Paul Starkman, a Brooklyn-based, film and television director is a graduate of the AFI Cinematography program. Paul quickly worked his way up from camera operator on MTV's The Real World to DP of America's Next Top Model. In 2006 Paul began shooting finales for Project Runway and was soon directing for the program, which led to his first Emmy nomination. He joined Bravo's hit Top Chef, directing for seven seasons. In 2007 Paul wrote and directed The Tree, a short film that told the story of one man looking for shade on a treeless block in Brooklyn. Other credits include Ink Master, The Glee Project 2, Work of Art, and Nailed it!!