Raymond Guarnieri is pursuing a degree in film and video production at City College while independently producing and directing his first feature film. He is excited to have the opportunity to develop his leadership skills and understanding of public policy as a Colin Powell Fellow, in hopes that the experience will lead him to become a better artist and citizen. Raymond has been living in NYC since 2008, when he landed a role in the Payin’ The Price, which won “Best Feature Film” at HBO’s Martha’s Vineyard African-American Film Festival. After this and other early successes, Raymond decided to pursue his true passion: filmmaking. He helped form Better StirFry Productions, which has produced over two-dozen short films. Raymond advocates public discourse as the starting point for solving societal issues. He challenges himself to produce art that offers insight into the harsh reality that some Americans face, in hopes that his audience will be inspired to make change in their lives and the lives of others, all without losing sight of the value of providing quality entertainment.