Jay Paul Deratany is an American lawyer and filmmaker. He is the founder of Deratany & Kosner in Chicago and focuses his practice on human rights issues. He is the writer and producer of the feature film Foster Boy as well as the play Haram! Iran!.
Biography
Deratany was born in Detroit, Michigan and obtained his J.D.[1] degree from DePaul University College of Law. He founded The Deratany Firm, a law firm based in Chicago. Practicing law he has won numerous human rights advocate cases[2] including the largest jury verdict in Lake County history.[3]
Deratany is also a filmmaker, having received a Master of Fine Arts from the University of California, Riverside. He has written such films as Foster Boy and Saugatuck Cures. Foster Boy is based on actual cases he worked as an attorney[4] and won numerous awards at national film festivals.[5] He is the author of the play Haram! Iran! which is based on the story of Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni who were put to death in Iran for an alleged homosexual encounter.[6]
He is also the co-author of the book Lincoln's Dilemma.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Credited as | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Foster Boy | Writer, producer, actor (Captain) | Award winner at Pan African Film Festival, Sedona Film Festival, Woodstock Film Festival, Garden State Film Festival[7] |
| 2015 | Saugatuck Cures | Writer, executive producer, actor (Reverend Stan) | Also wrote the screenplay |
| 2014 | Out | Associate producer | Short film |
| 2012 | The Apple Tree | Executive producer | Short film |
Theatre
| Year | Title | Credited as | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | The Civility of Albert Cashier | Writer[8] | |
| 2010 | Haram! Iran! | Writer, producer, actor (Captain) | GLAAD Media Award nomination[9] |
Personal life
Deratany has been involved with numerous causes, mainly focused on helping foster children.[10] He was also inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame for his work with LGBT youth and filmmaking.[11]
References
- ^ "Mr. Jay Paul Deratany". Martindale-Hubbell.
- ^ "Cook County jury orders Lutheran Social Services to pay $45M in death of 2-year-old suburban boy". The Chicago Tribune. 30 March 2018.
- ^ Bay, Alisa (9 May 2014). "The Deratany Firm Partially Settles Case for $9 Million on Behalf of Autistic Foster Child". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ "Private film screening benefits Gurnee organization". The Chicago Daily Herald. 10 December 2019.
- ^ Ihejirika, Maudlyne (13 February 2020). "NBA's Shaquille O'Neal takes on plight of foster children with new film, 'Foster Boy'". Chicago Sun Times.
- ^ Ryan, Jed (11 March 2017). "HARAM! IRAN! True Story of Forbidden Love in The Middle East Comes To New York Stage". The Huffington Post.
- ^ N Duka, Amanda (27 August 2020). "Gravitas Secures Legal Drama 'Foster Boy' Starring Matthew Modine, Louis Gossett Jr. & Julie Benz". Deadline.
- ^ "What Will You Fight For". Chicago Theatre Review. 7 September 2017.
- ^ "Chicago's Notable LGBTQ Executives". Chicago Business. 19 August 2018.
- ^ Gordon, Ellen (22 May 2020). "Jay Paul Deratany Leads Campaign for National Foster Care Month". Patch.
- ^ Karlin, Rick (28 September 2020). "Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame Virtual Induction Ceremony". Chicago Daily Herald.
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