Phoenix Penza and Emma Dearaugo, the film represents more than a year of dedicated work from a small team determined to bring an ambitious vision to life. Together with producer Jamie Gyore, the pair formed independent production company PEJ Studios and undertook the many challenges of feature filmmaking. Penza took on a wide range of responsibilities throughout production, including directing, cinematography, producing, editing, sound mixing, boom operation, scheduling and acting, while also coordinating cast and crew communications, equipment loans and location management. When Worlds Collide follows Lana Maxwell as she experiences unexplained blackouts and discovers a dangerous alternate personality with dark intentions. At the same time, Evelyn Jackson is struggling with friendship issues and questions of trust, ultimately finding herself caught up in a crime that links her fate to Lana’s. The film stars Liliana Tedesco as Lana Maxwell, Amarnii Brundell as Evelyn Jackson, Brendan Zerafa as Agent Kincaid, Michael Duncan as Agent Devon, Max Nappo as Bennett and Ripley Chan as Colin, alongside a cast of 29 performers, making it the largest production undertaken by PEJ Studios to date.
Looking Ahead With Somone Studios
Phoenix is also preparing to potentially step into a major leadership role with Somone Studios, where discussions are underway regarding his involvement as part owner and a member of the board of directors.
While details are still being finalized, Phoenix says the opportunity could open the door to larger-scale productions and greater creative freedom.
“I look forward to having the creative power of bigger projects than my own, “It will give me a huge opportunity to meet new people, make new connections, and grow my film credits and portfolio.”With acting, directing, writing, and producing all firmly in motion, Phoenix is positioning himself as one of the emerging multi-hyphenate creatives to watch.
OFFICIAL SOCIAL SITES:
Follow Phoenix Penza on social media to stay updated on his latest projects, productions, and film announcements.
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm18262322/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_1_nm_5_in_0_q_phoenix penza
https://www.instagram.com/pheopenza
Star Talent Link Team – Based in LA – 10+ Years of Press