B. R. Tatalovic was born in Belgrade, Serbia. His first visual arts experiences come from observing his father’s photographic work (as five year old). From an early age Tatalovic falls under the influence of TV, film, and popular (American) media, via 2 TV channels that were part of former socialist broadcast network, in the 1970s Yugoslavia. Tatalovic’s first cinematic experiences come from visiting Belgrade theaters with his mother, and watching American films that were distributed in Yugoslavia. The kids from the “hood” loved to listen to his narration of the movies… While in high-school, Tatalovic finds a job as metalworker in the local factory. After graduation, he got drafted by Yugoslav “Red Army”. As the only soldier who spoke some English in his unit, Tatalovic ends up translating old American weaponry manuals. Tatalovic’s love for cinema culminated in mid-1980s, when his enreprenurial spirit pushed him to spend entire year’s salary for one of the first VCR models that were sold in Yugoslavia. Not long after, he “collects” couple of hundred movies on VHS and starts his first film-related “small business” by renting it in his heighborhood under the name “Bane Video Club” (1988). In the same year (1988), Tatalovic finally obtains (after several unsuccessful attempts) his U.S. visa, and flies across the Atlantic to his new destination. He arrives in Ohio, and finds employment as steelworker. Throughout 1990s he worked various jobs (metalworker, carpenter, home-repairman). Tatalovic worked in Cleveland’s old steel-mill, where Michael Cimino shot several scenes for “The Deer Hunter”. As a young immigrant with no college education, he spent years on factory floors, while attending college in the evenings. Years later, Tatalovic earned his first college degree in Photography. He continued his academic advances, and earned BA in Communication from Cleveland State U.