Acting

Ria Pavia

Born 1967-10-08 · Ohio, USA

Ria Pavia is an award-winning director whose debut, Second Team, recently won over a dozen awards on the festival circuit from 2020- 2021. Pavia also works as a dialogue/acting coach, privately coaching dozens of actors to prepare them for set and self-tape auditions. Prior to her coaching work, Pavia worked as a stage director, helming more than 20 plays and musicals. In the theater world, she has collaborated with actors including Jennifer Aniston, Noah Wyle and Mark Ruffalo. Her debut as a director represents a new step into film and television for Pavia, who has worked extensively in the industry. Previously, she worked as a "punch up" writer for feature films and staff writer on Ask Harriet, starring Ed Asner, as well as Pauly, starring Pauly Shore. Pavia's varied experiences as a casting associate included the classic movies Twister, Dead Presidents, and Flirting with Disaster. Though she excelled in her directing roles, Pavia began her career as a commercial actor; her "big break" came via a memorable gymnastics performance in a tampon commercial in the 80s. She went on to recur on hit TV shows ranging from sitcoms like Who's the Boss and The Hughley's to the soap Santa Barbara, before moving behind the camera. Pavia's creative education began in high school as a Theatre Major at Interlochen Arts Academy. She then studied under Sanford Meisner in the West Indies and finished up her education at UCLA, with a focus on theatre, TV and film. Her most rigorous role to date is the title of "Mother" to three spirited spawn: Daughter, Adrianna (20) and twin boys Dominic and Rocco (17). Pavia is based in Los Angeles.

Acting credits

6.7

The Candyman, a murderous soul with a hook for a hand, is accidentally summoned to reality by a skeptic grad student researching the monster's myth.

Candyman

1992

6.5

Following the arrest of her mother, Ramona, young Vanessa Lutz decides to go in search of her estranged grandmother. On the way, she is given a ride by school counselor Bob Wolverton. During the journey, Lutz begins to realize that Bob is the notorious I-5 Killer and manages to escape by shooting him several times. Wounded but still very much alive, Bob pursues Lutz across the state in this modern retelling of Little Red Riding Hood.

Freeway

1996

5.3

We follow the two Texas doctors who invented the modern breast implant and its surgical procedure. However, when success and money come their way, they split up and follow different paths. One becomes the surgeon of the everyday woman while the other's career freefalls and has to settle with strippers and actresses. The film covers their history and their inventions, from the sixties until today.

Breast Men

1997

5.2

A Los Angeles radio-station manager's girlfriend shows his teenage daughter how to be sexy.

She's Out of Control

1989

5.8

Bobby Kellar has a crush on Lainie Diamond, girlfriend of school jerk Joel. Coleman is working on an experiment which will help him move into a place where Dreams are reality. When an accident occurs Coleman finds himself in Bobby's body and can only contact Bobby in his dreams.

Dream a Little Dream

1989

5.9

Carol and Neil are are successful in terms of grades, but not very popular at their highschool. When Carol comes to know that two foreign exchange students from France and Italy were redirected to another school, she figures she and Neil could take their places and be in the middle of public interest for one semester.

Student Exchange

1987

No artwork available

10.0

Baby Steps depicts the encounter of a single gay school teacher with a midwestern adoption agent.

Baby Steps

1999

4.0

Out at Pacific Coast University, five students living in the same apartment building go through personal trials.

Kill Shot

1995

5.7

A college freshman is date-raped and tries to press charges.

She Cried No

1996

5.3

Award winning comedy short that follows the intense world of competitive spitting.

The Great O'Grady

1993

5.0

A group of teenagers spend the night in a furniture shop for a graduation party. When one of them talks her boyfriend into a game of hide-and-seek, a psycho killer starts hunting them down one by one.

Hide and Go Shriek

1988

Roseanne and Tom: Behind the Scenes poster

9.0

This riveting drama explores the explosive professional and private relationship between comedian Roseanne Barr and her volatile husband, Tom Arnold. Based on a true story.