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It's doubtful there are many directors who have excelled at the sort of gritty, urban realism imbued in the films of Nick Gomez -- and even if they did, the performances they showcased and the moods they set aren't likely to have been nearly as effective. From the streets of New Jersey to the halls of inner-city law enforcement and the cold reality of prison, Gomez's unmistakable flair for the rougher side of life found him dabbling in television with episodes of such small-screen hits as The Sopranos, OZ, The Shield, and Homicide: Life on the Street. A native of Somerville, MA, who received his film education in the esteemed SUNY Purchase film program, Gomez did editing work in 1990 on the Hal Hartley films The Unbelievable Truth and Trust. The aspiring filmmaker had his own vision, however, and made his feature debut the next year with Laws of Gravity. Subsequently helming a handful of Homicide episodes, Gomez returned to features with the 1995 crime drama New Jersey Drive. Though his 1996 follow-up Illtown didn't gain him quite the exposure of his earlier efforts, Gomez expanded his directing experience with frequent television work. In 2000, he inexplicably turned to comedy with the quickly forgotten Drowning Mona, and two years later returned to the small screen with work on The Shield and Robbery Homicide Division. Gomez directed an episode of Keen Eddie in 2003.