Actor & Filmmaker
ACTOR.
I had always wanted to be a film actor. I thought that making movies meant I would have to move out of state and I often thought about the struggles of actors who made the trek to L.A or New York until 2010, when a friend asked me to be a part of a short film he was making for the 48 Hour Film Project in Little Rock.
From that moment, I started networking, doing my homework, watching every independent short or feature film that was made in Arkansas. I wrote down names, looked up IMDB titles, facebook pages, you name it, I was on it. Networking paid off and since 2010, I've made over 60 film projects as a principal actor. It's my first passion and it's something I'm continuing to pursue.
DIRECTOR.
I first stepped into the directors chair in 2011. I headed up my own team for the 48 Hour Film Project and even though we made quite a few mistakes and were ineligible for awards that year, it wouldn't be until 2013 when I stepped back into the directors chair and that when things started to change.
We would win Best Picture as well as a few awards for our cast and crew in what was one of the most magical experiences of my short career as a filmmaker. My experience with the 48 Hour Film Project in Little Rock led me to compete from 2010-2016 and return in 2019 as an Executive Producer & Actor. I have won Best Picture on 4 different occasions as well as Best Director in 2016.
I've directed 11 short films, most have screened at several film festivals across the country, picking up a variety of awards in the process. I've worked on a number of feature films and television shows as well. I love making films and most importantly, I love making quality films.
A LITTLE MORE...
I've worked on a number of film projects and TV shows other than my own. Everything from a key position in God's Not Dead 2 to MTV's Catfish to American Idol as well as a locally produced show with national distribution. I've AD'd for a number of short and feature films as well. This experience has taught me quite a bit on set as well. For more info, be sure to check out my IMDB.
Awards & Nominations
Film & Commercial work
Executive Producer/Actor
The Unbeatable Bixby was made for the 48 Hour Film Project.
FESTIVAL RUN
2020 Filmapalooza - Rotterdam, Netherlands
AWARDS
Best Picture
Audience Favorite (Group B)
Best Use of Character
Best Music
Best Trailer
Audience Choice (Top 10)
NOMINATIONS
Best Directors
Best Acting
Best Writing
Best Cinematography
Best Sound Design
Best Choreography
Best Costume
Writer/Producer/Director
FESTIVAL RUN
2017 Fayetteville Film Festival
2017 El Dorado Film Festival
2017 Fault Line Film Festival
2018 Wendy's Shorts Online Festival
2018 Clean Shorts Film Festival
2018 Ozark Foothills Film Festival
2019 Barebones Film Festival
2020 Made in Arkansas Film Festival
AWARDS
Fault Line Film Festival - Best Mystery/Suspense
Wendy's Online Film Festival - Best Suspense (January 2018)
NOMINATIONS
Barebones Film Festival - Best Microshort Action/Thriller
TRIVIA
Natalie Canerday who plays Mrs. Maloney is mostly well known for her performance as Linda Wheatley in Sling Blade.
Tom Kagy who plays Herb is an award winning actor who can be seen in such films as The Rainmaker, opposite Matt Damon, Shotgun Stories and October Sky.
Lynnsee Provence was nominated for Best Actor at the 2012 Little Rock Film Festival got his start by playing Mike Wilson, opposite Cate Blanchett in the Sam Raimi directed, The Gift.
In the script, Jane Edwards and Associates is a rival company mentioned. This comes from the name of my parents.
Writer/Producer/Director
FESTIVAL RUN
2016 UCA Film Festival
2016 Fayetteville Film Festival
2016 Fault Line Film Festival
2016 Trash International Fantastic Film Festival
2017 Royal Film Festival
2017 Wasteland Film Festival
2017 Conway Film Festival
2017 Austin Under The Stars Film Festival
2017 EyeCatcher Film Festival
2017 Miami Independent Film Festival (December)
2018 Wendy's Monthly Short Online Film Festival (January)
2018 Clean Shorts Film Festival
2018 SSU Indie Film Festival
2018 Barebones Film Festival
2018 Calcasieu Parish Film Festival
2018 Fort Worth Indie Film Showcase
2018 Chicago Independent Film Festival
2019 Made in Arkansas Film Festival
AWARDS
Fayetteville Film Festival - Best Narrative Short
Fault Line Film Festival - Best Mystery/Suspense Short
Austin Under The Stars Film Festival - Best Horror Short
EyeCatcher Film Festival - Best Comedy Short
Wendy's Monthly Short Online Film Festival (January) - Best Comedy
NOMINATIONS
Austin Under The Stars - Best Student Short, Best Original Concept
EyeCatcher Film Festival - Best of Fest, Best Cinematography (Jarrod Paul Beck), Best Editing.
Clean Shorts Film Festival - Best Varsity Short
SSU Indie Film Festival - Best Drama, Best Director, Best Cast Ensemble.
TRIVIA
Film was shot in one location. The upstairs portion of the house was used for Abbi's resident while the downstairs portion was used as The Stranger's residence.
Shot in 2 days.
Deb Lewis who plays Wendi can be seen in the feature film, Last Summer, directed by Mark Thiedeman on Amazon Prime.
While David Lynch was an inspiration for the concept and dialogue of the film, the score was inspired by John Carpenter and Alan Howarth.
Producer/Director
The Adventures of Betty Bernard was made for the 48 Hour Film Project
AWARDS
Best Director (Johnnie Brannon)
Best Acting Ensemble
Audience Favorite (Group B)
Audience Choice - Top 10
NOMINATIONS
Best Picture
Best Writing
Best Editing
Best Actress (Patti Airoldi)
Best Cinematography
Best Sound
Best Score
Best Use of Prop
Best Use of Dialogue
Best Choreography
Producer/Actor
High Stakes was made for the 48 Hour Film Project.
AWARDS
Audience Favorite (Group B)
Best Editing (Eric White)
Best Use of Character
Best Use of Dialogue
Nominations
Best Picture
Best Score
Best Graphics
TRIVIA
Co-Produced by Flokati Films and CenterRock Advertisement
Directed by Gerry Bruno, who won Best Picture in 2009 with his film, Fortunate.
Actress Mary Faulkner is an award winning actress who has appeared in a number of Television shows and Feature Films.
Producer/Director
Sensitivity Training was made for the 48 Hour Film Project
FESTIVAL RUN
Official Selection of the 2015 Hot Springs Arkansas Shorts Festival
AWARDS
Best Picture
Audience Choice - Top 10
NOMINATIONS
Best Director
Best Use of Dialogue
TRIVIA
Flokati Films second consecutive Best Picture win, a third conesecutive win for Jason Willey and Johnnie Brannon. (La Petite Mort, La Grande Fete, Sensitivity Training)
Quinn Gasaway who plays Tyrone in the film was nominated for Best Actor at The Little Rock Film Festival earlier that year for Sacred Hearts, Holy Souls
Quinn is also known as "Boy Hogwallop" in O Brother, Where art Thou?
Tanner Smith directed a behind the scenes look at making Sensitivity Training. That doc was selected to screen at the final Little Rock Film Festival (2015)
Producer/Director
La Grande Fete was made for the 48 Hour Film Project.
FESTIVAL RUN
2013 Conway Film Festival
2014 Filmapalooza (New Orleans)
2014 Arkansas Shorts Festival
2014 Royal Film Festival
2014 Offshoot Film Festival
AWARDS - 48HFP
Best Picture
Audience Choice - Top 10
Best Actress (Karen Clark)
Best Score (Sam Clark)
NOMINATIONS
Best Use of Prop
TRIVIA
First film produced under Flokati Films.
Karen Clark's film debut.
La Grande Fete is french for"Grand Party."
The genre that was drawn was "Operetta" and it was a new genre to the 48HFP. It meant every line of dialogue had to be sung.
Sam Clark scored the film. He did this the next day during post production. He listened to what key the songs were sung in and wrote music around each cast member.
4 Clarks appeared in the film. Sam Clark & Alli Clark are real life siblings. Jay & Karen Q. Clark are married in real life. Alli and Sam are not related to Jay & Karen.
Jason Willey and Johnnie Brannon were a part of the Best Picture winning film the previous year as actors for La Petite Mort.
Features several cast members of Red Octopus Theater.
Producer/Co-Director
This commercial was produced for the P. Allen Smith TV series on PBS.
My role was Producer and co-director. I also booked the talent and location.
Winner of the 2019 Taste Awards for Best Branded Program, Native Content, Video or Advertisement.