Comedian, filmmaker, musician

Rene Lancaster is a filmmaker and comedian based in Los Angeles, best known for creating the original comedy pilot Making Rent, which he wrote, directed, composed, and produced with a cast made entirely of stand-up comics. His love for filmmaking started in high school, when he began shooting short films in South Carolina with a scrappy crew called Random Whatnots Productions.

Originally from San Diego, Rene’s creative journey has taken him coast to coast—like playing college soccer for two years before transferring to the College of Charleston, where he earned a degree in Music Theory and Composition. After graduation, he returned to San Diego and dove headfirst into stand-up comedy, cutting his teeth at the La Jolla Comedy Store. That hustle eventually led him to Los Angeles, where he worked as a door guy at the Hollywood Comedy Store and still performs regularly.

Rene has toured across the country, featuring for comedy heavyweights like Theo Von, Adam Ray, Fahim Anwar, and more. Whether he’s behind the camera, writing a score, or delivering punchlines on stage, Rene blends storytelling, rhythm, and sharp wit to create work that’s as thoughtful as it is entertaining.