Born and raised in Las Vegas, Monty moved to Los Angeles to pursue his
lifelong goal of becoming a filmmaker. The recipient of two academic
scholarships, Monty graduated Magna Cum Laude from Loyola Marymount
University's School of Film and Television. It was during this time
that Monty began outlining what would later become "Self-Medicated,"
his award-winning debut feature, which he wrote, directed, co-produced
and acted in at age 24.
His father was an emergency room surgeon in Las Vegas.
While growing up as a child, Monty spent his Winters in Mammoth Lakes,
California where he was a member of the Mammoth Mountain Ski Team until
he eventually hung up his skis in favor of a snowboard.
Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman officially declared August 31st to be "Monty Lapica and Tommy Bell Day" in honor of the theatrical release of "Self-Medicated".
Monty's debut feature, "Self-Medicated," won over 40 international film
awards and was the most award-winning independent film of 2006.