Louie Gibson (HAPPY HUNTING)
Louie Gibson graduated from Chapman University with a BFA in film production. Since then he has written and directed for various commercial clients. He co-created the series “Kid Pitch” and “Time Out” for Samsung / Funny or Die in 2015. Happy Hunting is his Feature directorial debut. He is represented by the Gersh Agency.
Joe Dietsch (HAPPY HUNTING)
Joe Dietsch has been working as a director and cinematographer since graduating Chapman University. As a director, his focus has been in the commercial and music video world, as well as a variety of international travel shoots. Happy Hunting is his Feature directorial debut. He is represented by the Gersh Agency.
Joe Toronto (HAPPY HUNTING)
Joe Toronto is an award-winning film producer whose work has premiered at Tribeca, Slamdance, and the Dublin International Film Festival. Since 2012, Joe has served as an executive for Matthew Modine’s production company Cinco Dedos Pelicuas.
Dan S (VORE KING)
Dan S is a writer/director/editor and sometimes camera operator currently residing in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A recipient of The McKnight Fellowship For Filmmaking and Creative Capital Grant for Moving Image. His work has been called “uncomfortable to watch” (Urban Cinephile, 2009), “sublime yet terrifying” (Filmstock, 2008), “stunningly depraved” (Melbourne Underground, 2009) and “the kind of thinky/sadistic exercise that even the dark prince of psychological horror Michael Haneke might find difficult to watch” (City Pages, 2008).
Raymond P. Whalen (VORE KING)
It was his love of monsters, his attraction / fascination to certain breeds of the female of his kind, and cored with a deep interest of exploitation film which would lead him to become the Vore King. Do you want to know who R. P. Whalen was prior to his royalty? What is this vore stuff anyway? And, why are all these ladies offering themselves to be eaten by hungry monsters?! I don't know, man. Stop being so damn lazy and see what you can find out on the internet! Or, better yet, see the Dan S award winning documentary VORE KING to get the rest of the story! Get off your ass! Be active! Be amazing! SEE! VORE KING!
Heidi Sweet (VORE KING)
Hi there, Heidi Sweet here. Though I had a small role in the movie, it was one of my favorite projects that I've ever done. I'm a Dominatrix as well as a professional nude art model and I'm pretty creative, so I have been a part of some pretty interesting projects, but no other has involved shooting a beautiful vintage gun, hahaha. It's always fun working with my friend Ray on his various wild and crazy ventures, and I'm looking forward to the next time.
Bryna Smith (NEIL STRYKER AND THE TYRANT OF TIME)
Bryna Smith is a 34 year old jack of all trades. She is a VFX artist, animator, video editor, standup comedian, drummer, professional table tennis player and basically a super hot model. She and director Rob Taylor have been best friends and making movies together for nearly 20 years. She played Sister Bethany in the cult classic ‘Evil Cult’ in 2003, also directed by and starring Rob Taylor. If you know of a ping pong table nearby come challenge her. I dare you.
Paul von Stoetzel (IN THE KITCHEN WITH...)
Paul von Stoetzel has directed over 30 short films/music videos and as many plays in the Twin Cities area including his feature documentary, SNUFF: a documentary about killing on camera which has won numerous awards while also receiving major North American distribution as did his second documentary Scrap. His company, Killing Joke Films, is now preparing the literary adaptation of acclaimed writer Ed Kurtz's horror novel BLEED into a episodic series for 2017 while also producing numerous short films and music videos.
Zach & Lucas Lona (WE CAME TO WRECK EVERYTHING)
The Lona brothers are a Chicago-based filmmaking duo. Zach (right) graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a BFA in design, and operates the underground music label Post-Life Industries. Lucas (left) is working toward his BFA in film at Columbia College Chicago while dabbling in the dark arts. Together they aim to produce cinema that both provokes and entertains.
Dakota Laden (TRAIL TO TERROR)
Director, editor, sound designer and producer Dakota Laden has been making films for over 11 years. At the making of "Trail to Terror" he was only 19 years old. He started at a young age on Youtube making over 200 short films, mostly dark comedies with over 10 million views. His short films have been aired and recognized on Anderson Cooper's "Riduculist" show, two times on MTV's "Ridiculousness", MTV's "Pranked", and Tru TV's "It Only Hurts when I laugh". A Lionsgate executive who followed Dakota on YouTube offered him a job as a production assistant. He has completed two films so far with Lionsgate, "The Last Witch Hunter" and"Allegiant".
Danny Villanueva Jr. (DON'T CRY, PAPA)
Danny Villanueva Jr. is a Mexican-American film writer/director born on April 6, 1989 in Chicago, IL. He studied Digital Filmmaking/Video Production at the Art Institute of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. In 2012, he created a production company/horror themed web channel, How Bizarre, which features segments such as short films in or around the horror genre, mini documentaries on destinations with eerie or haunted history, and bite sized crude humor horror themed cartoons.
Andrew Swant (A NIGHT AT THE SEAHORSE)
Andrew Swant is a Milwaukee-based filmmaker who grew up in Madison and graduated from UW-Eau Claire. His projects include The Jeffrey Dahmer Files (SXSW), Modus Operandi (AFI Fest), What What In the Butt (65 million YouTube views), William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet (an award-winning film starring William Shatner), and Hamlet ADD (Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art). Swant recently directed Silently Steal Away (Eaux Claires) featuring Justin Vernon and narration by Mark Borchardt.
Benjamin Capps (IT GROWS DARK)
Benjamin Capps came to Chicago in 1999 after receiving his degree in Theatre from the University of Missouri, Columbia. While an undergraduate, Benjamin founded The Inner Below in order to produce his own experimental theatre, with an emphasis on expanding on the theories of Antonin Artaud. Having written, directed, produced and acted in numerous stage-productions, Benjamin transitioned to film-making, now having made eight short-films. His current focus is Retro Science Fiction, Body Horror and Stop Motion experimentation. Additionally, he has been a professional musician for over twenty years, has performed live in eleven countries and on over twenty albums.