2015 McDonald’s Announces Lovin’ Video Competition Finalists
–
Richard T. Fields
Richard Fields is a filmmaker born and raised in Prince George’s County, MD. Influenced by his mix of military and Caribbean American upbringing, he enjoys exploring the concepts of family, love, and relationships through cinema. With the completion of his thesis film, Courting Lewis Baker, he earned his MFA in Film and Electronic Media at American University in Washington, DC, where he was also named as the School of Communications class of 2015 Commencement Speaker. He is currently in preproduction of his first feature film.
“Puppy Love”
Brian Shackelford
Brian’s filmmaking career began very early. While attending film school at Loyola Marymount, Brian was hired to direct his first music video featuring rap artist Mack 10. Upon graduating film school in 2004, he worked as a lead camera operator and editor for a number of independent companies before shooting, directing, and editing his first feature film. “The Bad News Ballers” (2004) is an urban comedy that follows a youth basketball team’s struggle to find a replacement coach. Brian then completed his second feature, “Getting’ Da Munchies” (2005), a comedy of errors about a guy and his friends getting high for the first time while his parents are out of town. Both films were released on home video through Maverick Entertainment in 2006. The following year Brian was hired to produce, direct, and edit his third feature film for Macello Thedford, “Watch What You Prey For” (2007). Being a huge fan of animation, Brian created and wrote the animated project “Porn Editor” (2008). The project became an official selection to the 2008 American Black Film Festival, and was later signed to a two-year option with HBO. Brian returned to the film festival circuit the next year, appearing in the Hollywood Black Film Festival with the dramatic short film “Ungrateful” (2009) and the documentary “The Latin Rap Conference” (2009). The documentary went on to win honorable mention in the SoCal Film Festival the same year.
Some of his most recent projects include the mockumentary “Animal Control” (2012), which won the Golden Kahuna Award from the 2012 Honolulu Film Festival. Later that year, Brian went on to form the production and post production company TUNNEL VIZION ENTERTAINMENT, INC focusing on taking smaller budgeted projects and making them look like big budget projects. Soon after he teamed up with former film festival competitor and owner of FLAT CAT PRODUCTIONS, Joyce Fitzpatrick. The two decided to combine their efforts forming TUNNEL CAT ENTERTAINMENT. Under the new company Brian went on to direct the proof-of-concept piece for Wesley Doughtery’s coming of age story “The Kid” (2013). Starring Adrian Turner (“The Walking Dead”, “Bad Teacher”), the project follows a young man struggling against being defined by his environment.
Brian then began his web series “Identity Confirmed” (2014), a sci-fi/action thriller about a government agent trying to protect the daughter of an American scientist who has just developed the cure for cancer. The project won third place in the Inidi.com mobile challenge film festival and was an official selection to the 2014 SoCal Film Festival. “Sunshine, Noodles, & Me” (2014) is Brian’s most current project. The cancer documentary follows a successful African American businesswoman who finds out that she has breast cancer three days before her wedding. Three months after this discovery, she and her husband learn that they are moving to Malaysia. The film was shot on location in Malaysia, Singapore, Indianapolis, and Dallas. Brian continues to produce, write and direct animation currently penning his latest comedies, “Geritol University” exploring the crazy college antics of the elderly, and the urban Charlie’s Angels… “Tyron’s Girls”.
“This, That & The Other”
Travis Dent
Travis Dent grew up in Lincolnton, Georgia, a small town outside of Augusta, Georgia. His love of the creative arts led him to Savannah State University where he earned a B.A. in Mass Communications. He has 15 years of television experience in various markets across the country. In 2007 he attended an ABFF workshop conducted by John Singleton which inspired him to pursue his love of filmmaking. In 2009 he won the Allstate “BE REEL” competition hosted by ABFF. Currently he resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he is Promotion Manager for NBC33, FOX44, and CW21 affiliate stations. Travis has written and directed several short films and anticipates directing his first feature length film.
