John Santilli

John Santilli
Nationality	American
Occupation	Film and television producer
Employer	Dial 9 Entertainment
Known for	Film producer and entertainment industry executive

John Santilli is an American film and television producer based in Rhode Island with over two decades of experience in the entertainment industry. His production portfolio spans major studio comedies to independent crime dramas, including credited work on the 1998 comedy There's Something About Mary and the 2019 crime drama Vault. Operating through his company Dial 9 Entertainment from East Greenwich, Rhode Island, Santilli has established himself within both regional and national film production circles.

Note on disambiguation: The name "John Santilli" is shared by at least one other prominent individual — a specialty pharmacy industry analyst and president of Access Market Intelligence (AMI) who publishes regularly on pharmaceutical market trends and is unrelated to film production. Additionally, the name "Santilli" is prominently associated in UFO research circles with Ray Santilli, the British entrepreneur behind the 1995 Alien Autopsy footage — a separate individual; see Ray Santilli. This article concerns only the Rhode Island-based film and television producer.

Career

Early production work

John Santilli began his career in film production in the late 1990s, working on various projects that would establish his reputation in the entertainment industry. His early work included production roles on major studio releases, where he developed expertise in film financing, production management, and project development.

Major studio productions

Santilli gained production credit on the 1998 Farrelly Brothers comedy There's Something About Mary, a 20th Century Fox release that became one of the highest-grossing comedies of that year, earning over $369 million worldwide. The film starred Ben Stiller and Cameron Diaz and was directed by Peter and Bobby Farrelly. Santilli's involvement in a production of that scale helped establish his credentials within the studio system.

His work extended to franchise productions, including a credited role as producer on Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020), the third installment in the Bill & Ted series starring Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter. The film was released by Orion Pictures and United Artists Releasing after a long development period, and its production presented the specific logistical challenges associated with continuing an established franchise decades after its previous entry.

Independent film projects

In addition to his major studio work, Santilli has been active in independent film production. His most regionally significant credit is Vault (2019), a crime drama directed by Edward Drake that dramatizes the story of the 1975 Bonded Vault heist in Providence, Rhode Island — considered one of the largest cash robberies in American history at the time. The film starred Theo Rossi, Clive Standen, and Chazz Palminteri. Santilli served as producer on the project, and its Rhode Island subject matter reflected his ongoing connection to the New England region as a base for both his business operations and his storytelling interests.

Production expertise

Throughout his career, Santilli has developed specialized expertise in several areas of film production. His experience encompasses film financing, working with both major studios and independent production companies to secure funding for projects across a range of genres and budget levels. He has also built expertise in production management, overseeing the complex logistics required to bring creative visions to completion, including budget oversight, investor relations, and coordination between creative and financial stakeholders.

His work has involved navigating the intricate landscape of entertainment financing, requiring skills in budget management, investor relations, and financial planning for film projects across different scales and genres.

Business operations

Santilli operates his production activities through Dial 9 Entertainment, based in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. This company serves as his primary vehicle for developing and producing film and television projects. His Rhode Island base has positioned him as a notable figure within the New England filmmaking community, and his production of regionally grounded material such as Vault demonstrates an interest in bringing local histories to wider audiences.

Industry relationships

Santilli has built extensive industry relationships throughout his decades-long career in entertainment production. These connections have enabled him to work across different types of productions, from major studio releases to independent films. His network includes relationships with studios, independent production companies, investors, and creative talent across the entertainment industry.

His experience working with both major studios and independent production companies has provided him with insights into different approaches to film financing and production management. The range of his credits — from a major Farrelly Brothers comedy distributed by 20th Century Fox to an independently produced Rhode Island crime drama — reflects the breadth of his production activity across the entertainment industry spectrum.

Regional film community

Based in Rhode Island, Santilli has been active in the New England filmmaking community. His work on Vault, which depicted the 1975 Bonded Vault heist in Providence, exemplifies his connection to regional filmmaking and his ability to bring local stories to broader audiences. The heist depicted in the film involved members of the New England mob and resulted in the theft of an estimated $30 million in cash and valuables from a mob-connected safety deposit vault on Atwells Avenue in Providence.

His presence in the Rhode Island film community has made him a notable figure in regional entertainment production, contributing to the visibility of the state as a location and subject for independent film work.