John Varkados is a writer and director from South Korea, growing up in the Poconos in an upbeat household with four other siblings where World War III was imminent. John decided to enlist in the Marines from 2009 to 2014. He learned the fundamentals of filmmaking from BU’s College of Communication and got an BA from Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts with a strong focus on artist intermediary management, where he was also awarded the 2024 Webby Award for Best Student Video. After a decade from serving the Marine Corps, John optimized screenwriting as a means to bring to light narratives overlooked especially transitioning from the military to civilian sector, as well as the dynamic music scene in Boston. He earned an MFA in Dramatic Writing at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Today, John leans his understanding of human stories and a fascination for creating scenes stemmed from the adversities he has overcome.