In a culture shaped by storytelling, few personal journeys are as compelling and genuine as that of Laura “LA” Barbato. Transitioning from a committed NYPD anti-crime sergeant to a leading figure in independent filmmaking, Barbato’s life story resembles a gripping, award-winning script—apt for someone who now creates such narratives for audiences worldwide.
Born on December 1, 1983, Laura Barbato was the youngest of three children raised by her mother, Joanne Barbato, a devoted registered nurse. Before entering law enforcement or the film industry, she was a teenage music producer and DJ, running her own label, Twelve 83 Records—a brand she later evolved into the multimedia company Twelve 83 Entertainment.
Choosing a path of public service first, Barbato joined the New York City Police Department in 2007. Over more than a decade, she worked in some of the city’s most intense environments. She started undercover in the Bronx Narcotics Division and climbed the ranks to sergeant in the 46th Precinct, one of New York’s busiest precincts. Leading plainclothes teams as the anti-crime sergeant, she focused on tackling violent street crime and illegal firearms. Her law enforcement career culminated as Executive Officer of the 46th Precinct Detective Squad.
Her promising career was abruptly ended by a severe injury sustained in the line of duty—she was pinned against a cement wall during a pursuit of an armed suspect wanted for attempted murder. After multiple surgeries and extensive rehabilitation, she medically retired in 2019.
This transition sparked a new beginning.
Barbato returned to her creative passion, enrolling at the New York Film Academy to study screenwriting. That same year, she rebranded Twelve 83 Records as Twelve 83 Entertainment, marking the start of a new chapter that quickly gained international recognition.
Her first short film, The Man Who Sold the World (2019), earned over 20 awards, including “Best Thriller” at the Florence Film Awards. She continued with The Unorthodox Series, a surreal anthology that won praise across festivals. During the pandemic, she directed The States of Emergency: New York & New Jersey, a heartfelt short documentary portraying the COVID-19 crisis, which won “Best Short Documentary” at the New Jersey Film Awards.
In 2020, Barbato debuted Half Pints, an animated comedy web series developed during her studies, demonstrating her range across genres and formats—from thrillers to documentaries, animation, and experimental works.
By 2022, she broadened her international impact, producing Prelude, a Swedish feature awarded “Outstanding Achievement” at the Swedish International Film Festival, and executive producing Jujuman, a Nigerian dark comedy. Her momentum continued in 2024 with two American drama shorts, Waking Up and Last Meal, both available on Amazon Prime Video.
A defining moment came in 2024 when she executive produced Bloodline Killer, a Tubi Original horror-thriller starring Shawnee Smith, Bruce Dern, Tyrese Gibson, and Taryn Manning. The film became Tubi’s most-streamed original release during its opening weekend, surpassing Netflix and Amazon offerings, securing Barbato’s place among streaming entertainment’s top executives. That same year, she executive produced El Hombre Sin Rostro, a Mexican horror film continuing her bold cross-cultural collaborations.
Beyond film and TV, Barbato has channeled her real-life policing experience into comic books. She created and writes Charlie X, a gritty police-drama series inspired by her undercover and sergeant years, illustrated by DC Comics artist Bachan Carrillo.
As a Writers Guild of America member and head of Twelve 83 Entertainment, Barbato champions fearless, authentic, and innovative storytelling. Drawing from her firsthand experiences on New York’s streets and her visionary filmmaking, she offers an unparalleled blend of truth and creativity.
Laura “LA” Barbato hasn’t simply shifted careers; she has redefined the meaning of reinvention—showing that the most powerful stories often emerge from a life fully embraced.
Published by Joseph T.
