Michele Frantzeskos: Family, Film, and Heart

Michele Frantzeskos's storytelling journey is rooted in her personal values: helping others, giving people a voice, and celebrating family, all while preserving the spirit of the Brooklyn she knows and loves. Her deep connection with family and community has been the foundation for everything she does.

It was only natural, then, that these personal convictions would eventually shape her professional pursuits. As her appreciation for storytelling grew, she found herself drawn to projects that echoed the same sense of purpose and connection that guided her life outside of work.

Building on these values, Frantzeskos became a producer, director, writer, and actress, crafting a career that combines entertainment with advocacy. From creating films about domestic violence, mental health, and bullying to producing Gravesend, she has consistently used her work to connect with people and champion causes close to her heart.

At the heart of it all, however, is Frantzeskos herself: a mother, wife, daughter, sister, and woman whose family and faith have shaped how she approaches both life and her career.

Frantzeskos' love of entertainment began in childhood. She participated in plays growing up and was eventually accepted to Juilliard. Her parents divorced; she began working, and eventually she started a family. It wasn't until the early 2000s, after the birth of her first child, Jacqueline, that Frantzeskos decided to return to entertainment. She began as an actress, getting her feet wet and learning the business. But her life experiences would eventually lead her toward a different kind of storytelling.

Frantzeskos is the mother of three children, Jacqueline, Nicholas, and Vanessa. She has no hesitation about what matters most to her. "Being a mother is the most important thing in my life," she said. Her children have built their own careers. Jacqueline is an occupational therapist, Nicholas is an architect, and Vanessa works in insurance. Frantzeskos describes her children as her lifeline and says they continue to push her to become a better person, and they most importantly pushed me to believe in myself." She continued. Her husband, parents, sisters, nieces, nephews, and friends are also part of the support system she credits for helping her balance family and an increasingly demanding career. "God has blessed me with an amazing family," she said.

Frantzeskos's family values started from an early age. She particularly remembers her grandfather, a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force who was a prisoner of war. His strength, service, and willingness to help others left an impression on her. However, Frantzeskos says many family members shaped her character. "It's within family members who have taught me," she explained. Today, her family remains her foundation. "They are my world. They are my rock, and they are my everything," she said of her husband and children.

That support has helped Frantzeskos continue pursuing her dreams, even when the path wasn't always easy. Her message to other women is that it is never too late to begin again, she said. Never too late to get out there and make your dream a reality." She encourages people of every age to learn, ask questions, and try something new. "You could be a 90-year-old being an actress," she said. "You could be a 90-year-old and be a producer." For Frantzeskos, age should never determine whether someone can create a new chapter.

HER OWN FILMS: TURNING EXPERIENCE INTO PURPOSE

Frantzeskos eventually realized that she wanted to do more than act. She wanted to tell stories that could make a difference. That vision led to The Right to Live, a feature film dealing with domestic violence, sexual violence, verbal and mental abuse, alcohol-related struggles, and the road to recovery. The subject matter came from experiences Frantzeskos encountered throughout her life. Her message: "Abuse is not your fault. Talk about it. Take your power back so you can live again."

Her motivation to give back became even stronger after her oldest daughter battled Stage 4 cancer and ultimately recovered. Frantzeskos describes her daughter's recovery as a miracle. "I wanted to do something to give back for God granting me this miracle," she said. She chose filmmaking to do so. The Right to Live went on to receive recognition, including an Audience Choice Award and a Best Director award. Bellevue Hospital sponsored the film, and Frantzeskos brought the project to recovery centers and group counseling settings, where she spoke with people dealing with difficult circumstances.

But the film was only the beginning. Frantzeskos also wrote and directed Just Be Yourself, which focused on bullying and mental health. She worked as a producer, director, and actor on Matters of the Heart, which focused on the foster care system. She also created an anti-bullying campaign called Wake Up, visiting schools and mentoring children.

All the projects shared a common purpose: awareness, empowerment, and helping people understand that they are not alone.

The most rewarding part of Frantzeskos' filmmaking has been hearing directly from people who have connected with her work. She said people have approached her after seeing her films and told her they recognized themselves in the characters. Some viewers said the films helped them recognize abuse happening within their own families.

Others said they felt encouraged to open up, speak with someone, or seek help. For Frantzeskos, those conversations are more meaningful than awards. "If I can help save one life, all of that is well worth anything," she said. For Frantzeskos, the goal was never to make a movie. It was to potentially change someone's life.

Frantzeskos also learned filmmaking by doing it herself, which ultimately helped her with her next big project that changed her life. While working on The Right to Live, an editor left the project after producing a version that was several hours long. Rather than give up, Frantzeskos taught herself how to edit. Then another major setback occurred when a distributor failed to send royalties and ultimately faced legal action. Her film, along with millions of other films, was removed from Amazon. "I was crushed," she recalled. But instead of letting the experience stop her, she learned to distribute the film herself and worked to get it back online. "I don't look at it as an obstacle," Frantzeskos said. "I look at it as a challenge." Those challenges taught her about editing, distribution, contracts, crews, unions, and the business side of entertainment. She considers those experiences her own education.

GRAVESEND: BRINGING BROOKLYN BACK TO LIFE

Frantzeskos' work eventually led her to Gravesend, the 1980s Brooklyn crime drama created by filmmaker William DeMeo. Frantzeskos had known DeMeo for many years and worked with him on other projects before joining Gravesend. DeMeo witnessed how hard she worked and knew she was someone willing to do whatever was necessary to make a production succeed. Eventually, he asked her to produce Gravesend with him. “He knows that I work hard," Frantzeskos said. "It doesn't matter what hat I have to wear; I'll do anything." That willingness has become an important part of her role in the series.

For Frantzeskos, producing means much more than sitting behind a desk. She believes in leading by example and creating a family atmosphere on set. "I don't like utter chaos. I don't like drama," she said. Instead, she encourages everyone to pitch in. "No job is too big or too small," she explained. Frantzeskos and DeMeo share a philosophy of giving people opportunities, encouraging them and helping make people's dreams possible. She believes that approach creates a production environment where people feel respected and valued. Gravesend, she said, would not be possible without the entire team—from the actors and investors to the line producers, assistant directors and production staff.

Frantzeskos has had the opportunity to work with some major names in entertainment, including Fran Drescher, Shaquille O'Neal, Chazz Palminteri, Tony Danza, William Forsythe and Mario Cantone. Her approach to working with established entertainers is based on humility. "You respect them. You don't overcrowd them. You ask them questions," she said. She believes performers should feel welcomed, appreciated, and respected when they join a production. For Frantzeskos, working with accomplished people is also an opportunity to learn. "I stand to learn something new every day," she said. "And if I can do that, I'm a better person."

Frantzeskos believes Gravesend is ultimately about more than crime and drama. It is about Brooklyn. She witnesses DeMeo’s love for the borough as one of the driving forces behind the series. "He doesn't want ever to allow Brooklyn to die out," she said. DeMeo’s vision is to preserve a Brooklyn filled with family, loyalty, friendship, and neighborhood pride. Frantzeskos understands that connection personally. She was born in Brooklyn and believes there is something special about being able to say where you're from and immediately have people understand the culture and energy that comes with it.

As Gravesend just wrapped season 3, Frantzeskos says Gravesend is far from finished; she hinted that much more is to come. As for Season 3, audiences can expect crime, drama, passion, and loyalty, along with a storyline connecting Bed-Stuy and Gravesend.

Outside of Gravesend, Frantzeskos is working on a documentary and hopes to continue producing films and developing new projects. "Being in the entertainment industry, your arms are wide open," she said. "You can do anything."

She has faced personal challenges, professional setbacks, and moments when she had to teach herself something new simply because there was no other choice. But she kept going. Her films have given people a voice. Her family gives her strength. And Gravesend allows her to celebrate the Brooklyn she loves. For Frantzeskos, success isn't simply about how far you can go. It is about how many people you can bring with you.

As she looks toward the next film, the next season, and the next chapter, one thing remains clear: Michele Frantzeskos is just getting started.

Follow Frantzeskos's projects at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2737910/

In loving memory of Michael Anthony Gioia, June 5, 2009 – October 8, 2025

Help continue Michael “Mikey” Gioia’s legacy of kindness, compassion, and helping others. Visit www.themikeygioiamemorialfoundation.com.