Anthony J. Rickert-Epstein (A.J.) was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, and has been making films since he was eight years old. He attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, graduating at age twenty with a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communications and a minor in Film Studies. He often returns to his alma mater to teach and mentor students. During his time attending class at Miami, A.J. created the first active filmmaking organization called the Miami Association of Filmmakers and Independent Actors (M.A.F.I.A.). It is a still-flourishing group committed to the ins and outs of filmmaking and staying up to date with the latest technology.