films." His poetry films won several awards and his series on Seniors and Loneliness, won National acclaim.  

 

Holding a BA in English Literature and a Masters in Comparative Literature, from San Francisco State University; and a PhD on the History of Consciousness, from The University of California, Santa Cruz: Allen has held teaching positions as an Assistant Professor of Literature at San Jose State University, and as an Associate Professor in Kresge College at the University of California, Santa Cruz.  Before Allen turned his focus and talents to a creative career in film and television, he honed his skills as a director by helming numerous stage plays, where he learned to work closely with actors, which in turn, benefited his writing and his original plays, and eventually his writing for the big and little screens.  Theater critics praised his stage productions and his unique directorial style.  In a short time, he tackled a series of classic and complex plays, directing Edward Albee’s “Zoo Story,” “The Cage,” and “The Father”; Eugene O’Neill’s “The Hairy Ape”; and Bertolt Brecht’s, “Baal,” as well as several other notable live productions.

 

Allen is also behind the amazing success of the award-winning, top-selling live TV concert special and follow-up DVD, “Earth, Wind & Fire: 2000 - The Millennium Concert” which Allen directed on location in Japan.  He also edited, working closely with legendary group leader, the late Maurice White.  The Platinum-winning record and concert is still selling today on all major worldwide streaming platforms.  As a screenwriter, Allen created and scripted six theatrical films to his credit: “Sweet Justice,” “Phantom of the Ritz,” “Night Screams,” “When,” “East/West Blues,” and “Muddy Puddles.”  He directed three of these indies: “Sweet Justice,” “Phantom of the Ritz,” and “Night Screams.”

 

Allen was also the Media Manager for various governmental information campaigns in California, as well as nationally. He wrote and directed promotional films for the United States Post office aimed at commercial customers, his most noted, the film called, “Zip Code Detective," featuring “Battestar Galactica” star Terry Carter, and TV actress Mariette Hartley.  In addition, Plone directed the first groundbreaking commercials for Casino Morongo, one of the Coachella Valley’s largest casino and resorts, and helmed numerous popular gaming videos.

 

Allen’s television work includes writing and directing the hour-long documentary, “America’s Rifle: The Garand,” which won several awards as Best Documentary; and for PBS, “Crocker’s Dream” and “For the Common Good.”  His children’s programs include the six-part one hour children’s series, “Danni’s Tales,” “Firefly’s Fantastik Fables,” and “Three Sillies Episode,” as well as PBS’s “Simple Machines,” for The Disney Channel.  Plone also wrote the teleplays and helmed the popular six-episode children’s series, “Wow!”  

 

In addition, Allen has directed, produced, and edited music videos for jazz greats like McCoy Tyner, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Bobby Hutcherson, Sun Ra, and Sonny Stitt.   As a commercial director, Allen’s series of commercials for the California Department of Forestry won a Clio as the Best Campaign in its field. He has also directed more than 350 commercials, writing many of them, and has won an impressive list of advertising awards and honors, including a Clio for his series of commercials for the California Department of Forestry, which he both wrote and directed. 

 

His published short stories have appeared in “Rosebud,” “Response,” “West Coast Review” and other prestigious publications. His short story, “Cowboy of My Heart” won Best Short Story of the Year from a top Literary group.  His original poetry has appeared in numerous journals, including, “Sea Letter,” “Burning Word,” “On Love,” “BTS,” “Light Journal,” “Word Keepers,” “Celidah,” “Driftwood,” and the anthology collection, “Put into Words, My Love.”  His three published poetry collections are: “Have We Met?” “More Than Song,” and “Caravan” as well as a chapbook, “Family Matters.”  Allen has three illustrated children’s books in publication: “As I Sit in My Garden,” “Ned Smiles,” and “Music Fairies.”  His book, “God’s Words: Bible Verses for a Loving Spiritual Life,” is the second in his writings about spirituality.  Allen’s newest book, “The Baron,” about his rescue dog, Rufus, was published in 2021.

​

As a lyricist, Allen's mastery of the English language and light touch with verse, helped him make the transition to song lyrics when he wrote thirty-six original pieces featured in the hit streaming series for Amazon Prime, "Danni's Tales."

Allen brings his creative entrepreneurialism and major contributions to the mission goals of Desert C.A.M. Studios. 

 

​